Welcome to the accessible travel news roundup, published on Fridays, which highlights interesting stories that are worth sharing, but not suited for dedicated, long-form coverage on this website.
Accessible travel and industry news from around the web:
- Ms. Wheelchair America's custom wheelchair damaged by Delta Air Lines — Ms. Wheelchair America 2026, Latavia Sturdivant, says her customized wheelchair was returned inoperable after a Delta flight, leaving her homebound and unable to travel for advocacy work. Delta said it would cover repairs and apologized, but the incident highlights the real stakes: for wheelchair users, damage isn’t “lost luggage” but a total loss of mobility and independence.
- Rochester working on ADA Transition Plan to resolve 65,000 accessibility barriers for disabled residents — Rochester, New York has released a draft ADA Transition Plan aimed at identifying and removing thousands of barriers affecting how disabled residents move through the city. The public can submit feedback through March 5, with the plan expected to be finalized by the end of March. Check out the news report here:
- ADA lawsuit targets Hilton over inaccessible bed heights in accessible hotel rooms — A new ADA class action lawsuit alleges Hilton’s “accessible” rooms often have beds that are too high (or too low) for safe wheelchair transfers, and that guests aren’t given accurate information about bed accessibility before booking. The complaint argues the problem is well-known in the industry, but that reasonable modifications (including adjustments to bed height) aren’t reliably offered. Do they have a case? Read my article on the bed height question:
Mailbag: Bed Height in ADA Accessible Hotel Rooms - Wheelchair Travel
With beds that rival the height of Mount Everest, hotels are becoming less accessible to wheelchair users. Virginia asks why and what can be done about it.
John Morris
- Olathe breaks ground on fully accessible theme park, Michael’s WonderWorld — A major “ultra-accessible” development in Olathe, Kansas is moving forward, with Michael’s WonderWorld positioned as a theme park designed to remove barriers for families traveling with disabilities. Project leaders framed it as a place “for everyone,” with accessibility built in from the start rather than added later.
- Captioning of airline announcements must be a priority — USA TODAY reports how airports and airlines still rely heavily on audio-only announcements for gate changes, disruptions and even emergencies, denying Deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers equal access to critical information. Advocates argue that real-time visual communication should be treated as a safety requirement, not a "nice-to-have" — I agree wholeheartedly and have previously advocated for captioning of all inflight announcements.
- Egyptian National Railways begins journey toward accessible services — Egypt’s rail operator says it is expanding disability-focused services, including dedicated ticket windows, staff awareness programs,and station assistance such as electric carts and wheelchairs provided free of charge. New rail cars will provide space for wheelchairs and a wheelchair accessible toilet. This is the first step in a long journey to open rail travel to disabled residents and tourists in Egypt.
- Opionion: "I know that ‘autism-friendly’ often means the opposite" — An autistic travel writer argues that “autism-friendly” branding can collapse in real-world operations, especially for autistic adults, when staff training and accountability are insufficient. The piece points to a widely reported incident on a cruise and calls for the inclusion of neurodiverse travelers to be treated as an operational standard rather than a marketing label. You could say the same about any accessibility program!
- Wheelchair user sues Southwest Airlines for 'abandoning' her in airport bathroom — A lawsuit claims Southwest failed to provide requested wheelchair assistance during a connection at the Atlanta Airport, leaving the passenger stranded in an airport bathroom without a wheelchair and causing severe distress. The suit seeks more than $75,000 in damages. I suspect we are likely to see an increase in automated electric wheelchairs in U.S. airports, like the one trialed at New York-JFK:
British Airways Trials Autonomous Wheelchairs at New York & London Airports - Wheelchair Travel
British Airways recently trialled fully autonomous wheelchairs to help mobility-challenged customers navigate New York’s JFK Airport more easily.
John Morris
- Canadian airline WestJet refuses to transport teen’s power wheelchair — A Saskatchewan family says their trip plans collapsed after WestJet told them their daughter’s roughly 400 lb power chair couldn’t travel on certain aircraft out of Saskatoon due to mobility-aid weight limits. WestJet suggested driving to another airport for a different aircraft type, while the family argues the rule creates an unnecessary barrier, especially when the chair has flown before. Westjet's refusal to carry the power wheelchair is unjustified and Canadian regulators must take action to protect disabled travelers' access to the skies.
- JPMorgan trader suffered “dehumanising travel experiences” as a result of her disability — This website largely focuses on leisure travel, but many wheelchair users also travel for work. The story of Jukie Andrieu, a JP Morgan Chase Bank trader with spinal muscular atrophy, really caught my eye. She described incidents that many of us will have experienced in our own travels, including repeated failures with airport and airline assistance. Breakdowns in accessibility don’t just throw a wrench into our vacation plans; they can also limit disabled professionals’ ability to travel on business and advance their careers.
