So in the state where they let ’er buck they never let ’er buckle… or why Oregon is the wheel deal for accessibility travel.
Now if you’re either hell on wheels yourself or have travelled with wheelchair adventurers you’ll know.
That disabled travellers are always prepared to go the extra mile.
And often have to because too many destinations still don’t cater for even the most basic accessibility needs.
Bang for your buck
Definitely not so, though, with the Beaver state, which has become the first in the Oo Es of Eh to get Wheel the World Accessibility Verified.
The designation elevates transparency and promotes inclusivity in travel experiences.
For those with visible and non-visible disabilities.
This milestone marks the improvements in the accessibility of tourism businesses across all seven of Oregon’s tourism regions.
From hotels and outdoor adventure experiences to cultural attractions and culinary experiences.
Your accessibility guide
Oregon is now the first state to offer disabilities travel itineraries as an online resource.
Now WTW has done the heavy lifting for us here.
Assessing more than 750 hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses in 43 communities.
With more to come, and all Travel Oregon Welcome Centers.
Evaluating mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive features.
On the lake with Kaylee
Now to bring the story to life, Travel Oregon and Wheel the World partnered with accessibility advocate Kaylee Bays.
With Kathleen being the first wheelchair user to compete on So You Think You Can Dance.
We can only imagine our old pal and Yorkshire disability advocate from joint travels in Germany, Debbie, was busy.
Kaylee shares her journey with her 140,000 followers on Instagram.
Helping to inspire a wide audience with her experiences. Kaylee explored Oregon’s accessible offerings.
Kayak Kaylee
Experiencing the dramatic landscapes of Smith Rock.
And kayaking Hosmer Lake in Central Oregon with the backdrop of the stunning mountains.
“I used to assume nature wasn’t something I could really be part of. Oregon showed me that I was wrong,” said Kaylee.
Let ’er buck, not buckle
Kaylee, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a degenerative condition she was diagnosed with at 21 added: ‘It opened a whole new world for me.’
With accessibility data now visible and bookable online, travellers can explore detailed listings.
So let ’er buck, not buckle, it’s time to freewheel around the great state of Oregon.
We found return flights with Aer Lingus from Dublin with pre-clearance for a sample week next month from €875.09.