March 2026

Throughout my travels, I've found that accessibility is fairly prevalent in our larger cities here in the United States. Of course, larger cities usually have more funding for things such as curb cuts, accessible taxis, and overall improvements that make the city a more inclusive destination. But what I want to talk about are those hidden gems. Those cities and areas that are truly standing out with inclusive design and a plethora of wheelchair-accessible things to do.

My daughter had always loved reading, but when she progressed from young children's picture books to chapter books she struggled to find an author or a genre she really connected with. But then we discovered inclusive books: fictional stories that include characters with a range of different abilities that immediately made her feel seen and valued.

I never thought a dog would be my greatest travel companion until I was matched with my beautiful service dog, Jojo VI. Having Jojo means I don't have to do anything alone and I always have her companionship, even when traveling. But there are a lot of things that go into preparing to travel with a service dog, as well as many challenges that might you might not expect.