In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike Bolland sits down with Karen Morales, a wheelchair user and leader of Fora Travel’s Accessibility Initiative, to discuss how the travel industry can become more inclusive for everyone.
After becoming a wheelchair user in 2020, Karen quickly discovered that planning an accessible trip often meant endless phone calls, unanswered questions, and uncertainty about whether hotels, transportation, and attractions would truly meet her needs. Rather than accepting those challenges, she helped create an initiative that’s training hundreds of travel advisors to better serve travelers with disabilities and other accessibility needs.
Mike and Karen discuss:
- Why accessible travel is about confidence—not limitations.
- The biggest obstacles travelers with disabilities still face.
- How hotels and airlines can create better experiences.
- Why accessible travel benefits far more people than you might think.
- Practical advice for planning your first accessible trip.
Karen also shares how adaptive skiing and travel helped her reclaim a sense of freedom after becoming a wheelchair user, and why she believes everyone deserves the opportunity to explore the world.
Whether you’re living with a disability, traveling with a loved one, or work in the travel industry, this conversation offers practical insights and an inspiring reminder that travel should be accessible to everyone.
- Karen IG — https://www.instagram.com/gojoyward/
- Karen LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-morales-157b412/
- Fora IG — https://www.instagram.com/foratravel/?hl=en
- Fora LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/foratravel/
- Fora Website — https://www.foratravel.com/
- Karen Fora Page — https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/karen-morales
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What happens when a life-changing accident forces you to redefine everything you thought was possible? On this episode of the We're Not Stumped podcast, I sit down with Dr. Kirsten Ludwig—a biomedical researcher, educator, former professional polo player, and advocate for disability inclusion in healthcare. In 2021, Dr. Ludwig was paralyzed from the neck down during a horseback riding accident. Through determination, rehabilitation, and an incredible commitment to recovery, she became what she describes as a walking quadriplegic. Today, she combines her lived experience with her work as an Associate Professor of Biomedical Science at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, helping educate future physicians about disability, accessibility, and patient-centered care.
What is it really like to live with hearing loss? . In this episode of the We're Not Stumped Podcast, Mike Bolland sits down with Janelle Parker, founder of TAMCO Learning, to discuss her lifelong journey with hearing loss and the lessons she's learned along the way. Janelle shares how she was born with a unique "cookie bite" hearing loss, received her first hearing aid before age four, and adapted to life in a world designed for hearing people. She also discusses the dramatic evolution of hearing aid technology, assistive devices, and accessibility tools that have transformed opportunities for people with hearing loss. Whether you're living with hearing loss, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in learning more about accessibility and communication, this episode offers practical advice, inspiration, and valuable perspective.
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