Meet the Reset Tourism Fund Investees Making Travel More Accessible

At the UnTours Foundation, we believe travel should be for everyone. Yet for more than 1.3 billion people worldwide, living with a disability can still mean facing barriers that make exploration difficult or impossible. In tourism, that might look like sidewalks that end too soon, hotels that aren’t truly accessible, or travel tools that fail to consider different mobility needs.

That’s why we invest in entrepreneurs who are redefining what access can mean. These founders are removing physical obstacles while also challenging outdated systems and assumptions. They’re designing tools, experiences, and environments that center dignity, independence, and connection. Together, they’re building a future where travel is not only more accessible, but more inclusive, more imaginative, and more human.

These five UnTours Foundation investees are showing what’s possible when access is built into travel from the very beginning. Each one is expanding who gets to take part in the experience of exploring the world, proving that inclusive travel is not just a luxury but a necessary step toward equity, connection, and belonging.

 

Brandon Winfield spent much of his childhood at the track. By his early teens, he was racing motocross competitively, traveling on weekends and building a life around the sport he loved. That momentum came to a halt at 14, when a crash during a race left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Adjusting to life with a disability came with a new set of challenges. As Brandon continued to travel for competitions and everyday life, he began to see how inconsistent accessibility really was. Some places were easy to navigate. Others created unnecessary barriers. And the information online often didn’t reflect what he found in person.

That problem led to the idea for iAccess Life. In 2019, Brandon teamed up with co-founder Sayeed Mehrjerdian to launch a mobile app that helps people with disabilities know what to expect before heading out. Through the app, users can rate and review the accessibility of public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, and tourist sites. It gives people the confidence to make informed decisions and helps businesses understand where they can improve.

Since launching, iAccess Life has grown to include thousands of reviews across 45 states and more than 30 countries. For travelers with mobility challenges, it has become a trusted resource. For businesses, it is a tool for accountability and progress.

The team also created Voice, a feedback platform that uses QR codes to gather real-time data from customers. From parking and restrooms to entryways and seating areas, Voice helps businesses identify gaps and take practical steps to make their spaces more welcoming.

Brandon’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through efforts like the Operation Bus Stop Census and national media coverage from CNN, CBS, and NPR’s How I Built This, he continues to push for a world that is built with everyone in mind.

Agnes Abelsen (Travengers AU)

 

Travel can be life-changing, but for many neurodivergent young people, it often feels out of reach. That’s the gap Travengers AU is working to close. Founded in 2020 by Agnes Abelsen, Travengers creates supported travel experiences designed specifically for neurodivergent youth, helping them build confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The inspiration came from Agnes’ own family. Watching her younger autistic sister navigate a world not built with her in mind made it clear how few opportunities existed for young people with hidden disabilities to explore, connect, and grow. Travengers was created to change that.

Based in Australia, Travengers offers group travel, local events, and virtual experiences that prioritize comfort, support, and inclusion. Each trip is thoughtfully designed and led by trained Support Guides, with a close traveler-to-guide ratio to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and included. For many participants, these trips are more than just a chance to travel. They offer a space to practice independence, build real friendships, and experience the world on their own terms.

Since launching, Travengers has supported more than 110 neurodivergent young people across 290 social events and 38 trips. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Travengers is also shifting perceptions, challenging outdated ideas about neurodivergence, and helping more people understand what true inclusion looks like.

If these founders made you rethink what accessible travel can look like, we invite you to be part of the movement. The UnDonors Club is a community of people who believe travel should be for everyone. By joining, you’ll help us invest in more entrepreneurs who are opening up the world through inclusive design, mobility innovation, and barrier-free experiences. You’ll also get some UnTours travel perks along the way.

Join the UnDonors Club

Geoff Babb built his life around the outdoors. He spent years climbing, biking, and backpacking through the Pacific Northwest. Being on the trail wasn’t just something he loved. It was part of who he was.

In 2005, a brainstem stroke changed his mobility. He began using a wheelchair and had limited use of one hand. But his connection to nature never faded. After months of recovery, Geoff was determined to get back outside and on his first attempt, the front wheels of his chair caught on a crack in the pavement, sending him to the ground. It was a frustrating and eye-opening experience. The trails were still there, but the equipment to access them was not. Most wheelchairs were built for sidewalks, not switchbacks. So Geoff set out to change that.

With help from a close friend, Geoff started modifying a standard wheelchair to handle more rugged terrain. They swapped in mountain bike tires, added hand brakes, and built a removable front wheel. It wasn’t perfect, but it got him back outside with his family. That early version of the AdvenChair took him to places like Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Mt. Rainier. But on a trip into the Grand Canyon, the axle snapped just a few miles in. That experience made one thing clear. If this chair was going to keep up with real adventures, it needed to be stronger, lighter, and built for the backcountry from the start.

The AdvenChair is the result. This human-powered, all-terrain wheelchair is designed to take on trails, creek crossings, steep climbs, and rough terrain. Built with high-performance components, ergonomic handlebars, and CushCore suspension, it offers the stability and comfort needed to explore places most wheelchairs simply can’t reach. 

Each chair is assembled by hand in Bend, Oregon by a dedicated volunteer team. So far, the AdvenChair has helped people reach places like Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal, proving that adventure should be for everyone.

Through a partnership with Wanderlust Tours, AdvenChair also offers guided hikes through some of Central Oregon’s most stunning landscapes. Participants explore canyon overlooks at Smith Rock, follow the Deschutes River past waterfalls, watch the sun set over lava fields, and walk beneath golden aspens in Shevlin Park. These experiences connect people to nature in ways that are joyful, healing, and deeply human.

Brandon Winfield & Sayeed Mehrjerdian (iAccess Life)

Brandon Winfield spent much of his childhood at the track. By his early teens, he was racing motocross competitively, traveling on weekends and building a life around the sport he loved. That momentum came to a halt at 14, when a crash during a race left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Adjusting to life with a disability came with a new set of challenges. As Brandon continued to travel for competitions and everyday life, he began to see how inconsistent accessibility really was. Some places were easy to navigate. Others created unnecessary barriers. And the information online often didn’t reflect what he found in person.

That problem led to the idea for iAccess Life. In 2019, Brandon teamed up with co-founder Sayeed Mehrjerdian to launch a mobile app that helps people with disabilities know what to expect before heading out. Through the app, users can rate and review the accessibility of public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, and tourist sites. It gives people the confidence to make informed decisions and helps businesses understand where they can improve.

Since launching, iAccess Life has grown to include thousands of reviews across 45 states and more than 30 countries. For travelers with mobility challenges, it has become a trusted resource. For businesses, it is a tool for accountability and progress.

The team also created Voice, a feedback platform that uses QR codes to gather real-time data from customers. From parking and restrooms to entryways and seating areas, Voice helps businesses identify gaps and take practical steps to make their spaces more welcoming.

Brandon’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through efforts like the Operation Bus Stop Census and national media coverage from CNN, CBS, and NPR’s How I Built This, he continues to push for a world that is built with everyone in mind.

Agnes Abelsen (Travengers AU)

Travel can be life-changing, but for many neurodivergent young people, it often feels out of reach. That’s the gap Travengers AU is working to close. Founded in 2020 by Agnes Abelsen, Travengers creates supported travel experiences designed specifically for neurodivergent youth, helping them build confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The inspiration came from Agnes’ own family. Watching her younger autistic sister navigate a world not built with her in mind made it clear how few opportunities existed for young people with hidden disabilities to explore, connect, and grow. Travengers was created to change that.

Based in Australia, Travengers offers group travel, local events, and virtual experiences that prioritize comfort, support, and inclusion. Each trip is thoughtfully designed and led by trained Support Guides, with a close traveler-to-guide ratio to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and included. For many participants, these trips are more than just a chance to travel. They offer a space to practice independence, build real friendships, and experience the world on their own terms.

Since launching, Travengers has supported more than 110 neurodivergent young people across 290 social events and 38 trips. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Travengers is also shifting perceptions, challenging outdated ideas about neurodivergence, and helping more people understand what true inclusion looks like.

If these founders made you rethink what accessible travel can look like, we invite you to be part of the movement. The UnDonors Club is a community of people who believe travel should be for everyone. By joining, you’ll help us invest in more entrepreneurs who are opening up the world through inclusive design, mobility innovation, and barrier-free experiences. You’ll also get some UnTours travel perks along the way.

Join the UnDonors Club

John Sage (Accessible Travel Solution

John Sage has always loved to travel. But after a skiing accident in 2001 left him with a spinal cord injury, he simply wanted to keep exploring the world. But traveling with a disability revealed a whole new set of obstacles. Information about accessibility was vague or missing, and many places that claimed to be accessible were anything but. 

So John started documenting the details himself. He visited more than 140 cities in a wheelchair, mapping out what most travel companies ignored: step-free entrances, bathroom layouts, sidewalk conditions, and transportation options. That work became Sage Traveling in 2009. In 2016, he launched Accessible Travel Solutions to bring this approach to a global audience.

Based in Texas, ATS is now the world’s first and largest accessible tour operator. The company offers more than 500 barrier-free shore excursions in 120 ports across 45 countries. They work closely with cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian to ensure that travelers with mobility challenges can explore each destination with confidence and comfort. Every tour is built with accessibility in mind, from adapted transportation to trained guides and reliable on-the-ground support. ATS also supports travel agents and tour operators worldwide, helping them create private and group itineraries that meet the real needs of disabled travelers.

John has also served as the lead author of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines and contributed to the ISO 21902 global accessibility standard. Through its training arm, Sage Inclusion, ATS offers accessibility audits, staff training, and consulting services that help businesses create more inclusive tourism experiences.

The company is also developing real-time accessibility tools powered by AI. These tools will allow travelers to access verified information about accommodations, attractions, and transit, giving them greater control and peace of mind when planning trips.

Kelly Twichel (Access Trax)

Most people don’t think twice about walking across sand, gravel, or grass. But for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility, those everyday terrains can become real obstacles. That’s the gap Access Trax is working to close.

Founded by occupational therapist Kelly Twichel, Access Trax creates lightweight, portable mats that make outdoor spaces more navigable and inclusive. From beaches and parks to festivals and public landmarks, this simple solution helps people move more freely while shifting how the world thinks about accessibility.

While studying occupational therapy in grad school, Kelly took an assistive technology course that reshaped her path. She and a classmate developed a project to help adaptive surfers in Southern California reach the ocean with greater independence. Their idea was straightforward: a portable mat that could be laid across sand. When they tested it for the first time, the response was immediate. Smiles, confidence, and a visible sense of freedom made it clear this was more than just a class assignment.

Six months after graduating, Kelly launched Access Trax to bring that same experience to more people. What began on the beach is now used in national parks, resorts, music festivals, and sporting events around the world. From family outings to adaptive surf championships, Access Trax gives wheelchair users and others with mobility needs a safer, easier way to cross uneven ground.

One of Kelly’s proudest moments came at the US Open Adaptive Surfing Championship. Seeing athletes roll down to the shoreline, ready to compete, reminded her why this work matters.

Her goal is to see Access Trax featured at the 2028 Paralympics and Olympics in Los Angeles, making those global events more inclusive. Until then, she and her team are focused on opening up the outdoors for everyone, one pathway at a time.

Geoff Babb (AdvenChair)

Geoff Babb built his life around the outdoors. He spent years climbing, biking, and backpacking through the Pacific Northwest. Being on the trail wasn’t just something he loved. It was part of who he was.

In 2005, a brainstem stroke changed his mobility. He began using a wheelchair and had limited use of one hand. But his connection to nature never faded. After months of recovery, Geoff was determined to get back outside and on his first attempt, the front wheels of his chair caught on a crack in the pavement, sending him to the ground. It was a frustrating and eye-opening experience. The trails were still there, but the equipment to access them was not. Most wheelchairs were built for sidewalks, not switchbacks. So Geoff set out to change that.

With help from a close friend, Geoff started modifying a standard wheelchair to handle more rugged terrain. They swapped in mountain bike tires, added hand brakes, and built a removable front wheel. It wasn’t perfect, but it got him back outside with his family. That early version of the AdvenChair took him to places like Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Mt. Rainier. But on a trip into the Grand Canyon, the axle snapped just a few miles in. That experience made one thing clear. If this chair was going to keep up with real adventures, it needed to be stronger, lighter, and built for the backcountry from the start.

The AdvenChair is the result. This human-powered, all-terrain wheelchair is designed to take on trails, creek crossings, steep climbs, and rough terrain. Built with high-performance components, ergonomic handlebars, and CushCore suspension, it offers the stability and comfort needed to explore places most wheelchairs simply can’t reach. 

Each chair is assembled by hand in Bend, Oregon by a dedicated volunteer team. So far, the AdvenChair has helped people reach places like Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal, proving that adventure should be for everyone.

Through a partnership with Wanderlust Tours, AdvenChair also offers guided hikes through some of Central Oregon’s most stunning landscapes. Participants explore canyon overlooks at Smith Rock, follow the Deschutes River past waterfalls, watch the sun set over lava fields, and walk beneath golden aspens in Shevlin Park. These experiences connect people to nature in ways that are joyful, healing, and deeply human.

Brandon Winfield & Sayeed Mehrjerdian (iAccess Life)

Brandon Winfield spent much of his childhood at the track. By his early teens, he was racing motocross competitively, traveling on weekends and building a life around the sport he loved. That momentum came to a halt at 14, when a crash during a race left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Adjusting to life with a disability came with a new set of challenges. As Brandon continued to travel for competitions and everyday life, he began to see how inconsistent accessibility really was. Some places were easy to navigate. Others created unnecessary barriers. And the information online often didn’t reflect what he found in person.

That problem led to the idea for iAccess Life. In 2019, Brandon teamed up with co-founder Sayeed Mehrjerdian to launch a mobile app that helps people with disabilities know what to expect before heading out. Through the app, users can rate and review the accessibility of public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, and tourist sites. It gives people the confidence to make informed decisions and helps businesses understand where they can improve.

Since launching, iAccess Life has grown to include thousands of reviews across 45 states and more than 30 countries. For travelers with mobility challenges, it has become a trusted resource. For businesses, it is a tool for accountability and progress.

The team also created Voice, a feedback platform that uses QR codes to gather real-time data from customers. From parking and restrooms to entryways and seating areas, Voice helps businesses identify gaps and take practical steps to make their spaces more welcoming.

Brandon’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through efforts like the Operation Bus Stop Census and national media coverage from CNN, CBS, and NPR’s How I Built This, he continues to push for a world that is built with everyone in mind.

Agnes Abelsen (Travengers AU)

Travel can be life-changing, but for many neurodivergent young people, it often feels out of reach. That’s the gap Travengers AU is working to close. Founded in 2020 by Agnes Abelsen, Travengers creates supported travel experiences designed specifically for neurodivergent youth, helping them build confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The inspiration came from Agnes’ own family. Watching her younger autistic sister navigate a world not built with her in mind made it clear how few opportunities existed for young people with hidden disabilities to explore, connect, and grow. Travengers was created to change that.

Based in Australia, Travengers offers group travel, local events, and virtual experiences that prioritize comfort, support, and inclusion. Each trip is thoughtfully designed and led by trained Support Guides, with a close traveler-to-guide ratio to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and included. For many participants, these trips are more than just a chance to travel. They offer a space to practice independence, build real friendships, and experience the world on their own terms.

Since launching, Travengers has supported more than 110 neurodivergent young people across 290 social events and 38 trips. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Travengers is also shifting perceptions, challenging outdated ideas about neurodivergence, and helping more people understand what true inclusion looks like.

If these founders made you rethink what accessible travel can look like, we invite you to be part of the movement. The UnDonors Club is a community of people who believe travel should be for everyone. By joining, you’ll help us invest in more entrepreneurs who are opening up the world through inclusive design, mobility innovation, and barrier-free experiences. You’ll also get some UnTours travel perks along the way.

Join the UnDonors Club

John Sage (Accessible Travel Solution

Geoff Babb built his life around the outdoors. He spent years climbing, biking, and backpacking through the Pacific Northwest. Being on the trail wasn’t just something he loved. It was part of who he was.

In 2005, a brainstem stroke changed his mobility. He began using a wheelchair and had limited use of one hand. But his connection to nature never faded. After months of recovery, Geoff was determined to get back outside and on his first attempt, the front wheels of his chair caught on a crack in the pavement, sending him to the ground. It was a frustrating and eye-opening experience. The trails were still there, but the equipment to access them was not. Most wheelchairs were built for sidewalks, not switchbacks. So Geoff set out to change that.

With help from a close friend, Geoff started modifying a standard wheelchair to handle more rugged terrain. They swapped in mountain bike tires, added hand brakes, and built a removable front wheel. It wasn’t perfect, but it got him back outside with his family. That early version of the AdvenChair took him to places like Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Mt. Rainier. But on a trip into the Grand Canyon, the axle snapped just a few miles in. That experience made one thing clear. If this chair was going to keep up with real adventures, it needed to be stronger, lighter, and built for the backcountry from the start.

The AdvenChair is the result. This human-powered, all-terrain wheelchair is designed to take on trails, creek crossings, steep climbs, and rough terrain. Built with high-performance components, ergonomic handlebars, and CushCore suspension, it offers the stability and comfort needed to explore places most wheelchairs simply can’t reach. 

Each chair is assembled by hand in Bend, Oregon by a dedicated volunteer team. So far, the AdvenChair has helped people reach places like Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal, proving that adventure should be for everyone.

Through a partnership with Wanderlust Tours, AdvenChair also offers guided hikes through some of Central Oregon’s most stunning landscapes. Participants explore canyon overlooks at Smith Rock, follow the Deschutes River past waterfalls, watch the sun set over lava fields, and walk beneath golden aspens in Shevlin Park. These experiences connect people to nature in ways that are joyful, healing, and deeply human.

Brandon Winfield & Sayeed Mehrjerdian (iAccess Life)

Brandon Winfield spent much of his childhood at the track. By his early teens, he was racing motocross competitively, traveling on weekends and building a life around the sport he loved. That momentum came to a halt at 14, when a crash during a race left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Adjusting to life with a disability came with a new set of challenges. As Brandon continued to travel for competitions and everyday life, he began to see how inconsistent accessibility really was. Some places were easy to navigate. Others created unnecessary barriers. And the information online often didn’t reflect what he found in person.

That problem led to the idea for iAccess Life. In 2019, Brandon teamed up with co-founder Sayeed Mehrjerdian to launch a mobile app that helps people with disabilities know what to expect before heading out. Through the app, users can rate and review the accessibility of public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, and tourist sites. It gives people the confidence to make informed decisions and helps businesses understand where they can improve.

Since launching, iAccess Life has grown to include thousands of reviews across 45 states and more than 30 countries. For travelers with mobility challenges, it has become a trusted resource. For businesses, it is a tool for accountability and progress.

The team also created Voice, a feedback platform that uses QR codes to gather real-time data from customers. From parking and restrooms to entryways and seating areas, Voice helps businesses identify gaps and take practical steps to make their spaces more welcoming.

Brandon’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through efforts like the Operation Bus Stop Census and national media coverage from CNN, CBS, and NPR’s How I Built This, he continues to push for a world that is built with everyone in mind.

Agnes Abelsen (Travengers AU)

Travel can be life-changing, but for many neurodivergent young people, it often feels out of reach. That’s the gap Travengers AU is working to close. Founded in 2020 by Agnes Abelsen, Travengers creates supported travel experiences designed specifically for neurodivergent youth, helping them build confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The inspiration came from Agnes’ own family. Watching her younger autistic sister navigate a world not built with her in mind made it clear how few opportunities existed for young people with hidden disabilities to explore, connect, and grow. Travengers was created to change that.

Based in Australia, Travengers offers group travel, local events, and virtual experiences that prioritize comfort, support, and inclusion. Each trip is thoughtfully designed and led by trained Support Guides, with a close traveler-to-guide ratio to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and included. For many participants, these trips are more than just a chance to travel. They offer a space to practice independence, build real friendships, and experience the world on their own terms.

Since launching, Travengers has supported more than 110 neurodivergent young people across 290 social events and 38 trips. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Travengers is also shifting perceptions, challenging outdated ideas about neurodivergence, and helping more people understand what true inclusion looks like.

If these founders made you rethink what accessible travel can look like, we invite you to be part of the movement. The UnDonors Club is a community of people who believe travel should be for everyone. By joining, you’ll help us invest in more entrepreneurs who are opening up the world through inclusive design, mobility innovation, and barrier-free experiences. You’ll also get some UnTours travel perks along the way.

Join the UnDonors Club

John Sage has always loved to travel. But after a skiing accident in 2001 left him with a spinal cord injury, he simply wanted to keep exploring the world. But traveling with a disability revealed a whole new set of obstacles. Information about accessibility was vague or missing, and many places that claimed to be accessible were anything but. 

So John started documenting the details himself. He visited more than 140 cities in a wheelchair, mapping out what most travel companies ignored: step-free entrances, bathroom layouts, sidewalk conditions, and transportation options. That work became Sage Traveling in 2009. In 2016, he launched Accessible Travel Solutions to bring this approach to a global audience.

Based in Texas, ATS is now the world’s first and largest accessible tour operator. The company offers more than 500 barrier-free shore excursions in 120 ports across 45 countries. They work closely with cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian to ensure that travelers with mobility challenges can explore each destination with confidence and comfort. Every tour is built with accessibility in mind, from adapted transportation to trained guides and reliable on-the-ground support. ATS also supports travel agents and tour operators worldwide, helping them create private and group itineraries that meet the real needs of disabled travelers.

John has also served as the lead author of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines and contributed to the ISO 21902 global accessibility standard. Through its training arm, Sage Inclusion, ATS offers accessibility audits, staff training, and consulting services that help businesses create more inclusive tourism experiences.

The company is also developing real-time accessibility tools powered by AI. These tools will allow travelers to access verified information about accommodations, attractions, and transit, giving them greater control and peace of mind when planning trips.

Kelly Twichel (Access Trax)

Most people don’t think twice about walking across sand, gravel, or grass. But for wheelchair users and others with limited mobility, those everyday terrains can become real obstacles. That’s the gap Access Trax is working to close.

Founded by occupational therapist Kelly Twichel, Access Trax creates lightweight, portable mats that make outdoor spaces more navigable and inclusive. From beaches and parks to festivals and public landmarks, this simple solution helps people move more freely while shifting how the world thinks about accessibility.

While studying occupational therapy in grad school, Kelly took an assistive technology course that reshaped her path. She and a classmate developed a project to help adaptive surfers in Southern California reach the ocean with greater independence. Their idea was straightforward: a portable mat that could be laid across sand. When they tested it for the first time, the response was immediate. Smiles, confidence, and a visible sense of freedom made it clear this was more than just a class assignment.

Six months after graduating, Kelly launched Access Trax to bring that same experience to more people. What began on the beach is now used in national parks, resorts, music festivals, and sporting events around the world. From family outings to adaptive surf championships, Access Trax gives wheelchair users and others with mobility needs a safer, easier way to cross uneven ground.

One of Kelly’s proudest moments came at the US Open Adaptive Surfing Championship. Seeing athletes roll down to the shoreline, ready to compete, reminded her why this work matters.

Her goal is to see Access Trax featured at the 2028 Paralympics and Olympics in Los Angeles, making those global events more inclusive. Until then, she and her team are focused on opening up the outdoors for everyone, one pathway at a time.

Geoff Babb (AdvenChair)

Geoff Babb built his life around the outdoors. He spent years climbing, biking, and backpacking through the Pacific Northwest. Being on the trail wasn’t just something he loved. It was part of who he was.

In 2005, a brainstem stroke changed his mobility. He began using a wheelchair and had limited use of one hand. But his connection to nature never faded. After months of recovery, Geoff was determined to get back outside and on his first attempt, the front wheels of his chair caught on a crack in the pavement, sending him to the ground. It was a frustrating and eye-opening experience. The trails were still there, but the equipment to access them was not. Most wheelchairs were built for sidewalks, not switchbacks. So Geoff set out to change that.

With help from a close friend, Geoff started modifying a standard wheelchair to handle more rugged terrain. They swapped in mountain bike tires, added hand brakes, and built a removable front wheel. It wasn’t perfect, but it got him back outside with his family. That early version of the AdvenChair took him to places like Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Mt. Rainier. But on a trip into the Grand Canyon, the axle snapped just a few miles in. That experience made one thing clear. If this chair was going to keep up with real adventures, it needed to be stronger, lighter, and built for the backcountry from the start.

The AdvenChair is the result. This human-powered, all-terrain wheelchair is designed to take on trails, creek crossings, steep climbs, and rough terrain. Built with high-performance components, ergonomic handlebars, and CushCore suspension, it offers the stability and comfort needed to explore places most wheelchairs simply can’t reach. 

Each chair is assembled by hand in Bend, Oregon by a dedicated volunteer team. So far, the AdvenChair has helped people reach places like Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal, proving that adventure should be for everyone.

Through a partnership with Wanderlust Tours, AdvenChair also offers guided hikes through some of Central Oregon’s most stunning landscapes. Participants explore canyon overlooks at Smith Rock, follow the Deschutes River past waterfalls, watch the sun set over lava fields, and walk beneath golden aspens in Shevlin Park. These experiences connect people to nature in ways that are joyful, healing, and deeply human.

Brandon Winfield & Sayeed Mehrjerdian (iAccess Life)

Brandon Winfield spent much of his childhood at the track. By his early teens, he was racing motocross competitively, traveling on weekends and building a life around the sport he loved. That momentum came to a halt at 14, when a crash during a race left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Adjusting to life with a disability came with a new set of challenges. As Brandon continued to travel for competitions and everyday life, he began to see how inconsistent accessibility really was. Some places were easy to navigate. Others created unnecessary barriers. And the information online often didn’t reflect what he found in person.

That problem led to the idea for iAccess Life. In 2019, Brandon teamed up with co-founder Sayeed Mehrjerdian to launch a mobile app that helps people with disabilities know what to expect before heading out. Through the app, users can rate and review the accessibility of public places like restaurants, hotels, bars, and tourist sites. It gives people the confidence to make informed decisions and helps businesses understand where they can improve.

Since launching, iAccess Life has grown to include thousands of reviews across 45 states and more than 30 countries. For travelers with mobility challenges, it has become a trusted resource. For businesses, it is a tool for accountability and progress.

The team also created Voice, a feedback platform that uses QR codes to gather real-time data from customers. From parking and restrooms to entryways and seating areas, Voice helps businesses identify gaps and take practical steps to make their spaces more welcoming.

Brandon’s advocacy doesn’t stop there. Through efforts like the Operation Bus Stop Census and national media coverage from CNN, CBS, and NPR’s How I Built This, he continues to push for a world that is built with everyone in mind.

Agnes Abelsen (Travengers AU)

Travel can be life-changing, but for many neurodivergent young people, it often feels out of reach. That’s the gap Travengers AU is working to close. Founded in 2020 by Agnes Abelsen, Travengers creates supported travel experiences designed specifically for neurodivergent youth, helping them build confidence, independence, and friendships along the way.

The inspiration came from Agnes’ own family. Watching her younger autistic sister navigate a world not built with her in mind made it clear how few opportunities existed for young people with hidden disabilities to explore, connect, and grow. Travengers was created to change that.

Based in Australia, Travengers offers group travel, local events, and virtual experiences that prioritize comfort, support, and inclusion. Each trip is thoughtfully designed and led by trained Support Guides, with a close traveler-to-guide ratio to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and included. For many participants, these trips are more than just a chance to travel. They offer a space to practice independence, build real friendships, and experience the world on their own terms.

Since launching, Travengers has supported more than 110 neurodivergent young people across 290 social events and 38 trips. But the impact doesn’t stop there. Travengers is also shifting perceptions, challenging outdated ideas about neurodivergence, and helping more people understand what true inclusion looks like.

If these founders made you rethink what accessible travel can look like, we invite you to be part of the movement. The UnDonors Club is a community of people who believe travel should be for everyone. By joining, you’ll help us invest in more entrepreneurs who are opening up the world through inclusive design, mobility innovation, and barrier-free experiences. You’ll also get some UnTours travel perks along the way.

Join the UnDonors Club

John Sage (Accessible Travel Solution