Oregon Coast Accessibility Doc Now Playing on United Flights

Published 07/16/26 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Oceanside, Oregon) - The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) is a bit like a proud parent. The organization just proudly announced that its award-winning accessibility film, “Accessible, Inclusive Travel on the Oregon Coast,” is now streaming on United Airlines’ inflight entertainment system, bringing the region’s commitment to inclusive travel to millions of passengers worldwide.

The film earned first place at the inaugural TravelAbility Film Festival, a national competition celebrating destinations advancing accessible and inclusive travel. Produced by GLP Films https://www.glpfilms.com/ and funded by a Travel Oregon Competitive Grants Program, it appears as Episode 1 in United Airlines’ TravelAbility Film Festival collection.

In a very real sense, the flick is flying high.

For the next six months, travelers flying on United aircraft equipped with seatback entertainment screens can watch the festival’s top 10 winning films, each spotlighting accessible destinations, attractions, and authentic travel experiences from around the globe. The recognition arrives during Disability Pride Month, underscoring the Oregon coastline's ongoing work to make its beaches, trails, communities, and experiences more welcoming for visitors of all abilities.

Indeed, many of the tourism regions on the coast are at the forefront of this movement, with Tillamook County and Lincoln City being downright busy with accessibility projects.

The film is filled with powerful personal stories from Oregonians and accessibility advocates whose lives have been transformed through increased access to the coast.

“When you make something accessible for me, as a blind person, or for a person who uses a wheelchair, you're making it more easily accessible to a person with small children, for a mother with a stroller, for people with bicycles. You're creating this universal access that makes the community whole. That allows everybody to come out together and leaves nobody behind,” said Patricia Kepler, featured in the film.

Adaptive recreation equipment such as David’s Chair plays a central role in that transformation, allowing people with mobility disabilities to independently access Oregon’s beaches and outdoor spaces.

“Any body of water - but the beach especially - has always been very healing to me, and walking on the sand is just not possible for me,” said Phoenix Plough. “We were just looking for things to do on the coast one day and stumbled across David’s Chair. My husband reserved it, and it changed everything. The freedom that it gave me - I was able to get out on the beach independently, feel the wind on my face, and enjoy my favorite place.”

The film also features leaders working to expand access to Oregon’s outdoor recreation.

“We want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in outdoor recreation on public lands,” said Jeanne Sprague, former Director of Lincoln City Parks and Recreation. “They have a need for it, and they have a right for it.”

The film project reflects years of collaboration among coastal communities, public land managers, nonprofit organizations, and accessibility advocates. Through initiatives such as beach wheelchairs, David’s Chair, Mobi-Mats, Wheel the World, and inclusive visitor information, the Oregon coast continues working to ensure more people can experience its natural beauty.

“Accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Every investment, every partnership, and every inch forward helps create a more welcoming coast for everyone. This film gives us the opportunity to celebrate how far we've come while inspiring us to continue working together to ensure the Oregon Coast is a place where everyone can belong and experience its beauty,” said Arica Sears, Deputy Director of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.

The complete collection of TravelAbility Film Festival winners can be viewed at: [https://travelability.net/travelability-film-festival/

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