Oregon Becomes First State to be Accessibility Verified - After Coastline Led the Way Last Year

Published 09/24/25 at 6:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) - Travel officials in the region have a new point of pride: Oregon has become the first state in the nation to earn the designation of “Accessibility Verified,” thanks to a partnership between Travel Oregon and global accessibility platform Wheel the World (WTW). The recognition marks a major milestone in the state’s efforts to make tourism more transparent, inclusive, and navigable for people with both visible and non-visible disabilities.

Last year, the north Oregon coast's Tillamook County became verified in this way. Now the honor can go to the entire state.

The designation follows a comprehensive, statewide initiative to assess and improve accessibility across Oregon’s seven tourism regions. From hotels and restaurants to outdoor adventures and cultural attractions, more than 750 businesses in 43 communities have undergone evaluations by WTW. These assessments covered mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive features, and all are now available online. www.traveloregon.com and www.wheeltheworld.com

“Oregon’s commitment to welcoming all travelers is at the heart of this achievement,” said Kevin Wright, Vice President of Brand Stewardship at Travel Oregon. “This designation ensures that inclusion isn’t just a goal - it’s embedded in the visitor experience.”

The Accessibility Verified program stands apart from traditional ADA compliance or self-reported listings. WTW’s process involves structured, on-site evaluations backed by physical measurements, offering reliable insights into the accessibility of each location. The verified listings are now live on both TravelOregon.com and https://www.wheeltheworld.com, giving users access to tailored recommendations, 24-hour support, and AI-powered accessibility profiles.

Mobi-mat in Lincoln City

The initiative builds on local efforts, and now extends statewide. To showcase the program’s impact, Travel Oregon partnered with accessibility advocate Kaylee Bays. Bays, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, shared her journey with over 140,000 Instagram followers, highlighting accessible experiences like kayaking on Hosmer Lake and exploring Smith Rock.

“I used to assume nature wasn’t something I could really be part of,” Bays said. “Oregon showed me I was wrong. It opened a whole new world.”

Rockaway Beach

The Oregon coast more or less led the way on this accessibility movement, starting several years ago when Cannon Beach, Seaside and other cities acquired wheelchairs that could be used on sand. Then post-COVID, various towns also snagged all-terrain track chairs, largely through the organization David's Chair. Those motorized wheelchairs were able to wander a greater variety of beach environments.

As of 2024, towns that had one kind of accessibility chair or another included Cannon Beach, Seaside, Rockaway Beach, Pacific City, Coos Bay, Netarts (at Happy Camp), Garibaldi, Cape Lookout, Florence, Newport, Lincoln City and Gold Beach.

Newport

Meanwhile, Lincoln City, Seaside, Gold Beach and others also began using mobi-mats, which allow various wheelchair devices onto beaches. A variety of other features have arrived in towns or are en route, such as Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad receiving $66,500 to install Mobilift TX wheelchair lifts at each of its departure depots.

The collaboration with Wheel the World is part of Travel Oregon’s broader strategy to ensure the state is welcoming not just to visitors, but to residents with disabilities as well.

For more information and to explore accessible itineraries, visit https://www.traveloregon.com or https://www.wheeltheworld.com.

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