As part of their mission to market the region as a premier convention and visitor destination, Experience Grand Rapids partnered with Wheel the World, an online platform and travel agency focused on accessible travel for people with mobility, sensory, hearing or vision issues.
Disability Advocates of Kent County assessed 50 local businesses using Wheel the World criteria and advised them on accessibility improvements.
Through those efforts, Grand Rapids has earned Wheel the World’s “Destination Verified” status, says Kate Lieto, vice president of marketing at Experience Grand Rapids.
“It's really capturing the information that somebody with the disability may need to know so that they can evaluate and judge for themselves if they can go there and have a great time or not - if it'll work for them.”
Efforts continue as the groups collect accessibility information from more than 300 businesses and venues in the area to be published on the Experience GR website.
They also posted a video filmed by an international film crew following two online influencers exploring and navigating Grand Rapids in their wheelchairs.
