--- title: Lt. Governor Primavera Discusses Accessible Travel at National Summit canonical: https://denfeed.com/lt-governor-primavera-discusses-accessible-travel-at-national-summit/ published: '2026-11-12T11:46:57-07:00' updated: '2026-11-12T11:46:57-07:00' author: DENFeed Staff section: State tags: - Governor source: Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis source_url: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/lt-governor-primavera-shares-colorados-leadership-accessible-travel-national-summit publisher: DENFeed attribution: Copyright DENFeed. Quote with credit to DENFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Lt. Governor Primavera Discusses Accessible Travel at National Summit She joined Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser for a discussion on the importance of accessibility in tourism and its economic benefits. --- ### Press Release: Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis *Reproduced in full from the [Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis](https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/lt-governor-primavera-shares-colorados-leadership-accessible-travel-national-summit).* #### Lt. Governor Primavera Shares Colorado’s Leadership in Accessible Travel at National Summit TAMPA, This week, Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera joined state leaders, disability advocates and tourism professionals from across the country at the [8th Annual TravelAbility Summit](https://travelability.net/summit/) in Tampa, Florida, to share how Colorado is making travel and community life accessible to everyone. Lt. Governor Primavera joined Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser for a fireside chat to discuss how accessibility brings leaders together across party lines. The two shared ideas on how states can work with disability advocates and tourism officials to welcome more visitors. They also discussed how greater accessibility strengthens state economies and makes communities more inclusive for everyone. **“In Colorado, accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of who we are. Whether it’s a family that includes a child with a developmental disability planning their first trip to the mountains or ensuring a Coloradan with physical disabilities can enjoy paddleboarding, we want everyone to know there’s a place for them here. I was proud to share what we’ve built in Colorado and to learn from those who are working to make the world more welcoming for people with disabilities,”** said Colorado Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. **“Our disability community has always held a very special place in my heart. In Louisiana, we are actively putting these ideas to work with all-inclusive playgrounds, specialized track chairs at our state parks, and adaptive bike trails so everyone can explore our great outdoors. This isn't just about doing the right thing; it is also a tremendous boost to our tourism economy when we make Louisiana a welcoming, stress-free destination where families of all abilities can travel and make memories together, because as I always say, when you are here in Louisiana, we treat you like family,”** said Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Lt. Governor Primavera also joined Alison Butler, Senior Disability Policy Advisor in the [Colorado Disability Opportunity Office](https://cdoo.colorado.gov/), for a panel on the success of the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. Created to help Coloradans with disabilities access benefits and access innovative initiatives to help them thrive, the program raised only about $100,000 in its first decade and was headed for sunset. Through Lt. Governor Primavera’s leadership, it was revitalized by reintroducing popular historic license plate backgrounds, with $25 from every historic plate dedicated to disability programs. Since 2017, the committee has awarded more than $15 million in grants to Colorado disability organizations. The summit builds on Lt. Governor Primavera’s longtime leadership on disability rights. She chaired Colorado’s Task Force on the Rights of Coloradans with Disabilities, which developed recommendations to expand accessible outdoor recreation. This past summer, Lt. Governor Primavera also led a national discussion on accessibility and outdoor recreation at the National Lieutenant Governors Association’s annual meeting in Denver. **Colorado’s Leadership in Accessibility Tourism** In 2025, 22% of travel parties that visited Colorado included someone who needed accessibility services, more than 25% higher than the industry norm. In 2024, the Colorado Tourism Office launched the [Accessible Travel Program](https://oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding/colorado-tourism-office/accessible-travel-program) in partnership with [Wheel the World.](https://wheeltheworld.com/) Through the program, destinations receive on-site accessibility assessments, specialized training for hospitality professionals, and marketing support. Colorado now has 10 destinations and more than 270 sites with Accessibility Verified status, including attractions, accommodations, restaurants, retail, trails, guide services and gondolas. The newest participants are the Basalt Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Council of Carbondale, the Fremont County Tourism Council, and Visit Loveland. **“Colorado is committed to creating a welcoming and accessible environment for visitors and residents of all abilities to experience everything our state has to offer,”** said Colorado Tourism Office Director Timothy Wolfe. **“Through our longstanding partnership with Wheel the World, the Accessible Travel Program is empowering destinations to create more accessible experiences, giving travelers greater confidence to explore Colorado while strengthening local tourism economies.”** Colorado continues to make progress, but there are still barriers and limitations to work through to ensure people with disabilities can fully experience the places and activities they choose. By working across the aisle and alongside champions of disability accessibility and the tourism industry, states can continue to make progress towards a more accessible future for all. Source: [Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis](https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/lt-governor-primavera-shares-colorados-leadership-accessible-travel-national-summit)