Disability Advocate Mindy Alexander Advocates for Accessible Family Adventures in Central Oregon
Mindy Alexander, with her daughter Emsley in the AdvenChair, on an AdvenTour of Smith Rock State Park, courtesy of @mindyalexander
Mindy Alexander has amassed a large online following in her mission to break down barriers surrounding children with special needs.
When her youngest daughter Emsley was born with cerebral palsy, Mindy chose to go public, sharing an intimate look at her family’s daily life. By using her Instagram account @mindyalexander, she highlights what she calls “inchstones” that celebrate small, meaningful physical improvements and daily wins with Emsley’s complex medical needs. From specialized medical appointments to breakthrough moments in therapy, she shares it all, mindful to ensure her other children receive dedicated, uninterrupted parental attention.
Participating as a family, especially on vacation, is important to her. When Visit Central Oregon and Travel Oregon partnered with Mindy to highlight Oregon’s status as the first state to be Destination Verified through Wheel of the World, she brought her followers along on Instagram. They got to learn first-hand what Central Oregon has to offer.
That included an AdvenTour in an AdvenChair to Smith Rock, something Emsley’s standard wheelchair could not accommodate. With its steep canyon and rugged trails, the AdvenChair afforded the family an adventure in a wild space they never imagined possible to share together.
“When you have a child with a disability, every trip starts with the same question. Will she actually be able to experience it? And also, will we be able to do this together?”
Mindy posted a series of reels about her family’s breathtaking Central Oregon experience, from the ease of planning with Wheel The World to the places they stayed and traveled to.
Mindy says in many travel destinations, accessibility is an afterthought, courtesy of @mindyalexander
Emsley and her mom Mindy enjoy a moment on the trail at Smith Rock State Park in the AdvenChair, courtesy of @mindyalexander
Emsley leads the family down a trail at Smith Rock State Park on an AdvenTour in an AdvenChair, courtesy of @mindyalexander
Mindy remarks how making memories together is a rarity for many families like hers, courtesy of @mindyalexander
