How to Make Your Vacation Rental More Accessible with Lorraine Woodward

In today’s vacation rental landscape, accessibility is too often an afterthought. Many properties labeled as "accessible" fall short of meeting the real needs of travelers with disabilities and countless families are left without safe, comfortable places to stay.

In our episode with Lorraine Woodward, CEO and co-founder of Becoming Rentable, we talk about the urgent need for more inclusive vacation accommodations and how property managers can be part of the solution.

From Personal Need to National Movement

Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at a young age, Lorraine has spent her entire life navigating the world as a wheelchair user. She's also the mother of two sons with the same condition, which only deepened her understanding of the barriers families like hers face when trying to travel.

Her journey into the vacation rental world began with a simple desire: to create a space where her family could vacation safely and comfortably. That space became a beach house in Wilmington, NC, built with accessibility in mind. Over the years, more than 500 guests have stayed in that home, each with stories that echoed Lorraine’s own: a lack of options, stress around traveling, and a longing for independence.

That shared experience became the catalyst for Becoming rentABLE, a company focused on helping short-term rental hosts and managers understand, implement, and promote true accessibility.

Accessibility Is Broader Than You Think

Lorraine explains that the conversation around accessible rentals often focuses solely on wheelchair access but that’s only part of the picture. Accessibility also includes guests who are blind or visually impaired, people on the autism spectrum, those with hearing loss, and aging travelers who rely on walkers or other mobility aids.

What Hosts and Managers Can Do Right Now

You don’t need a major renovation to start making a difference. Lorraine shares several practical, low-cost steps hosts can take to make their listings more inclusive:

• Show the full space in photos including door widths, transitions, and bathrooms
• Use clear descriptions that name specific features: roll-in showers, step stools, threshold ramps
• Add small equipment to an "Able Closet" like shower seats, grab bars, or portable ramps
• Make safety a priority by adding secondary locks for guests with autism or dementia
• Be open to learning and asking questions about how to serve different types of travelers

As Lorraine puts it: “It doesn’t have to be expensive but it does have to be intentional.”

Why It Matters

Accessible travel is a growing market. Families who find a place that meets their needs are more likely to return, spend more during their stay, and refer others. Lorraine notes that travelers with disabilities tend to stay longer, are highly loyal, and are often traveling with companions, making them an incredibly valuable guest segment.

Yet today, less than 1% of vacation rentals in the U.S. are considered accessible. The need is real and so is the opportunity.

A Call to the Industry

Through Becoming rentABLE’s work with platforms like Vrbo and Expedia, and collaborations with state tourism departments and universities, Lorraine is building a movement that blends advocacy with action. But she emphasizes that real change requires widespread participation.

Whether you manage one property or a hundred, the decision to make your space more inclusive can have a ripple effect for your guests, your business, and the future of travel.

Watch the full episode here: