Accessible doesn’t
mean usable.
And that’s the problem.
We teach travel advisors how to plan real-world, function-based travel that actually works.
Most travel advisors are asking the wrong question.
They ask: “Is it accessible?”
But accessible doesn’t mean usable.
A hotel can be ADA compliant… and still not work for your client.
A shuttle can “accommodate wheelchairs”… and still be unsafe to board.
A room can check every box… and still fail on day one.
And when that happens?
Your client is the one who pays for it.
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Learn why most travel planning fails—and how to start thinking in terms of real-world function, not just compliance.
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Learn how mobility, transfers, endurance, and sensory needs impact travel—and what actually matters when planning.
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A step-by-step method to assess your client’s needs, evaluate environments, and avoid costly mistakes before booking.
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How to evaluate hotels, transportation, excursions, and destinations so your clients can travel safely and confidently.
This is the method we teach:
Understand the Client
Start by learning how your client actually functions in real life—not just what they’re diagnosed with or what’s listed on paper.
Assess the Environment
Evaluate hotels, transportation, and experiences through a functional lens.
So you can spot what will and won’t
work before booking.
Plan with Purpose
Use the BBTA Planning Framework™ to build travel experiences that are safe, realistic, and tailored to your client’s needs.
Deliver with Confidence
Book with clarity, communicate expectations, and create experiences your clients can actually enjoy—without surprises.
Join the Founding Cohort
Be Brave Travel Academy
$497
Limited founding cohort spots available.
Learn how to plan travel that actually works—safely, confidently, and in a way your clients can rely on.
Built from real experience—not just theory
Be Brave Travel Academy was created by two occupational therapy professionals—bringing together clinical expertise and real-world travel planning to create experiences that actually work.
Meet Your Instructors
Michelle Balcarcel
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
Michelle brings over 10 years of experience helping individuals navigate real-world environments safely and independently.
As a mother of four neurodivergent daughters and the spouse of a wheelchair user, she understands firsthand that “accessible” doesn’t always mean usable.
April Garcia
Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) & Accessible Travel Specialist
April is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and travel advisor specializing in accessible and adaptive travel, with a focus on how clients actually function in real-world environments—not just what looks accessible on paper.
Together, we combine clinical insight and real-world travel planning to bridge the gap between what’s promised—and what actually works.
Why This Matters Now
Accessible travel is one of the fastest-growing and most underserved segments in the industry.
1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability
That represents tens of millions of travelers
And most do not travel alone—they travel with family, caregivers, and groups
This is not a niche market.
It’s a massive, underserved one.
Why This Matters Now
Accessible travel is one of the fastest-growing and most underserved segments in the industry.
1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability
That represents tens of millions of travelers
And most do not travel alone—they travel with family, caregivers, and groups
What That Means For Your Business
This doesn’t require a full client overhaul.
Even a small shift can create meaningful revenue.
If you serve just:
2 accessible travel clients per month
averaging $4,000 per trip
at a 10% commission
👉 That’s $800/month
👉 or nearly $10,000/year
From a very small number of clients.
But here’s what makes this different:
These clients don’t travel alone.
They travel with:
spouses
children
caregivers
extended family
Which means one client often turns into:
👉 multiple travelers per booking
And when you get it right?
You don’t just earn one booking.
You build:
repeat trips
referrals within tight-knit communities
and long-term client relationships
THE REAL OPPORTUNITY
You’re not adding more clients.
You’re increasing the value of the ones you serve.
Advisors who can confidently serve this market don’t just book trips—they build referral-driven businesses.
Be Brave Travel Academy — Founding Cohort
$497
Founding price (limited spots available)— will increase as the program expands
💳 Payment Options
Pay in full: $497
or
2 payments of $275
What You Get
✔ 13-module step-by-step curriculum
✔ The BBTA Planning Framework™
✔ Real-world case scenarios (not theory)
✔ Client intake system to assess real needs
✔ Tools to evaluate hotels, transportation, and experiences
✔ Language + communication strategies for sensitive conversations
Founding Member Bonuses
🎁 All future updates included at no additional cost
🎁 Founding pricing locked in (you’ll never pay more)
🎁 Priority access to advanced trainings + certifications
Limited founding spots available as we build our first group of trained advisors.
This Program Is For You If:
✔ You’ve had a client where “accessible” didn’t actually work
✔ You want to stop guessing and start planning with confidence
✔ You want to serve clients with complex needs safely and effectively
✔ You want to stand out in the travel industry
This Program Is NOT For You If:
❌ You’re looking for surface-level ADA definitions
❌ You don’t plan to actively use this in your business
The 14-Day Confidence Guarantee
Try Be Brave Travel Academy for 14 days.
If you don’t feel more confident understanding how to plan travel that actually works—
we’ll give you a full refund.
No pressure. No risk.