Accessible in name only: Barriers to usable hotel accommodations for wheelchair users

A traveler who uses a wheelchair books a hotel room online labeled accessible. The website provides little detail, but the label offers reassurance. On arrival, however, the traveler discovers that the bed is too high for safe transfers, the shower is not usable, and insufficient space is available to maneuver a wheelchair. As a result, the traveler is unable to complete basic daily activities, such as sleeping, bathing, and toileting. The room is ultimately inaccessible, and the traveler must find alternative accommodations. This scenario is not uncommon. For many wheelchair users, the label accessible does not guarantee usability.