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Want to see what we're all about? Hear directly from travelers and check out our recent Costa Rica adventure video!
Who We Are
Embark Inclusive Travel is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit organization designed to support adults with and without disabilities in experiencing the life-changing benefits of travel. Embark was founded by professionals working in disability services who have been leading international group tours for travelers with intellectual, developmental, and/or learning disabilities for 12 years. Our tours have spanned 13 countries and enrolled around 30 travelers each. Bringing the life-changing benefits of exploration to people who may not be able to travel without support is our #1 goal. We also want to develop experiences that are intentionally inclusive, connecting people with and without disabilities together for shared growth and learning. To ensure Embark's work always centers the community we serve, at least 20% of our board seats are held by directors who identify as disabled/people with disabilities. Learn more about our board!
Our Mission
We utilize structured tours, staff support, and scholarships to make the dream of travel a reality. Learning about other cultures and the many ways people live in the world we share is critical to developing compassion, understanding, and care for others across differences. Educational group travel supports this type of learning and teaches flexibility, open mindedness, independence, interdependence, and much more. Making those benefits accessible to people who may not be able to travel without support (physical, financial, emotional, or cognitive) is the ultimate goal of Embark. In addition, we encourage travelers without disabilities to join our tours to experience genuine disability-inclusion and to expand their commitment to shaping a more just and accessible world.
Our Tours and Travelers
We currently run 1-2 international tours each year and accept around 30 travelers per tour. The majority of our group embarks from Boston, but separate arrangements can often be made for travelers from other areas. We partner with experienced tour companies that manage traveler payments and booking logistics, while our team organizes and prepares the group for travel, manages our scholarship program, and supports individuals on the ground throughout their tour.
Experienced volunteer leaders support travelers with personal finances, organization, problem solving, and socialization on tour and supervise scheduled activities. Travelers on Embark tours must be independent with medication management and Activities of Daily Living or bring their own personal care assistants; volunteer staff do not provide physical personal hygiene assistance.
Embark travelers need to be able to:
-Keep track of their own belongings.
-Set and wake up to their own alarm.
-Describe their allergies and medical conditions.
-Be mobile via mobility assistance device or ambulation and able to traverse several miles each day.
-Be independent with Activities of Daily Living and medications.
How to Travel With Us
Potential travelers interested in an upcoming tour should contact us by email at embarkinclusivetravel@gmail.com to request an application. Applicants who seem like a good fit for our tours will be invited for follow up conversations/virtual meetings. We select applicants based on a number of factors and ultimately enroll a group of travelers who we believe will vibe well together on tour. Scholarships are available upon request for accepted travelers who express financial need. The number and size of scholarships depend on applicants’ level of stated need and our available funding. If you would like to support our scholarship program, please consider making a donation on our Donate page.
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