FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 | 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
AMLA Announces New Accessibility Resources at Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller
Decatur, Ala. (June 15, 2026) – The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA), the official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, today announced at a press conference new accessibility resources at Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller that will help make the attraction more inclusive for visitors with mobility challenges and disabilities.
Through grant funding, AMLA donated five pairs of Meta Smart Glasses to Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller. The glasses were funded through a $3000 grant awarded by Northwest RC&D Council, to support accessibility improvements for visitors.
The new resources will enhance the visitor experience at Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller, one of North Alabama’s top tourist attractions drawing over 25,000 visitors from all 50 states and 33 foreign countries last year. "We are honored by this generous donation of five Meta Smart Glasses. These devices will help visitors who are blind or visually impaired engage with our exhibits and grounds in new and meaningful ways, creating a more inclusive and enriching experience while touring the Birthplace of Helen Keller,” said Sue Pilkilton, executive director of Ivy Green, Birthplace of Helen Keller.
"The Birthplace of Helen Keller holds a special place not only in North Alabama's history, but also in the story of accessibility and inclusion around the world. Securing funding for Meta Smart Glasses allows us to enhance the visitor experience for individuals with low vision or blindness while honoring Helen Keller's legacy of advocacy and perseverance," said AMLA President and CEO Tami Reist.
In October of last year, AMLA launched a region-wide accessible-friendly destination initiative with the unveiling of a new website and travel tools. Today, AMLA continues to prioritize accessible tourism across the region with the donation of wheelchairs, a TrailHopper and Meta Smart Glasses, helping ensure North Alabama remains a welcoming destination for travelers with disabilities, limited mobility and sensory sensitivities.
"This investment is part of AMLA's broader commitment to making North Alabama a more accessible-friendly destination for residents and visitors alike. As one of the region's most significant attractions, the Birthplace of Helen Keller Museum serves as a powerful example of how technology can help remove barriers and create meaningful experiences for people with a disability," added Reist.
Northwest RC&D Executive Director Lauranne James stated, “Northwest RC&D gladly agreed to partner with AMLA to assist with the accessibility project to provide five pairs of meta glasses to be used at the Birthplace of Helen Keller by persons having vision limitations. Hopefully, this will make their experience even better!”
Creative Tourism Consultant Leslie Walker said, “Accessibility doesn’t start with equipment. It starts with awareness. But when you pair that awareness with the right tools, like these new wheelchairs and Meta smart glasses, you move from good intentions into real, tangible access. That’s when a visitor stops worrying about how they’ll navigate a space and can actually experience it.” Walker was instrumental in creating Tourism ALL-a-Bama and currently serves as the Program Manager. Funded through a grant from AMLA, the mission of Tourism ALL-a-Bama is to promote and enhance the tourism industry within the state by offering sensory tourism trainings and practice stay experiences for individuals who qualify.
Reist added, “This initiative is an important way for us to give back to our communities and expand accessibility for visitors and residents across North Alabama.”
For more information on accessible-friendly travel available in North Alabama, visit www.accessiblenorthal.com.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of attractions, campgrounds, festivals, chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations, local retailers and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
