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 Cook Museum of Natural Science
Decatur, Ala. (May 14, 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 the Cook Museum of Natural Science that will help make the attraction more inclusive for visitors with mobility challenges and disabilities.
Through grant funding from Alabama's Mountains, Rivers and Valleys Resource Conservation & Development Council (AMRV RC&D), AMLA donated a wheelchair and two pairs of Meta Smart Glasses to the Cook Museum of Natural Science. The wheelchair was purchased through a Community Development Grant, while the two pairs of Meta Smart Glasses were funded through a Physical Year Grant. Both grants were awarded by AMRV RC&D to support accessibility improvements for visitors.
The new resources will enhance the visitor experience at the Cook Museum of Natural Science, one of Alabama’s top tourist attractions drawing over 88,000 visitors last year and over 577,000 total visitors since its 2019 opening. "Cook Museum of Natural Science is proud to play a small part in this accessibility push in North Alabama,” said Shelby Zieke, interim marketing and development manager at Cook Museum of Natural Science. “With the help of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association, the Museum has been able to add to its existing resources to be even more welcoming to all visitors. These important accommodations will ensure each and every person has the best experience possible at the Museum and other attractions across North Alabama."
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 and Meta Smart Glasses, helping ensure North Alabama remains a welcoming destination for travelers with disabilities, limited mobility and sensory sensitivities.
“The Cook Museum of Natural Science is already an incredible educational destination, and we are excited to provide tools that help more guests fully engage with its exhibits and programs. Accessibility enhancements like these can make a meaningful difference for individuals with low vision, blindness or mobility challenges,” said AMLA President and CEO Tami Reist.
Renona Seibert, AMRV RC&D executive director, stated, “We're really excited to be part of this initiative. At AMRV RC&D, our whole thing is connecting people to the resources and experiences that make North Alabama special, and that includes making sure everyone can actually get out there and enjoy it. Supporting accessible wheelchairs and Meta glasses at the Cook Museum just made sense. If we can help one more family, one more kid, experience something they otherwise couldn't — that's exactly why we do what we do.”
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. A special thank you to TARCOG in helping to expediate the process and coordinate efforts to secure the grants.”
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 chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations 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.
