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
New Accessibility Resources Announced at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Grant funding provides wheelchairs and innovative technology to enhance visitor experience.
Decatur, Ala. (April 13, 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 U.S. Space & Rocket Center 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 23 wheelchairs and two pairs of Meta Smart Glasses to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The 23 wheelchairs were purchased through a $5,000 Community Development Grant, while the two pairs of Meta Smart Glasses were funded through a $5,000 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 U.S. Space & Rocket Center, one of Alabama’s top tourism destinations drawing over 650,000 visitors annually from all over the world. “We appreciate the donation of these wheelchairs, which we are already putting to good use in the museum and Space Camp,” Brenda Perez, CEO and CFO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, said. “Our team is excited to receive the Meta Smart Glasses, and we are exploring the myriad ways we’ll be able to use them to enhance our visitor experience.”
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.
“Ensuring that all guests can experience the wonder of space exploration is incredibly important to us,” said AMLA President and CEO Tami Reist. “These wheelchairs and Meta Smart Glasses will allow more visitors to comfortably explore the exhibits and enjoy everything the Space & Rocket Center has to offer.”
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 Space & Rocket Center 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.
