Lorraine Woodward Crafts a Mission-Minded Tourism Career
By Katelyn Allen on Monday, October 28, 2024
Lorraine Woodward and her two sons were diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and quickly realized how little home and vacation rentals were accommodating to those with disabilities. On her 60th birthday, she decided she wanted to do something about this. The Woodward family built their own completely accessible short-term rental beach home called “A Place of No Worries” in 2014 and have never looked back.
Renting the property opened the Woodwards’ eyes to over 500 families who had struggled with the same non-accessible rental problems. After deciding to expand their business to make more space for those needing accessible homes to rent, Becoming rentABLE was born.
“Through Becoming rentABLE, I continue to address attitudinal, architectural and communicative barriers for our disability and aging communities,” Lorraine said.
Now, Becoming rentABLE has over 1,200 accessible short-term rental properties listed on VRBO and Airbnb in all 50 states—and in over 685 cities in the U.S. Even with this Conway family’s efforts, only 0.1% of rentals in the United States are accessible. Lorraine hopes to change that, and aims for her family to grow the business to become the No. 1 trusted brand and comprehensive resource for accessibility in the short-term rental industry—“creating a community that embraces inclusivity through education and support.”
Recently, Becoming rentABLE partnered with Arkansas State Parks to ensure all short-term rental cabins across the state become accessible to everyone. The first state park to receive a Becoming rentABLE certification was DeGray Lake Resort State Park in 2024.
“Arkansas is blessed with the best state parks network in the country, and everyone should have a chance to see what we have to offer,” said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I’m proud our parks are partnering with Becoming rentABLE to improve accommodations for visitors with disabilities and open our outdoor spaces to all.”
The Little Yellow House in Conway
Jessie Swartz, a student at Hendrix College in Conway, was diagnosed with mobility issues that limit her movement. Becoming rentABLE recently opened The Little Yellow House, a fully accessible home in Conway, that Jessie is able to stay at while attending school. She is an ambassador for Becoming rentABLE and an advocate for chronic illness awareness.
EMPOWER Offers Academic, Life Skills Training for Disabled Students
EMPOWER, which stands for “Educate, Motivate, Prepare, Opportunity, Workplace Readiness, Employment, Responsibility,” offers University of Arkansas students with cognitive disabilities a four-year, non-degree college experience program that incorporates functional academics, independent living, employment, social/leisure skills, and health/wellness skills in a public university setting to produce self-sufficient young adults. The program emphasizes workplace experience, community integration and independent living with transitionally reduced supports. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion.
Hospitality Program for Students with Learning Differences
The University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College 3D program offers the only program in the state that provides secondary education in the hospitality and culinary industry to students with learning differences.
