Travel is transformative. It broadens horizons, fosters empathy, and offers moments of awe that can change lives. Yet for millions of people with disabilities, the world’s most beautiful destinations remain out of reach, not for lack of desire, but because of persistent barriers.
Dr. Valerie Jones, a physician, caregiver, and visionary, is determined to change that. Through Accessible Alpine Adventure Tours (AAAT), she’s making luxury adventure travel possible for those who have long been excluded.
The Journey from Physician to Advocate
Dr. Jones’s path to founding AAAT is deeply personal. As a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, she’s spent her career working with people with disabilities, often in inpatient settings. Her clinical expertise is matched by her experience as a caregiver. After her husband’s heart attack left him disabled, Dr. Jones balanced her medical career with caring for him. Locum tenens provided her the opportunity to do just that.
“I couldn’t take a full-time position because I needed to spend time at bedside with him,” she recalls. “Locum tenens work allowed me to keep practicing medicine and be there for my husband. He loved to travel, so he’d join me when he was well enough. It was an opportunity for him to see America, and for us to share those experiences together.”
After her husband’s passing, Dr. Jones turned her attention to a long-held dream: creating travel experiences for people with disabilities that are as extraordinary as those enjoyed by able-bodied travelers.
“We work hard and dream of retiring and traveling to the world’s most beautiful places. For people dependent on wheelchairs, it’s just harder. I wanted my patients to have equal access to the things I loved.”
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Introducing Accessible Alpine Adventure Tours (AAAT)
AAAT is a non-profit organization that raises funds to underwrite the costs of international sports travel for people with disabilities. The mission: to provide luxury, adventure travel for people with disabilities, offering access to bucket-list destinations like the Alps in Switzerland, Norway’s fjords, and Hanalei Bay, Hawaii.
Tours are operated and staffed by Alpine Adventure, LLC, and supported by a team of professional volunteers, including rehab physicians, nurses, therapists, and guides. Each trip is meticulously planned, with experts on hand to support every need. The group size is intentionally small, five participants or fewer, to ensure personalized care and seamless logistics.
“We’re not waiting for the world to become accessible. We make it happen now,” Dr. Jones says.
The organization’s philosophy is simple but radical: don’t wait for infrastructure to catch up. Instead, bring the right team, adaptive equipment, and creative problem-solving to open doors, sometimes literally.
Growth and Community Support
AAAT is still young, just two years old, and currently funded almost entirely by Dr. Jones herself, who dedicates 80% of her locum tenens income to the cause.
“You can’t ask for support if you haven’t proven your concept,” she notes. “I wanted to show what’s possible before seeking help.”
Looking ahead, AAAT anticipates funding from three sources:
- Small donors from the community. All donations are tax-deductible and support adaptive equipment, travel costs, and volunteer staff for participants with disabilities.
- Larger gifts from individuals with means or personal connections to disability, with donor tiers ranging from Bronze ($10K) to Angel ($1M).
- Corporate sponsors, especially those in the healthcare and travel industries.
AAAT also welcomes volunteers and guides, whose travel and accommodation costs covered.
Special Focus: Veterans and the Healing Power of Adventure
Recent AAAT tours have included military veterans with spinal cord and brain injuries. For them, these trips are more than vacations. They’re a reclamation of identity.
“Watching these veterans on the Swiss trails was unforgettable. They weren’t just riding adaptive bikes. They were rediscovering freedom. For a few hours, they felt like their old selves again: strong, capable, and unstoppable,” Dr. Jones explains.
The Swiss e-mountain bikes, capable of tackling rugged terrain at speeds up to 45 mph, were a particular hit. “They loved the technology,” Dr. Jones says. “Within hours, they were experts—bombing down trails, laughing, and showing locals how the bikes worked. It was pure joy.”
Recent AAAT tours have included military veterans with spinal cord and brain injuries. For them, these trips are more than vacations. They’re a reclamation of identity.
The Ripple Effect of Courage and Inclusion
AAAT’s impact goes beyond individual travelers. By showing what’s possible, the organization inspires local communities to improve accessibility, often without being asked. “Change naturally follows when you have the courage to try something new. It makes things easier for those who come after you,” Dr. Jones reflects.
For participants, the experience is life-changing, not just because of the destinations, but because they’re fully integrated with able-bodied travelers, doing the same things. As Dr. Jones says, “This is saving lives in a different way. Life isn’t over after injury. Everything is possible. Maybe your mode of transportation will differ, but you can still do everything on your bucket list.”
Dr. Valerie Jones and AAAT are redefining adventure, courage, and inclusion. Their work is changing lives, communities, and perceptions one trip at a time.
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About Dr. Jones:
Dr. Jones received her medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation in 2006. She has been a medical director and traveling physician for the past 17 years, with licenses in 21 states, an academic appointment at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and extensive experience with trauma and neurologic injury recovery. She most recently was the founding medical director at HCA Florida JFK Hospital and moonlights at Baptist Health South Florida, Cornell Rehabilitation Institute. She joined the faculty of the University of Missouri, Rusk PM&R Department in October 2024.
She is an amateur athlete, whose childhood love of downhill skiing led her to attend Swiss Challenge (organized by the American School in Switzerland) where she had her first exposure to the alps in 1985. She much later planned to join the Canadian Ski Patrol but suffered a severe knee injury during a race in Austria and switched her focus to hiking and strength training. As a “Master’s athlete” she now enjoys low-risk outdoor activities, culinary delicacies, and helping others achieve their physical and health goals. Her vision is to make alpine exploration accessible to people with disabilities and create a 5-star “trip of a lifetime” for those who struggle with financial hardship and/or physical challenges.
About Dr. Jones:
Dr. Jones received her medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation in 2006. She has been a medical director and traveling physician for the past 17 years, with licenses in 21 states, an academic appointment at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and extensive experience with trauma and neurologic injury recovery. She most recently was the founding medical director at HCA Florida JFK Hospital and moonlights at Baptist Health South Florida, Cornell Rehabilitation Institute. She joined the faculty of the University of Missouri, Rusk PM&R Department in October 2024.
She is an amateur athlete, whose childhood love of downhill skiing led her to attend Swiss Challenge (organized by the American School in Switzerland) where she had her first exposure to the alps in 1985. She much later planned to join the Canadian Ski Patrol but suffered a severe knee injury during a race in Austria and switched her focus to hiking and strength training. As a “Master’s athlete” she now enjoys low-risk outdoor activities, culinary delicacies, and helping others achieve their physical and health goals. Her vision is to make alpine exploration accessible to people with disabilities and create a 5-star “trip of a lifetime” for those who struggle with financial hardship and/or physical challenges.
The views and experiences shared in this blog are those of the contributor and do not represent Jackson and Coker or any affiliated healthcare facilities. No patient information or confidential facility details are disclosed. This content is for informational purposes only and does not endorse or promote any specific organization, facility, or employment opportunity.
