About Cory Lee: 

Cory Lee was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two, but that certainly has not diminished his desire to travel – wheelchair and all. He has traversed six continents, and blogs about his accessible (and sometimes not so accessible) travel adventures on CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com. From trekking through the Amazon rainforest to riding a camel in the Sahara Desert and everything in between, Cory shows that anything is possible with enough determination.

Since starting his blog in 2013, he has gained more than 50,000 followers across social media and won the 2017 Lowell Thomas Award for Best Travel Blog. He has written for National Geographic and Lonely Planet and is a community partner for New Mobility Magazine. Cory hopes to inspire others to break out of their comfort zone and start rolling around the world. 

In this episode:

4:54 – How Cory started his blogging career and realized the lack of information about accessible travel

8:07 – Why Cory loves public speaking and how it has helped grow his opportunities

9:30 – The social media platform where Cory has the most success, especially with video 

13:30 – Cory's plans to get a reality TV show

14:55 – Advice for other bloggers starting a blog

15:56 – Why Cory created a media kit and pitched journalists

18:19 – The ways Cory is finding success with Pinterest because that's where many travel journalists are located

21:08 – The challenges Cory faces in educating media about the importance and popularity of accessible travel

25:22 – What feedback and measurement Cory uses to monitor his website traffic and social media

27:30 – Cory's proactive approach to networking through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

29:15 – What Corey has done to overcome Facebook's algorithm changes and his strategic approach to working the system

31:00 – How Cory has been able to secure speaking engagements and writing opportunities because of social media

32:43 – Advice for writers or journalists when the times get tough or you face challenges in your career

34:49 – Cory's breakthrough moment news article and feedback that motivated him to keep writing 

37:38 – Advice and offer from Cory to destinations that have questions about making facilities wheelchair accessible 

Mentioned in this episode:

Alabama Fire Department helps Cory down several sets of stairs at GulfQuest National Maritime Museum: https://www.facebook.com/CurbFree/videos/266596170662556/

TBEX conference, world’s largest travel blogging conference

GulfQuest National Maritime Museum - http://www.gulfquest.org/

Kathryn Hamm, LA Times

Gary Arndt from Society of American Travel Writers, who told him to accept media opportunities

Two wheelchair-accessible mountains in Maine Quill Hill and Ira Mountain

Quote:

“People with disabilities spend over $17 billion per year just on travel. Disabled people are out there and they definitely want to travel.” – Cory Lee, Travel Blogger for Curb Free with Cory Lee

Looking to connect?

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @coryleetweets
• Websites: com
• Facebook: Facebook.com/curbfree