Michelle Nohotima: Transforming Disability Care with Always Able’s Personalized Approach

People with disabilities want to travel just like everyone else. This simple truth sparked Michelle Nohotima to launch Always Able, a company that has helped over 5,000 people experience incredible adventures along the way. For Michelle, whose background includes working at a traditional disability service provider, the solution seemed obvious. Yet it took a great leap of faith and leaving her 9-to-5 job to make it happen.

Creating Accessible Adventures

“A lot of my clients wanted to go on holiday but needed support to do it,” Michelle explains, describing her time at her previous employer. “The company couldn’t see a way of doing that. So, in my head I thought, okay, I can do this. I’ve traveled a lot.” Her instincts proved her right. Always Able now specializes in making challenging experiences accessible for wheelchair users. Whether it’s exploring caves, heading down mountains or even getting behind the wheel of a V8 supercar, Michelle’s team finds creative solutions to make it work.

Among dozens of success stories, one stands out. A client with cerebral palsy who loves cars gets to live his racing dreams once a year. “We take him to a racetrack,” Michelle says. “With lifters, we’re able to get him out of his wheelchair and into a V8 supercar. We get his hand onto the steering wheel, and with the driver’s help, he actually moves the gear stick.” This yearly tradition has continued for a decade – even through COVID. “He talks about it all year,” Michelle shares. “Where he lives, it’s something he’s got to look forward to. It’s been a part of his life… it just lights him up.”

Innovating with Practical Solutions

Instead of relying on fancy tech solutions, Always Able focuses on practical tools and thorough planning. The team gets creative with mobility aids and puts significant effort into research before each trip. Every detail matters – from finding the right accommodation to arranging suitable transport. “To me, there’s no barrier,” Michelle states. “You’ve just got to find ways to do it. And I’ve always seemed to find a way of giving them the experience they want.”

Now Always Able is tackling another pressing need: housing. “Our next goal in our disability service is to buy more properties and fit them out for people in wheelchairs,” Michelle explains. Finding wheelchair-accessible accommodation is a major challenge in her area, so she’s stepping up to fill this gap too. The housing initiative reflects Always Able’s practical approach to solving problems. When Michelle spots an unmet need in disability services, she doesn’t just talk about it – she acts.

Supporting Staff with Flexibility

Success in disability services depends heavily on having dedicated staff who understand the mission. Michelle puts special emphasis on showing appreciation for her team’s hard work. “Some people don’t even want pay – some people just want a week off with pay,” she notes, explaining her flexible approach to employee rewards. The company culture includes regular team meetings – both virtual and in-person – and social events that include staff members’ families. Sometimes, Michelle uses her travel industry connections to reward exceptional work with holiday packages. These personal touches help maintain strong staff relationships and ensure consistent quality of care for clients.

What sets Always Able apart isn’t just their willingness to take on challenging trips – it’s their comprehensive approach to making experiences accessible. “Each adventure requires careful coordination with venues, thorough safety planning and creative problem-solving. The team’s attention to detail means clients can focus on enjoying themselves rather than worrying about logistics,” says Michelle. This commitment to personalized care extends beyond just travel arrangements. The company’s expansion into housing shows how Michelle continues to identify and address gaps in disability services. By combining practical solutions with genuine care for their clients’ desires, Always Able is reshaping expectations about what’s possible in disability services.

To learn more about Michelle Nohotima or Always Able’s services, and their new housing projects, check out their website for more information.