Supporting Accessibility on the Camino

In the fall of 2026, Laura spent time volunteering with Discamino, an organization that helps people with disabilities experience the Camino using adapted bicycles or chairs and the support of dedicated volunteers.

Laura joined the team helping to push — and sometimes pull — the chairs into Santiago, working alongside many others as the group made its way together toward the cathedral. Seeing the entire group arrive was a powerful reminder that the Camino is truly a journey we make together.

This experience is especially meaningful to her personally. Laura’s father lived with a disability, so witnessing the care, teamwork, and determination that make these pilgrimages possible was deeply moving.

During an Open House with American Pilgrims on the Camino, Laura shared a little about this experience.

Travel has a way of opening our hearts in unexpected ways. During a recent visit to Tanzania, Laura had the opportunity to spend time at Children of Kilimanjaro Orphanage (COKO), located near Moshi at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

COKO provides a safe and loving home, education, and daily care for children who would otherwise have very limited opportunities.

What began as a simple visit quickly became something much more meaningful.

The Camino teaches us that the journey is not only about where we walk, but how we show up in the world. Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in simple acts of connection — a shared laugh, a painted shell, a hand held along the way. Supporting COKO is simply one small way of carrying the spirit of pilgrimage forward.

If you would like to learn more about the work being done at Children of Kilimanjaro Orphanage (COKO), you can visit their website below.