Tracey Dawson, PhD, Senior Vice President, US Therapeutic Area Head Neuroscience at Novartis, discusses the collaboration between Novartis, SMAshing My Limits, and Becoming rentABLE, striving to make travel accessible.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons, causing progressive muscle weakness and loss of movement due to atrophy. SMA is caused by genetic mutations in the SMN1 gene. Extra copies of the nearby related gene, SMN2, modify the severity of SMA, with type 1 being the most severe and type 4 the least severe.
Launched in June 2025, SMAshing My Limits was built around the lived adventures of older teens and young adults living with SMA.
This year, the initiative is evolving to address accessible travel, one of the biggest challenges voiced by the community. Through a partnership with Becoming rentABLE, they are aiming to add 100 new verified short-term rentals to the Becoming rentABLE network across the US that are accessible to persons with SMA. This includes experience-based homes such as treehouses, cabins, yurts, and beachfront properties. Less than 1% of short-term rentals in the US are accessible to wheelchair users, and many lack the full spectrum of features and amenities required for people with SMA. This program aims to decrease safety risks and the emotional toll this can have on people living with SMA and similar conditions.
The campaign features Cory Lee, a travel enthusiast living with SMA. Having traveled to over 50 countries and all 7 continents, Cory has made it his mission to not let his limited mobility impact his passions and dreams. However, the search for truly accessible accommodations still poses a large challenge to any travel plans.
Dr. Dawson advises those who want to make their rental properties more accessible, to visit https://www.becomingrentable.com/ for more information.
To learn more about SMA and other rare genetic conditions, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/congenital-and-genetic-conditions/