About Steve Deal

I'm Steve Deal, and I’m excited to personally welcome you to the sunny and beautiful Daytona Beach area. I've been an active, local quadriplegic here for nearly 40 years, and I can tell you firsthand this community truly goes above and beyond to make sure everyone, regardless of their abilities, feels right at home.

I'd like to invite you to come and visit us in person, where the sun feels warm on your skin, the people are friendly, and there's plenty to see and do. Whether you're seeking fun, relaxation, great food, or maybe just some unforgettable memories, Daytona Beach delivers it all. I just know you're going to fall in love with Daytona Beach, just like I did. 

I’ve been calling the Daytona Beach area "home" ever since I moved here from North Carolina back in 1986. Originally, I came here to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, but like life often does, mine took a detour. In 1990, an auto accident left me paralyzed from the chest down. So I returned to North Carolina for a time to be with family and adjust to my new and unexpected circumstances.

Fast-forward 18 months, and I was back! I really just missed Daytona too much to stay away, so I packed my bags and headed back down to my paradise, Daytona Beach. This place has everything I want: sunny skies, a warm breeze, the ocean, incredible people, year-round nice weather, and it is accessible!

Over the years, I’ve discovered how much the Daytona Beach area has to offer, especially for a wheelchair traveler like me. Whether you’re a longtime wheelchair user or just beginning to explore what accessible travel can look like, you’ll find Daytona Beach is surprisingly ADA-compliant and mobility-friendly. From smooth sidewalks to wheelchair-accessible attractions, the area is full of options for the accessibility traveler.

Through the years, I’ve learned how to make the most of life here. Whether I’m catching a ride on a VOTRAN (Volusia Transit) bus, soaking in a beautiful day at a park, cruising the boardwalk, or grabbing a bite with my sweetheart, there are so many accessible things available to do here. A younger me used to wheel right down onto the beach, but I learned the hard way that the salt and sand don’t mix with wheelchair electronics. Now, I just get as close as I can without getting ON the sand. Like many other wheelchair users, I also get cold easily. So for me, there’s nothing better than warming up outdoors on a sunny Florida afternoon.

Over the past couple of decades, my wife Jo Lynn and I have explored a LOT of what Daytona has to offer. That includes amazing restaurants, shows, museums, historic landmarks, local festivals, theaters, spring/summer baseball, and other attractions of all kinds. We’ve gotten to know some truly wonderful people here, from business owners and community leaders to our neighbors and countless other locals throughout the area, and they have all been so kind and helpful.

This is where I’ve chosen to build my life, and I genuinely love living here. So from me to you, welcome! I hope you enjoy your visit and find everything you need so you can experience the very best of Daytona Beach with full disability access. And if you ever see a guy rolling down A1A smiling, it’s probably me. Go ahead and give me a honk or roll down your window and shout hello. Until then!

Steve