Debra Kerper began her Trendsetter entry with this line: "A friend of mine is the mother of a 19-year-old daughter with spina bifida and she had a dream ... to take a group of young adults with spina bifida on a cruise so they could experience travel like their able-bodied peers."

Kerper and her friend - just the two of them working alone - worked for nearly a year in order to make this dream happen and, on Jan. 7 of this year, the group set sail on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas with 58 very excited cruisers. This effort is the reason Kerper was picked as the Trendsetter Award winner for Best Group Booking Sales Effort.

Kerper, herself an amputee, is dedicated to promoting accessible travel for those with physical challenges.

"Being acknowledged with this award allows people in the industry to understand how important it is to provide an accessible world. Progress has been made, but we have a long way to go. Everyone deserves the opportunity to travel and to be treated with dignity and respect when they do."

Kerper's work has opened the world of cruising to many people with special needs who may never have believed travel was possible for them. Through her efforts, these clients have proved to themselves that they are capable of exploring the world.

"I love my job. It affords me the opportunity to combine my love for people with my love for research, as well as being able to put a smile on a person's face," said Kerper. "It continues to be the profession for me because of the many intangible rewards I receive on a daily basis from showing my clients how they can travel when they never thought it was possible."