Sometimes the best experiences are the ones that blow your expectations into shining smithereens.
Halfway through Day One of Travelability’s Emerging Markets Summit, I had to admit that my expectations and mind were blown away.
Compact, collapsible wheelchairs. Talking menus. The power of a simple Sunflower Lanyard. Champions of people with autism. A mobility device for body, mind and spirit. Travel companions for dementia patients. A video message to stop the sappy music so we can all get back to living life out loud.
And we hadn’t even gotten started yet.
As the days unfolded, so too did layers of information, as fearless visionaries offered cutting-edge ideas.
Things are changing for the better in the niche of accessible travel, but there’s still a long way to go. That might be no surprise, but what you might not know is how very cool these people and their ideas are. Making accessibility mandatory is unarguably useful but making it cool—well that changes the game altogether.
As Editor-in-Chief of Accessible Journeys, a digital magazine for people with disabilities and seniors who travel, I stand behind our vision to be the go-to resource for this ever-growing demographic. But I hadn’t known the depth and breadth of commitment, passion and genius this group embodies. And it’s a group ready to fold itself around everyone who needs it.
The shared stories, deconstruction of information and solution-oriented discussions tell me that we are all heading towards safe, comfortable travel for everyone, in an environment of empathy, trust and understanding.
Travel without limits in a world where all are welcome. I remain humbled by the innovators, entrepreneurs, activists, and change-makers who joined forces at the Summit, and grateful for everyone striving to move the dial on accessible travel, not just making it better, but making it totally rad.
Nancy Baye, Editor in Chief, Melange Magazines
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