By Jake Steinman
A 2017 poll at a travel trade show revealed that 75% of industry professionals associate accessibility primarily with wheelchairs. However, accessibility is far more complex—it’s like a race without a finish line, yet one with many starting lines.
Starting Points
The following are the starting points leaders in inclusion in the travel industry have chosen. What will your starting point be?
Sensory/Autism Tourism
Acceptance is the primary challenge for autistic families. A 2022 IBCCES survey found that 87% of these families avoid travel due to embarrassment, yet 93% would travel if hotels and travel suppliers were more welcoming. Training consumer-facing staff to foster awareness and acceptance is crucial.
- Julie Pingston, CEO of Choose Lansing, made a local theater sensory-friendly for families with autistic children, leading to broader training initiatives across attractions and hotels.
- Visit Mesa became the first autism certified city where IBCCES, a credentialing agency that provides autism certification training, was able to train over 60 percent of not only travel partners, but city government, first responders, and the police and police departments.
Blind and Low Vision Tourism
Navigation poses significant challenges for individuals with visual impairments, ranging from complete blindness to low vision issues.
- Richard Gray, Sr. Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility at Visit Lauderdale, created a promotional video featuring “Blind Bill,” a local resident navigating the waterfront.
- Visit Seattle launched a campaign to counter negative publicity by offering Enchroma color-blind sunglasses for loan at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Tourism
Communication is the main challenge for the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Innovative technologies, such as hearing loops and apps for on-demand sign language interpreters, are emerging. At TravelAbility, we will showcase assistive devices, including avatar-based interpreters and remote interpreting via mobile apps.
- Visit Lauderdale successfully hosted the Deaf Seniors Annual Convention, generating over 2,000 room nights and positive endorsements for future disability conventions.
- Travel Oregon has installed hearing loops—which amplify sound for the partially deaf or hard of hearing through hearing aids and cochlear implants.
75% of industry professionals associate accessibility primarily with wheelchairs. However, accessibility is far more complex
Jake Steinman
Mobility Tourism
Mobility challenges vary widely, from individuals temporarily disabled after surgery to those in power wheelchairs needing assistance. While many locations comply with the ADA, the law was designed for the median user, leaving some travelers uncertain about accessibility until they arrive.
- Visit Charlottesville and Albemarle County initiated an accessibility audit funded by a $30,000 grant, allowing Wheel the World, an accessible travel booking engine, to audit accessibility features across nearly 100 hotels, attractions, and restaurants.