The Intersection of Travel and Disability
Fort Wayne, Indiana: Fort Wayne, Indiana Accessibility (visitfortwayne.com)
Richmond, Virginia: Accessible Travel In Richmond | Airports, Amtrak & Attractions (visitrichmondva.com)
Orlando, Florida (updated): Orlando Special Needs Services & Accessibility Guide (visitorlando.com)
Mesa, Arizona: (updated): Live Life Limitless | Visit Mesa
Lexington, Kentucky: ACCESSIBLE LEXINGTON: Travelability.net/destination/lexington-ky/
Several celebrities are shining a light on hidden disabilities by sharing news of their diagnoses and experiences, particularly with autism. In a TED Talk, Tesla founder Elon Musk talked about being bullied as a child on the spectrum, but also about how the condition has helped him in his career.
“I found it rewarding to spend all night programming computers, just by myself,” he said. “Most people don’t enjoy typing strange symbols into a computer by themselves all night. They think that’s not fun. But I really liked it.”
Actor Wentworth Miller, star of the TV series Prison Break was diagnosed with autism during the pandemic. He has talked about the difficulties of getting diagnosed as an adult: “This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis,” he said. “It was a long, flawed process in need of updating. IMO. I’m a middle-aged man. Not a 5-year-old.” Read more.
Our TakeAway: When celebrities share their hidden disabilities, it can shine a spotlight on issues faced by millions of people. You may not like or admire Elon Musk but there’s no question he’s an influencer and sometimes a positive one.
The US Department of Transportation is marking the 37th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) by initiating the #AccessibleAirTravel campaign to underscore the right of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel.
“Airline passengers with disabilities deserve to travel safely and with dignity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “DOT is proud to partner with the aviation industry and members of the disability community to ensure that all travelers with disabilities know their rights.”
As part of the launch, the DOT emphasized some of the actions the Biden administration has taken or is taking to improve the air travel experience of individuals using wheelchairs, including:
Our TakeAway: We applaud the DOT’s new campaign and the actions it is taking to improve the air travel experience for passengers who use wheelchairs. But we have to wonder how much can be done to improve the accessibility of lavatories without increasing their size?
In a thoughtful commentary on his Evengrounds blog, Tom Babinzski considers all angles of why you may or may not want to invest in a braille business card. In one telling statistic, Tom illustrates how small the audience may be for the practical use of the card: “I have only found information from the United States,” Tom writes, “but approximately 90 percent of people without functional vision do not read braille.” On the other hand, 90% of people who are blind and in the workforce read braille; the card may also have its benefits in the way it signals your commitment to inclusivity. Read more.
Our TakeAway: It’s not for everyone but the braille business card has its uses depending on your business and target market—although the uses may be more symbolic than practical. It may be prudent to print two sets of business cards.
A great tour company is all about access—access to information, expertise, and assistance when things go wrong. TUI, a leading UK tour operator, is extending that level of access to the Deaf and hard of hearing community providing sign language interpreters who connect travelers with TUI agents. The free service is the result of a game-changing partnership between TUI and SignLive, which houses the Assisted Travel Team that is available seven days a week via an app or a browser.
“We’re delighted to be working with TUI to make travel more accessible for Deaf people,” said Fiona Mackay, COO of SignLive. “This partnership makes communication smoother and the overall experience of going on holiday much easier for British Sign Language users. Customers can travel with confidence knowing they can communicate via an interpreter throughout their journey.” Read more.
Our TakeAway: This is a major breakthrough in accessible travel that will blaze the trail for other deaf tour programs. And it can be easily replicated as a new niche in America. Note: British Sign Language is a completely different language from American Sign Language. The two share only 30% of the signs.
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