The Intersection of Travel and Disability
Tourism is just one of Australia’s growth industries that faces workforce challenges. The National Skills Commission’s (NSC) 2022 Skills Priority List reveals national shortages of chefs, hotel/motel managers and tour guides. The accommodation and food services sector alone is predicted to account for 139,900 new jobs by November 2025. One way to address this skills shortage is to remove the barriers to tourism employment for people with disability. Read More.
Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for US airlines, along with seven of its passenger airline members – Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United – have announced a pledge to improve accessible air travel for all passengers with disabilities, including those with mobility, cognitive and social disabilities. As part of the commitment, A4A’s passenger airlines have pledged to four actions intended to improve accessibility, while continuing to prioritize the safety of all passengers. In addition to the four-part commitment, A4A says that its passenger airline members meet all Department of Transportation (DOT) accessibility standards and fully support the rights of passengers with disabilities set forth in the DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, most especially the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Read More.
IHG Hotels and Resorts is doubling down on efforts to make a career in hotels more accessible for people with disability through a new strategic partnership with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) employment service, EmployAbility.
The partnership supports the employment of people with a physical disability across a wide variety of positions at IHG hotels around the country, not just desk-based roles.
A pilot program is already underway at a number of IHG properties including InterContinental Sydney Double Bay, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour and Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley. Read More.
On 19 and 20 November 2022, the True Colors Festival concert in Tokyo will bring together an international line-up of diverse singers, dancers, and musicians from around the world–including the fabulous Katy Perry.
They’ve gone above and beyond to ensure inclusivity for the concert event, in line with their mission to show what’s possible when it comes to disability and diversity. The concert will have sign language interpreters (for both Japanese Sign and International Sign), real-time subtitles and audio descriptions, and dedicated personnel on site for guests who need assistance.
Plus, for those who want to take part from home, it will be live-streamed for free as part of the True Colors Festival’s commitment to accessibility. Their website has been optimized to make it as inclusive as possible ahead of the event (compatibility with screen readers and switch control software, different pathways to necessary information using assistive technologies, and close vetting of all digital content to ensure accessibility).
Although Katy Perry is the headline act, the two-hour True Colors concert will feature over 90 performers. Read More.
Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest living woman, recently boarded an airplane from her home country of Turkey to San Francisco. However, it wasn’t just any flight. It was Gelgi’s first, and one that highlighted growing attention to accessibility.
Gelgi, 25, stands at 7 feet, 7 inches tall. Her proportions are a result of Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth. She regularly travels to share her story and uses her warm wit to spread body positivity on social media. However, despite her international profile, she had never flown on an airplane before. Like many people with Weaver syndrome, Gelgi uses mobility aids to get around, and a long flight would require special accommodation for her extraordinary frame. But in September, Gelgi finally took to the skies. All was made possible after Turkish Airlines removed several seats on the plane so Gelgi could rest comfortably on a stretcher during the 13-hour journey from Istanbul to California. Read More.
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