News from the TravelAbility Community
Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.
Monterey County Hotels, Attractions & Transportation Guide
San Francisco Disability Cultural Center
For Many Disabled San Franciscans, A No-Waitlist Waymo Means More Agency, Autonomy In Transportation
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Launches Expanded ‘Outdoors for Everyone’ Initiative to Improve Water Accessibility
Meet the Wheelchair User Making Google Maps More Accessible
The Future of Inclusive Travel Q&A: A Simpleview Summit Encore
From Around the Web
Information and inspiration from around the web.
Marriott to Overhaul Accessible Room Reservation System in Response to Threat of Federal Lawsuit
While denying responsibility for ADA compliance of its franchises, the company agrees to address gaps in hotel websites.
How a Mobile App Gave Voice to a Nonspeaking Autistic Woman
At 29 years old, Jordyn Zimmerman’s tech journey transformed her relationships and her impact on the world around her.
July is Disability Pride Month; What Exactly Does That Mean?
Disability pride “is a rejection of the idea that I am less able to contribute and participate in the world.”
Starbucks Sees Large and Growing Market for Inclusive Design
The company’s new accessibility features welcomed by a wide range of customers
With Airport Customer Ratings Like These, You May Want to Take the Bus
But a few airports soared above the rest for friendliness
Alaskan Visitor Center Hosts Class on Accessible Tourism
Workshop highlights the benefits of inclusion for the entire community
The Spanish Tourist Office Hosts First Accessible Advisory Panel
“Spain for All” will bring big changes through the tourist office’s first ever advisory panel on accessibility.
Amazon Targets Hospitality Headaches with Alexa Smart Properties
Alexa does a lot more than play your favorite song. Here’s how Alexa’s tech is bridging the gap in staffing shortages and much more.
Making Accessibility a Reality at HRCS
This is how Hudson River Community Sailing has been making Manhattan’s Dyckman Marina welcoming to all abilities over the past 15 years.
Trails for All
Finally, an all-person’s trail. Removing barriers to nature is building a better experience for all.
Did Your City Make the List of the Five Most Wheelchair-Accessible Cities in the US?
Cities were ranked by Insider Monkey, an investment site that calls accessibility a “crucial aspect of urban planning.”
Will Paris Deliver on Its Olympic Accessibility Promise?
Can the city meet the needs of more than A quarter million visitors with disabilities?
Iowans Celebrate Grand Opening of the Country’s “Most Universally Accessible Park”
Six years in the making, Eastern Lake Park features adaptive pontoons and kayaks, and wheelchairs that work on sand and water.
Metro Bilbao Adopts Navilens Technology to Improve Accessibility for Riders with Visual Impairments
Metro Bilbao’s full rollout of Navilens technology is set to boost ROI by revolutionizing accessibility for visually impaired passengers—setting a new standard for transportation systems worldwide.
Hotel accessibility: Equal access
“It’s no good hotels saying ‘we’re accessible’ or having the wheelchair symbol, because it doesn’t mean anything to anyone really.” Blue Badge Access Award winners are setting the example and changing this discourse.
Travel Blogger Highlights ‘Terrifying’ Wheelchair Ordeal
“I hope this process is something I never have to experience again” is not exactly the sentiment you want your guests to leave with. Avoiding life-threatening situations is better for creating return customers.
Accessibility Champion: Lynn Smith
Chief Marketing Officer, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
She may not be a magician, but Lynn Smith is making the invisible seen around the world.
Q1. What motivated you to become involved in accessibility and do you have a personal connection to disability?
I firmly believe that everyone, at one time in their lives, will experience a non-visible disability. We all have friends and family who are affected by disabilities and conditions that are not immediately apparent to others, and I want all of them to feel supported and able to thrive to the best of their potential.
Removing the stigma around non-visible disabilities is crucial. It’s about making it easier for people to get the help they need and ensuring they feel valued and included. My passion for equity and social justice drives me to contribute to efforts aimed at creating a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, feels empowered to participate fully in all aspects of life.
“I firmly believe that everyone, at one time in their lives, will experience a non-visible disability.”
Lynn Smith
Q2. What is the goal of your organization?
Some disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses are not immediately obvious to others. For some people, this can make it hard to understand and believe that someone with a non-visible condition genuinely needs support. You may be questioned on if you have a disability because you don’t “look like you have a disability.”
That is why we created the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower – to encourage inclusivity, acceptance and understanding.
It is a simple tool for you to share that you have a non-visible disability voluntarily. By wearing the Sunflower, you’re letting everyone know that you might need extra help, understanding, or just more time.
Our goal is simply to improve everyday experiences for people with non-visible disabilities. We do this through the Sunflower symbol which helps make the invisible, visible.
Q3: Aside from budget, what are the most difficult obstacles or barriers you face around accessibility and what actions/initiatives are you taking to address them?
Aside from budget limitations, the most challenging obstacles to accessibility include the lack of awareness about disabilities that are not immediately apparent, stigma and discrimination, inflexible policies, and limited resources. To overcome these barriers, initiatives include educational campaigns to raise awareness, advocacy for policy changes, training programs to sensitize businesses and communities, promotion of inclusivity in all sectors, and fostering collaborations with other organizations and advocacy groups. By implementing these strategies, initiatives like the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program aim to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for individuals with hidden disabilities.
Q4. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
One of my proudest accomplishments is being part of an organization that shares my values and is dedicated to making a difference globally. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program operates in 34 countries, with seven offices. I am proud to contribute to its impactful mission. Working alongside such a dedicated team of individuals and being able to play a role in making the world more inclusive and understanding is incredibly rewarding.
Q5: Who do you follow?
In addition to Jake and the TravelAbility team, I look to the following for ideas and inspiration:
The amazing HD Sunflower team
Melody Olander of But You Don’t Look Sick.
Richard Gray from Visit Lauderdale
DFAWG – The Dementia Friendly Airport Workers Group
Accessibility Champion: Ross Heller
Publisher USAE News and CustomNEWS Inc.
Q1. What motivated you to become involved in accessibility and do you have a personal connection to disability?
As publisher of USAE Weekly Newspaper, a publication which covers the association and meetings industry, I feel we have a responsibility to cover the issue of accessibility. Understanding of accessibility, in all its aspects, to an association executive is as important as knowledge of food and beverage and/or site selection.
Over the years, disability has always played a role in my life. Among my company’s most successful telemarketers was an employee who had become blind as an adult. His lack of vision did not detract from his ability to talk to clients on the phone. In fact, after my nomination of him, the State of Maryland awarded him its Handicapped Employee of the Year Award.
Q2. What is the goal of your organization?
USAE’s goal is to thoroughly cover the news of the association and meetings industry including news of CVBs and the hospitality community. We are the only industry trade publication to designate a reporter to regularly cover accessibility.
Q3. Of what accomplishments are you most proud?
That USAE continues to thrive and bring important news and information to its community of readers 42-years after its founding.
“As a news organization we are continually on the search for knowledge of what others are doing in the field of accessibility so we can pass it along to our community of readers.”
Ross Heller
Q4: Who do you follow?
As a news organization we are continually on the search for knowledge of what others are doing in the field of accessibility so we can pass it along to our community of readers. Our search is not limited to a specific individual or organization.
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