TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Eliana Satkin

What the Founder and CEO of TravelAbility Just Doesn’t Get

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Jake Steinman shares the simplest, and most essential, missing piece in hotel accessibility in this Travel Weekly article. Read the article here, or get the gist with this rap version!

Hey, hotels, listen up, it’s time to take a stand,
Spent millions on compliance, now let’s lend a hand.
ADA’s in place, but there’s more to be done,
Add an accessibility page, make it number one.

You got the ramps, the lifts, the wide doorways,
But what about the info that truly paves the way?
Dimensions and details, post ’em online,
For travelers with disabilities, it’s a lifeline.

From compliant to welcoming, it’s not that hard,
Transparency’s the key, let down your guard.
Post the data, make it clear and bright,
For every guest in a wheelchair, make it right.

CDC says one in four got a disability,
But only 15% travel, that’s the reality.
Hotels, step up, make a change today,
Post the info online, show the way.

Heads in accessible beds, let’s make it known,
Hotels can be welcoming, let it be shown.
From compliance to care, it’s a simple move,
Let’s make every stay a welcoming groove.

Undiscovered America TV Features Episode on Accessibility

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Celebrating Accessibility Champions in Travel!

TravelAbility is thrilled to have contributed to the curation of destinations and experts featured in the Accessibility episode of Undiscovered America. This exciting episode will be broadcasted to 107 million households this week and will also be available for streaming on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku.

A big congratulations to the following champions who have made inclusion and accessibility a fundamental principle of their work:

Stuart Butler, Chief Marketing Officer Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce:Your dedication to creating a more inclusive future is truly inspiring!

Kevin Wright, VP Brand Stewardship Travel Oregon: Thank you for your commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring equal access for all.

Alison Brooks,VP Destination Experience & Advocacy Visit Mesa : Your innovative approach to accessibility has made a significant impact.

Kristy Durso, Founder Incredible Memories Travel: Your advocacy for accessible travel is making a difference!

Learn More about Undiscovered America

What Would You Do to Manage an Autistic Child’s Meltdown?

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© 72soul | Dreamstime.com

We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new monthly series, “What Would You Do?” Each month, we’ll present a unique scenario and invite you to consider how you would handle it.

This Month’s Scenario: Managing an Autistic Child’s Meltdown

Imagine you’re the manager of an attraction, and suddenly, an autistic child experiences a meltdown that disrupts other guests that embarrasses their family. One of the guests asks you, as the manager of the facility: “Aren’t you going to do something about this?”

What Would You Do?

As part of our commitment to fostering understanding and empathy, we encourage you to share your insights and creative solutions. Let’s learn from each other and create a more accessible and supportive environment for all our visitors.

Here are answers from three perspectives:

Talia Salem, Content Strategist, Ritz Carlton division of Marriott

I’ve been in this situation many times with my child. The first thing I do is try to survive the meltdown and keep her and others safe. I ask other people to please give us some space because sometimes during meltdowns there’s a lot of kicking and flailing of limbs. Sometimes at theme parks and other places with lines people are too close and are often in our space, which makes them at striking distance during a meltdown. I try not to place too many demands on my child and work with her to calm her nervous system through rocking, music, compressions or whatever works at the time. Then if needed (as often people make rude comments) I explain that my daughter has autism and struggles with impulse control, waiting in lines or whatever the case is. I’ve been able have some good conversations with people on occasion. Often though people stare like I have 5 heads and honestly I hate that. But I’m getting better at ignoring the stares and focusing on what my child needs to be safe and get calm in the moment and try to meet a need like a quiet space some food a drink a movement break etc.

Bartocz Czajka, Strategist, lecturer, Special Education teacher

Parents usually are able to anticipate a meltdown. So the focus should be on preparation and not on the actual meltdown. If that happens (you obviously cannot think of everything 😉 just communicate to other guests about autism-related circumstances and always have a quiet room available for the person(s) involved to get through the crisis

Jennifer Allen,

I’m going to second Talia from the mom perspective! Please just give us a moment, and a bit of space, to sort ourselves out. Getting involved may only escalate things. For the establishment, it would be a GIFT if employees had a basic understanding of what was happening. That may even give them the ability to field any questions that are coming at us from other guests.

News from the TravelAbility Community

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Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.

Wheel the World founder Wins Entrepreneur of the Year at annual EDDY Awards in Atlanta.

Winners of the second annual EDDIE awards, short for Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse and Inclusive Excellence, are “not scared of breaking down doors, actually, demolishing doors.” Read about Silberstein and the other nominees, here.

IBCCES Announces Certifications of Dubai and Orlando Airports.

Our partners at IBCCES, the only credentialing organization in the autism field, have had a very busy quarter.  Recently, they’ve announced certifications including Dubai Airport, Orlando airport authority, our first Certified attractions in Korea and Macau, just to name a few.  You can read about more of their partners, here.

Ed Harris, Lancaster’s Tourism Maestro, Turns Crisis into Triumph.

Discover Lancaster’s CEO took tourism to the next level, driving record growth and setting a new standard for marketing innovation, even in the midst of a pandemic. Read how, here.

Jupiter Rebuilds Beach Walkovers to Help People in Wheelchairs.

Palm Beaches is making waves and redefining shorelines with their inclusivity movement. Find out how, here.

National Parks Becoming More Autism Friendly.

Customized Itineraries, visual schedules, sensory guides, quiet rooms, and sensory-friendly days are a great starting place for welcoming the neurodiverse into the great outdoors. Read how national parks are embracing inclusivity, here.

Accessibility at Vancouver Airport.

YVR is the first airport to receive an ‘Accessibility Certified Gold’ rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program. Read about their commitment to exceeding standards, here.

Wheel The World, Easy Access Travel and Tapooz Recommended by AARP as Top Tour Companies for Travelers with Physical Challenges.

AARP knows what travelers with mobility issues need to explore the world, and the TravelAbility community is bridging the gap. Learn how, here.

New on Accessible DMO Landing Pages:

San Francisco Travel has organized their accessibility feature in a unique and creative way. See it here.

Introducing TravelAbility Fellows Lauren Badolato and Ellie Satkin

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Please welcome Lauren Badolato and Ellie Satkin, the newest additions to the TravelAbility team!

The TravelAbility fellowship provides the opportunity to meet university internship requirements, while making a real difference in the world of inclusion through marketing. The interns are already working behind the scenes on all things TravelAbility – from event planning for the Emerging Markets Summit to designing this newsletter.

Lauren Badolato

Lauren Badolato

Lauren is a single mom to two children, ages six and eight, with disabilities. Originally from Brooklyn, she now lives in Orlando as a graduate of Valencia College. She’s been around the hospitality industry since she was a child, but the merge of hospitality and inclusion became a priority when her second son was born with a rare genetic disorder. Having a son who may never walk has changed the way she experiences travel, and has fueled a passion for creating a barrier-free travel experience.

As part of a college internship course, she was able to observe a mock interview of a Rosen Hospitality student with Wheel the World. She connected to the cause immediately because of her own struggles in hotels with her son. As a constant advocate, working to raise awareness for a variety of her son’s 42 diagnoses, TravelAbility made the perfect next step for linking passion, purpose, and profession.

Ellie Satkin

Ellie is a business student at San Diego State University, entering her junior year. As a business major and Hot Yoga instructor, her goal is to work with people in health and wellness. She was looking for virtual internships for location flexibility when family ties uncovered the perfect marketing internship through TravelAbility. 

Working with TravelAbility has been an eye opening experience that is impacting every area of Ellie’s life. During her training as a yoga instructor she learned about adapting experiences for the different abilities of students she would encounter – from pregnant women to diabetics, but she had no idea just how wide and diverse that range was. She says she’s growing in awareness in a way that she can bring into other circles of life – from adaptive yoga to recognizing accessibility barriers on her own college campus. Inclusion has taken on new meaning as she works to make it a reality.

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