TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

John Morris

Kudos to Marc Garcia on Winning US Travel’s “Destiny” Award

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Marc Garcia headshot.

Congratulations to TravelAbility Advisory Board member Marc Garcia, CEO, Visit Mesa, on winning the U.S. Travel Industry Association’s DESTINY Award in the special projects category at this week’s ESTO conference in Los Angeles. The honor recognized the extraordinary work his team has done in advancing accessibility and diversity.

It is the first time in the history of the award that anyone has been recognized in the category of accessibility and diversity.  Not exactly a walk on the moon, but…One small step for US Travel, one giant leap for legitimizing accessibility as an aspirational goal to the industry.

Congratulations, Marc!

Wisconsin State Park Offers Accessible Tree Top Canopy Walkway

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Elevated wooden walkway and viewing tower.

The 63-foot-tall Eagle Tower with its stunning vistas of Green Bay and its canopy walkway represents not only an impressive feat of imagination, but also a stellar example of comprehensive accessibility planning. The tower offers everyone, no matter their mobility levels, a unique experience in Wisconsin’s Peninsula State Park.

Our Take: People with mobility challenges regularly face barriers in public parks – stairs, narrow entrances and high stone walls at overlook view positions are just a few examples. TravelAbility sees a positive trend developing as several states now offer canopy ramps so everyone can enjoy the pleasures of the outdoors from above the tree tops!

To read more about Eagle Tower, see the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources press release.

Disney Theme Parks Announce Changes to Their Disability Access Service

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Castle at Disney World.

Disney theme parks are updating some of the policies and procedures related to their Disability Access Service program, which should make it easier for disabled people to experience the magic that is Disney.

The Disney Parks blog shared the following information about the changes:

We are also making some enhancements to our Disability Access Service (DAS) program, including new options to enroll in the program pre-arrival and for DAS participants to select attractions directly in the app. These options will be available in addition to our existing, in-person DAS program. Visit our Services for Guests with Disabilities page DisneyWorld.com and Disneyland.com for more details

To read more, see the original article from Inside the Magic.

It’s Time for Airlines to Treat Wheelchair Users Better

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American Airlines planes at Chicago airport, city skyline visible in background.

More than 30 years after the Air Carrier Access Act became law, air travel is still fraught with barriers for disabled passengers. For Cory Lee Woodard, who has SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), the horrors of flying begin anywhere from 48 to 72 hours before he arrives at the airport. This is when he starts cutting back his food and beverage intake to avoid using airplane lavatories, which don’t meet accessibility standards for wheelchair users. He always tries to tell himself that it’s going to be worth it once he gets to the destination.

Once he arrives at the destination, he’s nervously waiting to see if his wheelchair is going to work and in good condition. A quarter of the time, something is damaged.

Maybe it’s time to lobby Boeing, Airbus and the airline interior designers to provide a space on board for a wheelchair.

To read more about the experiences wheelchair users face when traveling by air, read the full article from Matador Network.

How Can People with Parkinson’s Enjoy their Vacations? Try Amtrak.

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Amtrak train parked at train station.

The decision to start traveling again is personal, and it may not be for everyone.

In an article for Parkinson’s News Today, Lori DePorter shares how she and her husband got back to traveling – with Amtrak. Although the author’s preferred method of travel is usually in her private vehicle, the couple switched things up and booked a train ticket. As a person with a disability, Lori and her husband both received a discounted fare, and commented the conductor was “refreshingly polite” and eager to help.

In detailing her train journey, Lori mused that “perhaps it is time to explore more train travel, which was much less stressful than traveling by car.”

When will you hit America’s railways?