The Intersection of Travel and Disability
These images from the TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit in Orlando, Florida, sourced from attendees’ social media posts, highlight the dynamic connections and learnings that attendees experienced. We’re eager to see how you will make a difference in promoting greater accessibility for disabled people in travel.
Reebok has introduced a new line of sneakers, designed to meet the accessibility needs of disabled people. The new line was designed in partnership with Zappos Adaptive and includes shoes with easy on-and-off wear capability.
These easy on-and-off shoes, dubbed the Nanoflex Parafit TR and Club MEMT Parafit, have a low-cut design and feature “removable sock liners (for orthotics) and high abrasion rubber outsoles for superior grip.” The Nanoflex Parafit TR shoe has a breathable mesh upper component, zipper and heel pull tab – welcome features that will make the task of putting on and taking off shoes easier for many disabled people.
Reebok’s adaptive line comes about two years after Nike unveiled its GO FlyEase collection of adaptive sneakers.
To learn more about Reebok’s new line of accessible shoes, read the article in Yanko Design.
“We’ve all encountered those awkward and unnecessary questions and comments from people about our disability or health condition. It’s bad enough when you’re in your own country, but what about when you travel abroad.”
In a unique article for Disability Horizons, travel blogger Carrie-Ann Lightley shares 5 things she’s had said to her when travelling that are definitely taboo.
Carrie-Ann has heard it all, “from questions about my medical condition to offers of miracle cures and declarations of how ‘brave’ and ‘lucky’ I am.” To see the full list of taboo questions Carrie-Ann has been asked while traveling, read her article in Disability Horizons.
Visit Lauderdale launched its new VisitLauderdale.com destination website that includes an accessibility microsite in recognition of the tourism bureau’s new focus on accessible travel as part of its well-established inclusion commitment.
“Accessible tourism is not only about human rights, but also an opportunity to embrace and educate all visitors,” said Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s SVP of Inclusion & Accessibility. “We embrace all visitors with wide open, welcoming arms and we are dedicated to increasing awareness of accessibility features throughout the destination.”
Greater Fort Lauderdale hotels, restaurants and attractions create a welcoming space for every guest. Many provide accessible amenities including accessible rooms – some specially equipped for the hearing-impaired – as well as wheelchair ramps, accessible outdoor dining spaces including spacious outdoor patios, special sensory-inclusive websites, and sensory-sensitive live performances such as those at Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Area resources listed on the site including include information on where to find wheelchair accessible beaches, and to the Fort Lauderdale-based Special Needs Group, which provides a wide range of equipment including rentals of wheelchairs, scooter, audio and visual aid necessities and other essentials. Equipment is delivered directly to cruise ship staterooms at Port Everglades, hotels, attractions, or the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
To learn more about accessibility in the Fort Lauderdale area, see Visit Lauderdale’s new accessibility microsite.
“The coronavirus pandemic has created a mass-disabling event that experts liken to HIV, polio or World War II, with millions suffering the long-term effects of infection with the coronavirus,” writes Frances Stead Sellers for the Washington Post.
Let that sink in.
Young and old, people from around the world are beginning to accept a new post-Covid identity: that of disability.
The pandemic has resulted in an unexpected growth in the size of the disabled population, and advocates like Rebecca Vallas, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, are embracing a “big-tent approach in the disability community.”
Advocates and leaders in the community have advocated for laying out the welcome mat to those with long Covid, and suggest that these newly disabled could strengthen the overall constituency of disabled people in the United States and elsewhere.
Matthew Cortland, a senior resident fellow at Data for Progress, told the Washington Post that the disability community “should be treated by politicians and policymakers with the respect of any other voting bloc.”
Lisa McCorkell, who got covid early in the pandemic and now identifies as disabled, said that “the benefit of millions of people getting sick all at once, is we have remarkable access to people and power that others have struggled to get for a long time. I want to make sure that I am representing those people.” Let’s hope new members of the disability community will continue the work of past advocates, allowing the community to achieve the recognition and support that it deserves.
To read more about how those with long covid are impacting perceptions of disability, see the Washington Post article published on Boston.com.
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