TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

John Morris

The “Right Stuff?” Europe to Recruit Disabled Astronaut for Space Travel

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Astronaut floating in space.

The European Space Agency is accepting applications to fill up to 6 spots in its astronaut program, and it is seeking to promote diversity in its selection process. The agency will at the same time pursue a separate goal of recruiting a disabled person to join its astronaut corps, and has asked the International Paralympic Committee for assistance in finding the right person.

Dr. David Parker, director of the European Space Agency’s robotics and human spaceflight program, has said the recruitment of a disabled person “is not about tokenism.” He told BBC News that the agency is “not looking to hire a space tourist that happens also to have a disability,” but is looking for a person “to do the science; they would need to participate in all the normal operations of the International Space Station (ISS).”

To qualify, candidates are expected to have a master’s degree in a relevant field. Conditions which would have previously disqualified a candidate, such as lower limb deficiency or restricted growth, will be considered in pursuit of a disabled astronaut. Applications will be accepted beginning March 31st.

OUR TAKE: Diversity and inclusion initiatives often overlook disabled people, but the European Space Agency is taking a bold step in welcoming disabled people into its astronaut program. For many disabled people, the thought of a zero-gravity world is a dream – space is a place where every person has equal freedom to float. Could space be the great equalizer?

To read more about the space agency’s search for a disabled astronaut, click here.

This story sponsored by Google: See Google “Assist” accessibility features in action here.

Google leads list of new TravelAbility Sponsors for 2021

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The TravelAbility Summit is pleased to announce the following sponsors who have signed up to partner with us for 2021.

Google – With a vast team of committed and passionate professionals focused on accessibility both internally and externally, they will be a new presenter as well.

Expedia – The Online Travel booking website is doing more than any other travel supplier as they take the lead in prioritizing accessibility internally with Toby Willis, a TravelAbility Advisory Board member and President of Expedia’s accessibility initiatives.

AccessiBe – The number one fully automated web accessibility provider that is ideal for small and midsize companies—hotels, attractions, tour providers and destinations—that want to make their websites more accessible but have limited budgets.

Designsensory – A leading marketing agency that offers branding, design and interactive consulting services spanning print, motion, video and digital engagement channels and has developed a sub-specialty in Accessibility marketing.

With the support of our sponsors, TravelAbility is well positioned to inspire and educate the travel industry to provide accessible experiences to help people with disabilities enjoy travel as much as everyone else.

For more information about partnership and sponsor opportunities contact info@travelabilitysummit.com

Sponsored by TravelAbility’s Launchpad Pitchfest, April 1st. Register Today. Use code TAS21 at checkout to Save $50 on your registration (offer good until March 4th)

New White House Website Aims for Greater Web Accessibility

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White House icon on blue background.

On January 20th, the United States inaugurated a new presidential administration – and with it came a new White House website. As Rachel Treisman reported for NPR, the website’s expanded feature set suggests the new administration is focused on creating a more accessible and inclusive web experience for all.

Among the new features introduced on WhiteHouse.gov include toggle buttons for increasing the text size and changing the page contrast to dark mode. The website once again features a Spanish-language version, “La Casa Blanca,” first introduced during the George W. Bush administration, but set aside during the Donald J. Trump presidency. Persons using the website’s contact forms will now have a place to select the appropriate gender pronouns and prefixes, such as “they/them” and the gender-neutral title “Mx.”

The work to create an accessible and inclusive website is not yet finished, as the administration invites qualified individuals to join the U.S. Digital Service, a tech service within the White House tasked to “deliver better government services to the American people through technology and design.”

To read more from NPR about the new White House website, click here.

To visit the new White House website, click here.

Grandma of the Year Builds Wheelchair Ramps Using Legos

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Wheelchair going up a ramp made of lego blocks.
Image courtesy REUTERS.

Rita Ebel, a 62-year-old wheelchair user (and grandmother!) living in Hanau, Germany, has devised a unique way to bring accessibility to her town’s shops, restaurants and salons. Using hundreds of lego bricks and glue, Rita builds ramps that make it possible for wheelchair users to enter businesses.

“For me it is just about trying to sensitise the world a little bit to barrier-free travel,” she told Reuters. The colorful ramps are easy to spot, and they are creating interest in accessibility.

Rita’s idea is being exported to other countries – groups from Austria, Spain, Switzerland and the United States have asked for ramp building instructions. It might not be long before a colorful lego ramp appears in your neighborhood!OUR TAKE: Accessibility can often be achieved with limited investment, and some businesses are just a bag of legos short from becoming wheelchair accessible. Rita’s clever idea has attracted international attention and started a discussion about the importance of basic access. Way to go, Rita!

To read more about Rita’s wheelchair ramps, click here.

Are Solar-Powered Wheelchairs Going To Be The Next Big Thing?

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Solar power has become an important source of energy production, with an expanding set of use cases. A number of power wheelchair manufacturers already sell solar panel attachments, and one research report suggests that the market is primed for significant expansion.

According to the report, a solar powered wheelchair project designed by the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering took home the prize at the World Cerebral Palsy Day. The student-designed system, utilizing solar panel technology, was able to increase the battery range by over 40%.

This is where most research is focused – to use solar panels to extend the range of power wheelchairs. The report suggests that research “undertaken to combine electric and solar powered wheelchairs to increase the runtime will eventually attract industry players towards commercializing these wheelchairs.”

OUR TAKE: Solar panels are expensive, and the cost of the technology will have to become more affordable in order for solar attachments to reach the mass market. Whether the research bears fruit or not, it is exciting to see efforts being made to equip wheelchairs for what we hope will be a greener, more accessible future.

To read the research report, click here.