TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

John Morris

The Joys and Challenges of Traveling While Blind

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Penny Zibula, a native of Montreal, Canada, grew up blind but developed a deep desire to explore the world through books.

Penny Zibula headshot.

In an article for Travel Awaits, Peggy recounted the first destination she had an interest in visiting – Cornwall – a desire inspired by Susan Howatch’s 1971 novel, Penmarric.

After finishing college, her uncle sent her on a trip to Israel and, though she was legally blind, she remembers it fondly. “I can still feel the ancient stones of the Western Wall of the destroyed Second Temple of Jerusalem beneath my fingertips,” she writes. Her senses on that trip were alive, as she recalls “The sounds of haggling in Arabic and Hebrew, along with the smells of cooking food, garbage, and sweat intermingled to create an atmosphere that was both disturbing and enticing.”

To read more about Peggy’s experiences as a blind traveler, read her story in Travel Awaits.

Quick! What were your top Takeaways from TravelAbility Summit in 2 minutes or less?

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We interviewed a cross-section of six attendees of TravelAbility’s 2022 Emerging Markets Summit and asked them for a quick synopsis of their most important learnings and takeaways. Predictably, there was a wide variety of answers.

Ed Harris, CEO, Discover Lancaster
Jessica Reyes, Destination DC
Arica Sears, Deputy Director, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
Jason Holic, Experience Kissimmee
Cheryl Richards, Chief Diversity Officer, Visit Dallas
Mitch Parsons and Melissa Sommers, Depoe County Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Wright, V.P. Marketing, Travel Oregon

The TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit: A Review

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Sometimes the best experiences are the ones that blow your expectations into shining smithereens.

Halfway through Day One of Travelability’s Emerging Markets Summit, I had to admit that my expectations and mind were blown away.  

Nancy Baye headshot.
Nancy Baye is the Editor in Chief of Melange Magazines.

Compact, collapsible wheelchairs. Talking menus. The power of a simple Sunflower Lanyard. Champions of people with autism. A mobility device for body, mind and spirit. Travel companions for dementia patients. A video message to stop the sappy music so we can all get back to living life out loud.  

And we hadn’t even gotten started yet.

As the days unfolded, so too did layers of information, as fearless visionaries offered cutting-edge ideas.

Things are changing for the better in the niche of accessible travel, but there’s still a long way to go. That might be no surprise, but what you might not know is how very cool these people and their ideas are. Making accessibility mandatory is unarguably useful but making it cool—well that changes the game altogether.

As Editor-in-Chief of Accessible Journeys, a digital magazine for people with disabilities and seniors who travel, I stand behind our vision to be the go-to resource for this ever-growing demographic. But I hadn’t known the depth and breadth of commitment, passion and genius this group embodies. And it’s a group ready to fold itself around everyone who needs it.

The shared stories, deconstruction of information and solution-oriented discussions tell me that we are all heading towards safe, comfortable travel for everyone, in an environment of empathy, trust and understanding.

Travel without limits in a world where all are welcome. I remain humbled by the innovators, entrepreneurs, activists, and change-makers who joined forces at the Summit, and grateful for everyone striving to move the dial on accessible travel, not just making it better, but making it totally rad.

Nancy Baye, Editor in Chief, Melange Magazines

Dublin Teen with a Disability Tests Accessibility in Ireland’s 32 Counties

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Boy seated in his wheelchair on a bridge over a river in Ireland.

James Casserly, a wheelchair user and son of former Mayor of South Dublin Vicki Casserly, is traveling to each of Ireland’s 32 counties to test the accessibility of public transport.

His mother told Dublin Live that “James loves public transport and feels that he should be able to travel, particularly with his wheelchair. When you’re going around our lovely country – we want to know are hotels accessible, are restaurants accessible, are shops, venues, footpaths and just really highlight all of that in a constructive way.”

James hopes that his 32-county journey will raise awareness of the need for greater accessibility and encourage businesses to be more welcoming to disabled customers.

“It’s good for the business because they’ll bring in more revenue with an accessible business,” his mom said.

To read more about James Casserly and his mission to make Ireland more accessible, see the full article in Dublin Live.

Visit Baltimore’s ‘Warm Welcome’ Program Promotes Accessibility

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Graphic reads Warm welcome, we embrace everyone.

Visit Baltimore has unveiled new accessibility resources for the local hospitality industry as part of its Warm Welcome Program. The program focuses on inclusion, with specific guides focused on disability identity, etiquette, needs and preferences.

The larger program includes resources for promoting inclusion regardless of gender identity, race, nationality, ethnicity and now disability. Soon, Visit Baltimore will release a new module focused on the LGBTQ+ community.

“We firmly believe that Baltimore is a top destination for a diverse array of travelers, no matter who you are or where you come from,” said Al Hutchinson, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “As we have been striving to become a destination that embraces diversity and inclusivity, we recognize the important role that accessibility plays when travelers with disabilities are making decisions on where to visit.”

To read more about this exciting program expansion, see the article from Travel Pulse. To review the Warm Welcome pledge that Visit Baltimore is asking local businesses to make, visit the Visit Baltimore website.