TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Denise Brodey

Which UK Airports Will Be 2020 All-Stars? (Plus: Free Accessible UK Itinerary)

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silhouette of a boy walking through airport very serene photoWhen a civil aviation report shows that 10% of airports in the UK don’t have a high quality of accessibility what exactly does that mean? For starters, a quarter of airport businesses could not accommodate those in wheelchairs, and a third of companies were unable to accommodate for those with cognitive impairments like autism. Even what may seem to be minor hassles—long wait times for assistance or untrained desk staff—are major factors in a disabled travelers experience. As revisions to systems are made, airports that were looking pretty dismal are rising all-stars. Edinburgh’s ‘Very Good’ rating was particularly impressive given that just two years ago its accessibility was considered ‘Poor’. Another all-star was Liverpool. READ MORE

BONUS! If you want a great experience touring London, here’s an Accessible London itinerary from TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board Member Cory Lee. Thanks, Cory, your expertise is always appreciated.
 

Legal Update: New York Investigates Destination-Trolling Lawyers

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man pointing finger wearing suitA recent NBC news investigation shows the top ADA lawsuits—2,338 of them in New York alone—are initiated by a small number of nefarious lawyers targeting malls, colleges, wineries, galleries, and other destinations.

If you know someone who’s been hit by one of these drive-by lawsuits, you know how disruptive and costly it can be to resolve the issue. 

How can you protect yourself from drive-by lawsuits? And when will this trend end? 

A few bottom-fishing lawyers who prey on people with disabilities to make quick money ultimately cast shade on both well-intentioned lawyers and the disabled community making reasonable claims for equal access. Just like able-bodied customers, they have the right to a website they can navigate, a restaurant where there’s room for them to sit, a hotel that has an accessible bathroom and a ramp to be used for stairs. Don’t panic—and do educate yourself. The best approach for now: Watch the NBC news report and don’t panic. Instead, make yourself familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

WATCH MORE 

 

 

Travel Pro, Speaker, and Trendmaster Bill Geist Joins TravelAbility Summit Board 

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For more than 20 years, Bill Geist has been pushing the envelope, challenging the status quo and calling out sacred cows and buffoons in the process. He also is quick to praise—and share news about— the truly innovative people, processes and projects he sees. Through his newsletters and speaking engagements, he provides high-level information and thought leadership on the top Destination Marketing news. We are pleased to welcome him to our growing TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board. You can find his work at  https://dmoproz.com.

 

When Life’s A Beach This Summer—Get Beach Trax

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woman in wheelchair on beach using a mat to roll to the oceanTo be sure that everyone on wheels can take advantage of the beach or uneven terrain this summer, why not roll out the ‘red carpet’ of accessibility? Beach Trax. The lightweight, foldable pathway gives portable access to every destination visitor regardless of the terrain.

The details: The best way to explain how easy the product is to use is to think of each ‘track’ as a highly-durable, thick square (imagine a doormat but BIGGER) that folds out in sections. (Or instead of taking our word for it, watch co-founder Kelly Twichel roll it out in seconds, here.) They’ve also kept the price reasonable. Beach Trax (sold in sets of 10) are $650 each. 

About the company: The San Diego-based company’s co-founders, both occupational therapists, were inspired to create Beach Trax when fellow adaptive surfers were looking for a way to get to the water independently. 

young woman in blue tee shirt on the beach smiling she has blonde hair and is wearing a hatWant more details on the product and Twichel’s work?

 READ MORE 

Blind Mountain Climber Scares the Crap Out of TODAY Show Hosts (Video)

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blind climber on a mountain with red jacket and helmetLast February, NBC’s Harry Smith went climbing with Erik Weihenmayer, the adventurer who has conquered some of the most dangerous places on earth. He also happens to be blind. Click here to watch the TODAY show video, including the end, where every newsperson at the table looks scared out of their mind just talking about the climbs Weihenmayer lives to complete. It’s really an amazing story that puts life in perspective.