TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Accessibility Playbook

Accessibility Playbook: Welcoming the Aging Air Traveler

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Seven years in the making, the Travelability Accessibility Playbook, created in partnership with Destinations International, is an end-to-end toolkit to equip destination organizations on their accessibility journey, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. The following snippet focuses on welcoming the aging traveler, an ever growing need as the Baby Boomer generation ages into disability.

Flying proves to be one of the greatest barriers to senior travel. Studies reveal that it’s not just the flight that’s the barrier, but the logistics of navigating getting to the airport, getting from parking through security, and navigating the long distances from security through the terminal to the gate. 

Port of Portland’s digital map, powered by GoodMaps, shows walking distances and

walk times. Users can select accessible routes that will account for vertical conveyances

and TSA precheck distances for more accurate timing. Click here to learn more.

Flying

OBSTACLESOLUTIONS
Difficulty getting through security (33%)Improved workforce: Provide special TSA lines and allow more time (60%)
Difficulty getting from parking to theairport (33%) or to the gate (32%)Greater access to wheelchairs/motorized carts (52%)
Difficulty understanding announcements(21% among the 65% with hearing loss)Provide designated assistance desks where travelers can check for updated information and receive personalized help
Difficulty waiting to board at the gate(15%)Offer check in assistance (43%)

“It’s hard for us to fly without precheck – it’s tiring to take off shoes and unpack bags. We’ve forgotten our suitcases after the hassle of putting our shoes back on.” -Jack and Elaine from Seniors with Latitude.

Click here to learn more or to purchase the full Playbook.

Practical Hacks From the Accessibility Playbook: Welcoming the Ageing Traveler

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Seven years in the making, the Accessibility Playbook, created in partnership with Destinations International, is an end-to-end toolkit to equip destination organizations on their accessibility journey, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. The following snippet focuses on welcoming the aging traveler, an ever growing need as the Baby Boomer generation ages into disability.

WELCOMING THE AGING TRAVELER

The needs of the aging traveler are often similar to those of disabled travelers, but older adults may be less likely to ask for assistance. Many do not see themselves as having a disability. To better support the needs of aging travelers, keep the following in mind: 

  • Design for dignity: Move away from one-size- fits-all experiences that prepare travelers for success. Encourage planning ahead, suggest shorter, well-planned itineraries that reduce stress, and promote services such as airport “meet-and-assist” programs.
  • Recognize diverse needs: Consider mobility, hearing, cognitive, and visual changes that may arise with age, even among those not identifying as disabled.
  • Prioritize respectful communication: Train staff to offer assistance without making assumptions and to recognize signs of anxiety or confusion.
  • Be transparent about accessibility: Clearly communicate which features are available and use visible signage and intuitive wayfinding.
  • Offer simple, supportive tools: Ensure digital tools are user-friendly and secure. Provide low-tech options and human assistance to ease tech-related hesitation.
  • Focus on empowerment, not special treatment: Accommodations that are simple and thoughtful improve satisfaction and reputation.
ObstacleSolutions
Unclear accessibility information makes older adults less likely to travel.Provide clear, detailed information about accessibility (steps, elevators, seats, bathrooms)
Uncertainty about airport help deters some from flying altogether.Provide information on the time it takes to travel from check-in to the gate at the airport, as well as the services available.
Uncertainty about refunds makesbooking in advance a risk.Provide cost comparisons across platforms and clear, easily accessible cancellation/refund policies
App-centric booking can be a barrier for older adults who prefer websites.Provide user-friendly interfaces with simple navigation and clearinstructions on where to click and book.
Aversion to technology due to concerns about scams and data breaches.Provide education about online safety, clear fraud safeguards, andphone support
Challenges using online platforms tobook transportation and activities.Develop and promote curated travel experiences tailored to theirpreferences and needs
Difficulty finding hotels that matchspecific needs and preferences.Provide enhanced search and filter options (pet-friendly, ground-floor room, grab bars in bathrooms)
Learn More about the Playbook

Accessibility Playbook Excerpt: Eight Myths about Autism

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April is Autism Acceptance Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing an excerpt from the Accessibility Playbook from Pete Wharmby, author of “Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It.” Wharmby’s writing illuminates how everyday assumptions—from customer‑service scripts to sensory environments—can either invite or exclude guests. The eight myths below are a concise, shareable primer for destination leaders and frontline teams. We’ve preserved the author’s original wording, including identity‑first language, so you can copy and paste this directly into staff briefings, partner toolkits, and training decks.

Eight Myths about Autism by Peter Wharmby

  1. Autistic people don’t feel empathy. The majority of us feel enormous amounts of empathy, even for non-living things, and especially for animals.
  2. Autistic people can’t make eye contact. Some of us don’t seem to mind it at all, whilst the many of us who hate it can force ourselves to when we feel its necessary.
  3. Autistic males are far more common than autistic females. The ratio is rapidly shifting to being more balanced as diagnostic understanding improves.
  4. Autistic people don’t have a sense of humor. I mean, some of us don’t, and some of us have what may be seen as a ‘different’ sense of humor, but there are a lot of funny autistic people out there, including those who do comedy professionally.
  5. Autistic people have learning disabilities. In fact a surprisingly low percentage of autistic people have co-occurring learning disabilities. However, people with learning disabilities are much more likely to be autistic too.
  6. Autistic people are all antisocial. Many of us may be asocial from trauma associated with social interaction, but it seems many of us are quite gregarious and even extroverted.
  7. Autistic people are all STEM subject specialists. Though plenty are, there are many of us who have skills, jobs and qualifications in the humanities, arts and other fields.
  8. Autistic people are all super-gifted in some way. Though some of us might be skilled in certain areas, and some of us might have excellent memories, plenty of us are perfectly average.

Accessibility Playbook Quiz: Are You Prepared for the Largest Demographic Shift in Modern Travel?

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Take this quiz to find out!

The Real Question

If:

  • 70% of older adults are planning travel,
  • they already drive the majority of travel spending,
  • disability rates increase significantly with age,
  • and 20% of our population is about to be over the age of 65…

Is your destination, business, or strategy ready for 2030? 

When one older adult needs accessibility, it rarely affects one booking. It affects grandparents, kids, siblings, cousins — entire reunion itineraries.

2030 isn’t coming quietly: it’s arriving with three generations in tow.

Learn more about this important demographic below in the Accessibility Playbook Excerpt.

Accessibility Playbook Excerpt: Ageing into Disability

More than half of U.S. spending on travel comes from the 50-plus community, yet many destinations are unsure on how to meet their evolving needs. In 2023, the annual leisure travel spend among adults over 50 was $236 billion.  

The average 50+ traveler anticipates spending about $6,847 in 2025.  Source: AARP Research.

As of 2020, 55.8 million individuals in the United States were ages 65 and older; close to 17 percent of the U.S. population. This age group is projected to grow to over 20 percent by 2030. (U.S. Census). 

Many older Americans have a disability and many more will acquire disabilities in the future as they age. Among adults 50-plus, 25 percent indicate having a disability. For adults aged 65 and older, this percentage increases to 35 percent. While many adults over the age of 50 need accommodations for a disability or health condition, aging travelers often don’t identify as disabled. Half of adults 50-plus say their difficulty began within the last 5 years, so these challenges are not something they have gotten used to. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many may be traveling for 

Behavioral Shifts Among Aging

55% Say their conditions have resulted in making changes to the way they travel, such as:

  • Travel more by car (48%)
  • Take shorter trips (49%)
  • Travel to a single location/destination (39%)
  • Limited mobility accommodations (10%)
  • 45% say their conditions have resulted in less travel
  • Book activities before arrival (26%)
  • 2 in 3 (66%) have made changes to the destinations they choose to go to
  • Less walking (19%)
  • Closer destinations (13%)
  • Choosing more often to stay with friends or family (38%) or in hotels (43%).

Aging Travelers Want to Travel More

Older adults are increasingly motivated to travel to reconnect with loved ones, relax, and recharge. If accessibility accommodations were put into place, half of non-travelers say they would be interested in future travel. Among non-travelers, the most difficult aspects of travel are activities at the destination (46%) and transportation to and from the destination (39%).

  • 95% believe travel is good for mental health
  • 85%​​ believe travel is a benefit for physical health

“Yes, our knees hurt from hiking,  we get pains here and there, but  we have also enjoyed massages in many different countries, along  with red light therapy, reiki and  more. We don’t believe that old  age equates with poor health.”  – Jack and Elaine from Seniors with Latitude. 

Travel Trends 

  • Top Domestic Destinations: The  South (38%) and West (31%) remain  the most visited regions, with hotspots  including Florida, California, and Las Vegas. 
  • Top International Destinations: Europe (42%) and Latin America/ Caribbean (33%) lead in popularity,  especially Italy, Great Britain, and Mexico. 
  • Health as a Travel Driver: Many  aging travelers are motivated by the  mental and physical health benefits of  travel. Destinations can position travel  as a form of wellness, not just a luxury.
  • Biggest Barrier: Cost is the leading  obstacle to travel—more so than personal health concerns or the health  of a loved one. 

Check back next month for tips on welcoming the aging traveler! To learn more about the Accessibility Playbook, visit https://travelability.net/accessibility-playbook/.

Learn more about TravelAbility’s Vision 2030 here.

Accessibility Playbook Quiz: Do You Speak Accessibility Fluently?

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(No trick questions… just real-world moments.)

Take the Quiz!

How’d you do?

If any of these made you pause (or rethink a phrase you’ve used), you’re exactly where you should be. Find the correct answers and more on disability language in this TravelAbility Playbook snippet.

COMMUNICATION GUIDANCE

Part of what makes communicating challenging is that people with disabilities are not a homogenous group. A good practice is to ask how someone prefers to describe themselves and, if you inadvertently offend someone with your language, apologize and ask them to share with you their preferred language. There are generally two ways to approach this: person-first or identity-first. Neither is right or wrong; we should simply honor an individual’s preference.

Person-first language: Person-first language emphasizes the person first — their individuality, their complexity, their humanness and their equality.

Example: “A person with a disability” Identity-first language: Identity-first language emphasizes that the disability plays a role in who the person is and reinforces disability as a positive cultural identifier.

Example: “Disabled person”

TIPSUSEDO NOT USE
Emphasize abilities, not limitationsPerson who uses a wheelchairConfined or restricted to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound
Person who uses a device to speak Can’t talk, mute
Do not use language that suggests the lack of somethingPerson with a disabilityDisabled, handicapped
Person of short stature Midget
Person with cerebral palsyCerebral palsy victim
Person with epilepsy or seizure disorderEpileptic
Person with multiple sclerosis Afflicted by multiple sclerosis
Emphasize the need for accessibility, not the disabilityAccessible parking or bathroomHandicapped parking or bathroom
Do not use offensive language Person with a physical disabilityCrippled, lame, deformed, invalid, spastic
Person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental disabilitySlow, simple, moronic, defective, afflicted, special person
Person with and emotional or behavioral disability, a mental health impairment, or a psychiatric disabilityInsane, crazy, psycho, maniac, nuts

Avoid language that implies negative stereotypes		Person without a disabilityNormal person, healthy person

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