TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Accessible Landing Pages

Accessibility Article Round Up

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Information and inspiration from around the Web

Screen shot of an example of a government site with arrows signifying call outs for accessibility features

DOJ issues new ADA rules for public sector sites; private sector is next

From the article: “It is important for all hotels, restaurants, stores, and other places of public accommodation to be aware of the requirements set forth in this final rule and . . . to start preparing for the issuance of a similar rule.”

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A hotel employee standing with a woman with a service dog at the entrance to a hotel

Training video of the month: Welcoming a blind guest

15 training tips in 77 seconds (courtesy of Scandic Hotels)

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A young woman showcasing one of the scooters to rent in Albuquerque

Visit Albuquerque launches Destination Accessibility

Innovative service rents out scooters and wheelchairs to travelers

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New Hulu series, co-created by a woman with autism, lauded for avoiding stereotypes

Scottish comedian Ashley Storrie (left) found it liberating to “unmask” herself

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Signers at the Coldplay concert in Singapore included lead singer Chris Martin shown in action

Coldplay leads the way in making concerts more accessible and enjoyable for deaf fans

In addition to a crew of signers, the shows in Singapore included handouts of vibrating vests

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Image of gondola ride

Legoland introduces accessible gondola ride

It may look like a ski lift but the new Minifigure Skyflyer features seven individually-themed pods from pirates to space and beyond, 

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$5k Tax Credit for ADA Website Compliance

How to qualify for $5K tax credit for ADA website compliance

Two minute video tells you all you need to know about annual credit

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From the TravelAbility Summit Archives: Amelia Island

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The 24 Hour Challenge: How Amelia Island created an accessible landing page in one day

Screen shot of a beach scene with the caption, "Amelia Island's Accessible Landing Page."

The gauntlet was first laid down at the TravelAbility Summit in 2022. Jake Steinman told every DMO at the conference that they needed to build an accessible landing page for their website. Yesterday. 

Nate Aron, Partner Relations Manager at Visit Amelia Island told Jake he found the assignment daunting. Too much information, too many ways to make a mistake in conveying information for a number of different disabilities. Jake’s response? “I can show you how to build it in a day. And it’s better to have something up than nothing. I’ll help you.”

And he did. And they did. Nate picks up the story a year later at the 2023 summit. Here’s his 15-minute presentation. 

Accessible Destination Landing Pages We Love and Why: Visit the Palm Beaches

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Screen shot of the accessibility landing page: A man with an artificial leg pointing to something in a large fish tank as he talks to his young boy.

Five things we love about the Palm Beaches landing page:

  1. It’s comprehensiveness! Everything from nature trails to museums to transportation etc. 
  2. Details, details, details. Sensory-friendly bathrooms without hand air dryers or auto-flush toilets; the width of bike paths; service animal policies
  3. The personal touch. First person itineraries by Cory Lee, deaf visitor Lily Yu, and local expert Cayetana Uranga, who has CP. And that’s just for starters!
  4. Easy to navigate. Nothing better than a ton of information that is clearly organized. 
  5. Did we mention comprehensiveness? Specific concrete information related to vision impairments; deafness; autism; wheelchair accessibility; intellectual disabilities. . .

Rethinking Accessibility Campaign Uncovers Over 200 New Accessible Features

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Image of the world with a woman in a wheelchair and a young girl with suitcases super-imposed on it with the words Rethinking Accessibility

Our Takeaway: A pilot program with five Destination A11Y Club partners uncovers over 200 new accessibility features that can be added to their websites.

In the quaint city of Sausalito, California, a company named TravelAbility has been tirelessly working to dismantle barriers and build bridges. Recognized as a vanguard in its field, TravelAbility is known for its commitment to creating a world where the thrill of travel is accessible to all, irrespective of physical limitations or disabilities. The company has recently unveiled a pioneering initiative aptly named “Rethinking Accessibility,” a project that is as ambitious as it is necessary. This project is designed to illuminate the world of travel with the glow of inclusivity, a move that could potentially rewrite the narrative around travel for people with disabilities.

Jake Steinman, the Founder of TravelAbility, asserted, “While the ADA provides some baseline for physical infrastructure such as ramps and grab bars in bathrooms, there’s no ADA for information.” In a world where information is power, the absence of accessible information can be a formidable barrier. The “Rethinking Accessibility” initiative is TravelAbility’s bold answer to this challenge.

Read more.

Destination Landing Page of the Month

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Photo by Jason Quigley City of Tualatin

Travel Oregon

An oasis of accessibility in the Pacific Northwest featuring unspeakable natural beauty in a state with an unparalleled commitment to accessibility.

In each issue we feature a different destination partner from the “Destinations with Accessibility” section of our website.