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The Intersection of Travel and Disability

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From Around the Web

July 7, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

Information and inspiration from around the web.

Marriott to Overhaul Accessible Room Reservation System in Response to Threat of Federal Lawsuit

While denying responsibility for ADA compliance of its franchises, the company agrees to address gaps in hotel websites.

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How a Mobile App Gave Voice to a Nonspeaking Autistic Woman

At 29 years old, Jordyn Zimmerman’s tech journey transformed her relationships and her impact on the world around her.

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July is Disability Pride Month; What Exactly Does That Mean?

Disability pride “is a rejection of the idea that I am less able to contribute and participate in the world.”

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Starbucks Sees Large and Growing Market for Inclusive Design

The company’s new accessibility features welcomed by a wide range of customers

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With Airport Customer Ratings Like These, You May Want to Take the Bus

But a few airports soared above the rest for friendliness

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Alaskan Visitor Center Hosts Class on Accessible Tourism

Workshop highlights the benefits of inclusion for the entire community

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The Spanish Tourist Office Hosts First Accessible Advisory Panel

“Spain for All” will bring big changes through the tourist office’s first ever advisory panel on accessibility.

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Amazon Targets Hospitality Headaches with Alexa Smart Properties 

Alexa does a lot more than play your favorite song. Here’s how Alexa’s tech is bridging the gap in staffing shortages and much more.

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Making Accessibility a Reality at HRCS

This is how Hudson River Community Sailing has been making Manhattan’s Dyckman Marina welcoming to all abilities over the past 15 years.

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Trails for All

Finally, an all-person’s trail. Removing barriers to nature is building a better experience for all.

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Did Your City Make the List of the Five Most Wheelchair-Accessible Cities in the US?

Cities were  ranked by Insider Monkey, an investment site that calls accessibility a “crucial aspect of urban planning.”

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Will Paris Deliver on Its Olympic Accessibility Promise?

Can the city meet the needs of more than A quarter million visitors with disabilities?

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Iowans Celebrate Grand Opening of the Country’s “Most Universally Accessible Park”

Six years in the making, Eastern Lake Park features adaptive pontoons and kayaks, and wheelchairs that work on sand and water.

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Metro Bilbao Adopts Navilens Technology to Improve Accessibility for Riders with Visual Impairments

Metro Bilbao’s full rollout of Navilens technology is set to boost ROI by revolutionizing accessibility for visually impaired passengers—setting a new standard for transportation systems worldwide.

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Hotel accessibility: Equal access

“It’s no good hotels saying ‘we’re accessible’ or having the wheelchair symbol, because it doesn’t mean anything to anyone really.” Blue Badge Access Award winners are setting the example and changing this discourse.

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Travel Blogger Highlights ‘Terrifying’ Wheelchair Ordeal

“I hope this process is something I never have to experience again” is not exactly the sentiment you want your guests to leave with. Avoiding life-threatening situations is better for creating return customers.

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessibility Funding, ADA//Law, Airlines, Autism, Family Travel, Hidden Disabilities, Hotels, Neurodiversity, Parks and Public spaces, Technology

News from the TravelAbility Community:

July 6, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.

Fort Wayne International Airport Unveils Accessibility, Universal Design in Renovations

Accessibility is a positive for those with disabilities, but standards are designed to target only the middle 50% of people.

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The Palm Beaches: An Autism-Friendly Summer Destination

Not all beaches are created equally. Discover what makes The Palm Beaches the most autism friendly beach destination.

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Crayola Experience Mall of America® Becomes a Certified Autism Center™, Enhancing Accessibility for All Guests

What makes the nation’s most colorful interactive fun even better? Making it a welcoming experience for all!

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Sunflower Program Works to Make Airport More Accessible

Richmond, VA travelers with invisible disabilities will have a significantly simplified airport experience, thanks to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.

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Inside Google’s Process To Creating Newly-Announced Maps Accessibility Features

How does a map app make navigation more accessible for mobility challenged, vision impaired, and hearing impaired? Updates like these!

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Airbnb, United Spinal Association Executives Discuss ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Academy, Accessible Travel In Interview

What does economic inclusion look like? Find out through Airbnb’s groundbreaking partnership with United Spinal – empowering hosts with mobility needs to tap into the $24 billion hosting market.

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San Diego’s Accessibility Shines in a Tour by Mobility Scooter

Lived experience is the only accurate accessibility review. Here’s how San Diego did.

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A Grand Adventure – The Grand Canyon

Divergent Adventures is creating a new kind of adventure experience – one that welcomes the neurodivergent.

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AdvenChair Teams up with Wanderlust Tours for AdvenTours

Oregon leads the way in new levels of accessibility and inclusion with outings that allow people with disabilities to explore Central Oregon’s most iconic places with expert guidance.

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Collins Aerospace Joins Race to Add Wheelchair Space to Airplane

The space race has begun! The space for wheelchairs on planes, that is. Who’s going to lead the way in accessible flights?

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Disabled Disney Guests Told to Ask for Callback Times at Each Ride & Practice Waiting in Line Instead of Getting DAS

So much for the happiest place on earth. Updates to Disney’s accessibility pass may leave some behind.

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Jen Roth Serving Entrepreneurs’ Organization-Minnesota While Building Travel Accessibility Website, Wise Blue Yonder

Fully curated travel experiences designed for people of all abilities bring inclusion to new areas of the travel space.

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Reno’s Adaptive Cycling Center Blazes a Trail for  Outdoor Fun

Adaptive bikes and David’s Chair are just part of what’s making Reno an adaptive adventure destination.

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Airlines, Autism, Hearing, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Neurodiversity, Tourism

News from the TravelAbility Community

June 4, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.

Wheel the World founder Wins Entrepreneur of the Year at annual EDDY Awards in Atlanta.

Winners of the second annual EDDIE awards, short for Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse and Inclusive Excellence, are “not scared of breaking down doors, actually, demolishing doors.” Read about Silberstein and the other nominees, here.

IBCCES Announces Certifications of Dubai and Orlando Airports.

Our partners at IBCCES, the only credentialing organization in the autism field, have had a very busy quarter.  Recently, they’ve announced certifications including Dubai Airport, Orlando airport authority, our first Certified attractions in Korea and Macau, just to name a few.  You can read about more of their partners, here.

Ed Harris, Lancaster’s Tourism Maestro, Turns Crisis into Triumph.

Discover Lancaster’s CEO took tourism to the next level, driving record growth and setting a new standard for marketing innovation, even in the midst of a pandemic. Read how, here.

Jupiter Rebuilds Beach Walkovers to Help People in Wheelchairs.

Palm Beaches is making waves and redefining shorelines with their inclusivity movement. Find out how, here.

National Parks Becoming More Autism Friendly.

Customized Itineraries, visual schedules, sensory guides, quiet rooms, and sensory-friendly days are a great starting place for welcoming the neurodiverse into the great outdoors. Read how national parks are embracing inclusivity, here.

Accessibility at Vancouver Airport.

YVR is the first airport to receive an ‘Accessibility Certified Gold’ rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program. Read about their commitment to exceeding standards, here.

Wheel The World, Easy Access Travel and Tapooz Recommended by AARP as Top Tour Companies for Travelers with Physical Challenges.

AARP knows what travelers with mobility issues need to explore the world, and the TravelAbility community is bridging the gap. Learn how, here.

New on Accessible DMO Landing Pages:

San Francisco Travel has organized their accessibility feature in a unique and creative way. See it here.

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Filed Under: Accessibility Awards, Airlines, Disability Advocates, Family Travel, Government, Parks and Public spaces, Travel Industry People

Best of the Web: News, Info and Inspiration

January 29, 2024 by Dan Tobin

A roundup of the best articles and resources we found in the past month related to disability and accessible travel.

The back of a child on a pier in New York Harbor looking at the NYC skyline through binoculars.

Neuro diversity:

Accessible NYC: Travel Tips for Neurodiverse Families | Free Autism Resources by InfiniTeach – FreeAutismResources.org

There’s Finally a Travel Group for Neurodiverse Young Adults – Thrillist

Wheelchair Accessible Tours:

2023 Accessible Travel Award Winners – Wonders Within Reach

20 of the Best Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in California

Accessible Beach Opens in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast

Blind and Low Vision:

8 Trip-Planning Tips for Blind or Visually Impaired Travelers

All the Light We Cannot See star Aria Mia Loberti strolls Golden Globes red carpet with guide dog

Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Meet an Alaska Airlines leader with a disability who says he is doing what he was meant to do

Disability Resources:

Travel Genius Introduces Geni-us: An AI Map For Travellers, Enabling Inclusive Journeys

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessibility Awards, Airlines, Autism, Conferences & Events, Disability Advocates, Disability Awareness, Family Travel, Hearing, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Museums & Attractions, Neurodiversity, Parks and Public spaces, Restaurants, Service Animals, Technology, The Arts, Transportation, Travel, Travel Industry People, Trends, Vision

Air Time for Autism Expert Alan Day on “Good Morning America”

December 30, 2023 by Dan Tobin

Two men wearing Autism Flies T-shirts stand at the entrance to an airplane. Alan Day, one of the men, talks on the airplane's phone.

TraveAbility Advisory Board Member Alan Day, a former travel agent who has an autistic son, continues to raise awareness of the challenges facing travelers on the spectrum. Day co-founded Autism Double-Checked to educate airlines, hotels and other travel businesses on ways to remove  or reduce the obstacles confronting autistic travelers. 

In addition to identifying the obstacles, Autism Double-Checked is creating innovative solutions, such as a practice run for getting through security at Bradley Airport in Connecticut as featured in a recent spot on ABC News and Good Morning America. The program is designed to help young flyers on the spectrum get more accustomed to the protocols at their own pace.

“They’re going to come in. They’re going to check in. They will get a gate pass just like a boarding pass for a real flight that will go through an actual TSA line. They will have to be screened, go through the metal detector, then they’ll come to the gate, they’ll wait at the gate and they will be called,” Day said. Read more

Related Video:  Easterseals launched a campaign in December calling for improvements in air travel for individuals with disabilities. The story includes a good video interview with Easterseals President and CEO, Kendra Davenport (scroll down the page to the extended interview; it’s about 11 minutes long.)

TravelAbility TakeAway: Alan Day and Autism Double-Check are doing an amazing job drawing attention to the challenges facing travelers with autism and to innovative solutions. The TSA practice run isn’t just good TV, it’s an excellent resource for families with children on the spectrum.

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Airlines, Autism, Disability Advocates, Disability Awareness, Education, Family Travel, Hidden Disabilities, Technology, Travel Industry People, Trends Tagged With: television coverage, training, trial run, TSA

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