TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Amputees

Wheel the World Partners with Visit Florida to Scale Accessibility Audits

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Woman using a wheelchair beside a pool and a fountain along with logos of Visit Florida and Wheel the World

Visit Florida announced at the Florida Governors meeting in October that it is launching an ad co-op program to finance Wheel the World site assessments at 30 hotels, attractions, POI’s or dining locations in each region. Watch a video of the announcement.  

Wheel the World’s deliverables include not only assessments, but also training through their online academy and online marketing through their highly targeted database as well as their social media channels.

Our TakeAway: This initiative was originally one of the four pilot programs that were featured at this year’s Summit in which three Florida DMO’s (Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and The Palm Beaches) participated.  Following the expansion announcement, seven other destinations signed up.  This is another unique example of Visit Florida’s role as an industry thought leader—along with WtW’s growing reputation for excellence in accessibility site assessments. We hope to see other states follow Florida’s lead. Hey, New York and California, are you listening?

Double Amputee Conquers Mt. Everest

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Our Takeaway: Showing that no challenge – not even Nepal’s outlawing of climbers with a disability – was too great a challenge for Hari Magar. After returning victorious from summiting the 29,032-foot mountain, he announced his next challenge will be to dedicate the rest of his life to helping others who have a disability conquer their own life goals.   

Former Gurkha soldier living in Britain, Hari Budha Magar, climbed Mount Everest last week, making him the first double above-the-knee amputee to accomplish the feat.

“My main aim for the rest of my lifetime is going to be working to bring awareness about disability,” says Mr. Magar, speaking to journalists from the Associated Press on his return to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

Hundreds of supporters and officials, including Nepal’s tourism minister, were there to meet him at Kathmandu’s airport and offer him garlands. He left the airport in an open truck decorated with flowers, waving to people along the way.

“We all have our own weaknesses and disabilities, but instead of the weaknesses we should be focusing on our strength, and only then, we can all lead a better and meaningful life,” he says.

Mr. Magar lost both of his legs in Afghanistan during his time in the British army, when he accidentally stepped on an improvised explosive device in 2010. He was born in a remote mountain village in Nepal and now lives with his family in the United Kingdom.

Hari has previously dealt with legal issues because Nepal’s government had banned people with a disability from climbing high mountains. A case was filed in the Supreme Court to overturn the ban, allowing Mr. Magar to continue his plan to climb Everest. Read More.

Hands Down! 14 Beauty Products for People Who Can Only Use One Hand

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Makeup and cosmetics on a table.

After a car accident that left her left arm paralyzed, Chloe Toscano began searching for beauty products that would make it easier for people like her who have the use of only one hand. She recently published a list of 14 such products in Allure, which she says “get an A in the accessible-design department.”

One of the products Chloe highlighted is the Tiy Pro Customizable Elastic Hair Tie, which allows her to easily put her hair in a bun or in a ponytail with one hand. She wrote, “Relearning how to tie my hair with one arm was my biggest beauty challenge after my accident. When I finally got it, I realized I could only do it with ties that were already stretched out. But Tiy has created the first customizable hair tie, so no matter what size, length, or tension works best for you, you can have it.”

The ease of use of this and the other accessible products she’s identified extends to every user – not just those with disabilities. Beauty should be accessible to all, and the innovation in the industry is bringing it to more people each day.

To check out Chloe’s full list of 14 accessible beauty products, see her article in Allure.

If the Shoe Fits… Zappos Now Selling Single Shoes for Amputees

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Shoe boxes on the shelves at a shoe store.

Online shoe retailer Zappos, which is owned by Amazon, is making it possible for customers to purchase a single sandal, sneaker or shoe, as well as mixed-size pairs. This will be a welcome development for amputees who wear prosthetic devices and people who may have differently sized feet. Six brands – BILLY Footwear, Converse, New Balance, Nike, PLAE and Stride Rite – will be available for single shoe purchases.

OUR TAKE:  This is a welcome development for amputees, who will no longer be forced to buy extra shoes for which there is no use. Now, if only salons and spas would get on board with this thinking to provide discounts to amputees on manicures and pedicures!

Read the full story.

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