TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Disability Advocates

How to Change Attitudes about Accessibility

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This research, focused on the role of media and advertising in improving attitudes, found the following principles to be important: raising the status of disabled people; sharing stories and personal experiences; encouraging people to think about how they would feel facing inequality, but not asking people to imagine being a disabled person; and taking care when talking about injustice and using facts and figures. Read More.

Our Takeaway: Embracing these principles can lead to a more inclusive and welcoming environment, attracting a diverse customer base and enhancing overall business success.

US Agency Releases Free Stock Photos for People with Disabilities

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Noticing a lack of options on the market, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a set of royalty-free stock photos that feature people with disabilities using common home safety devices. Read More.

Our Takeaway: The creation of media with better disability representation remains a unique opportunity for the hospitality industry. By incorporating these inclusive images in marketing materials, websites, and promotional campaigns, hospitality leaders can send a powerful message of acceptance and representation to potential guests.

Advancing Accessibility through the TravelAbility Community

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Our Takeaway: Here’s what’s new with members of the TravelAbility Community.

DESTINATION A11Y CLUB MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Visit Lauderdale’s accessibility commitment wins disability conferences, trade shows and events.

Inclusive Dining Mesa includes an itinerary for people with dietary restrictions.

Palm Beach County Tourism Launches New Accessibility Plan in partnership with TravelAbilty, Wheel the World and IBCCES.

Interested in Becoming a Certified Senior TravelZ Companion?  Click here for more information.

50+ Brains to Pick at TravelAbility 2023 Savannah

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Our Takeaway:  Accessibility is a journey without a destination! Whether you’re just beginning or trying to improve your existing accessibility, it can be an incredibly daunting task. That’s why TravelAbility has assembled over 50 speakers/presenters/panelists under one roof as well as 12 DMO members of our Destination A11Y Club that can help you.

For your convenience, we’ve organized them by their field of expertise.

Assessment Providers

  • John Sage, Accessible Travel Solutions
  • Eric Lipp, Open Doors Organization
  • Camillo Navarro, Wheel the World
  • Meredith Tekin, President, IBCCES
  • John Morris, founder, Wheelchair Travel

Accessible Training Experts

  • Camilo Navarro, co-founder, Wheel the World
  • Kristy Durso, owner, Incredible Memories Travel
  • John Sage, owner Accessible Travel Solutions
  • Eric Lipp, founder, Open Doors Organization
  • Meredith Tekin, President, IBCCES
  • Meegan Winter, founder, AbleVu
  • Lynn Smith, Sunflower Lanyard

Getting the Word Out. Accessible Travel Influencers

  • Houston Vandergriff: Downs and Towns (500k followers on TikTok)
  • Cory Lee Woodard, Curb Free with Cory Lee (100k+ followers on social/blog)
  • Jennifer Allen, Wonders within Reach (50k followers)
  • John Morris, Wheelchair Travel (25,000 followers)
  • Chelsea Bear, Breaking BEARiers (500k followers)

B2C Contacts: Travel Agents

  • Camilo Navarro, co-founder, Wheel the World
  • Kristy Durso, owner, Incredible Memories Travel
  • Amy Garner, KHM (host agency: 4000 agents)
  • John Sage, Owner, Sage Traveling
  • Chad Burr, Co-owner, Outside Agents (host agency: 3000 agents)
  • Kristy LaCroix, owner, Wheelchair Escapes
  • Debra Kerper, Owner, Easy Access Tours

Free Consultation

 “Pop Up Out-of-the-Box Consulting Room.”  Over 25 experts will be available for one-to-one advice sessions.

New Sessions Added

  • Airbnb’s head of Accessibility discusses their new outreach.
  • Developing a Bad Ass Accessibility Strategy.
  • Should accessibility be DE&I, DEI&A, or should it stand alone?
  • How America’s top nude beaches are embracing accessibility.
  • How (and where) to begin your accessibility journey.
  • How to use accessibility to win more meetings business.

TravelAbility EMS 2023 August 18-20, Savannah, GA

 AGENDA, https://travelability.net/summit/agenda/

SPEAKERShttps://travelability.net/summit/speakers/

REGISTER NOW: https://travelability.net/summit/register/  

India by Rickshaw:  Leading Provider of Accessible Travel to Build 5000 Accessible Electric Rickshaws

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photo of a blue electric accessible rickshaw

Our Takeaway: Maybe Musk should have invested in EZ MOV rather than Twitter! A wonderful example of how a public-private partnership enhances existing—and familiar—transportation with infrastructure that converts a primitive method of getting from one place to another, in a completely contemporary way.

In the first-ever massive initiative in India to provide wheelchairs in auto rickshaws for physically disabled or mobility-challenged people for ease in travel, Ezy Mov, India’s leading Accessible Transport operator, has partnered with New Delhi-based Goenka Electrical Motors Private Limited (GEM) to manufacture 5,000 accessible wheelchair friendly e-rickshaws over the next two years.

Driven by its mission to realize the future of Accessible Transportation in India for disabled, handicapped or mobility–challenged people, Ezy Mov has plans to bring accessible transport even in the auto rickshaw segment right to the doorsteps of passengers.

Goenka Electric is one of the leading electric rickshaw manufacturers in the country with a wide variety of high-quality E – Rickshaws and Electric Vehicles. Ezy Mov is India’s leading and fastest-growing accessible transport provider with its fleet of on-call wheelchair taxis already plying in India – Mumbai