TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Disability Awareness

HBO MAX Unveils ASL version of “Barbie”

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The much-anticipated arrival of mega-hit “Barbie” on streaming included a special feature, “Barbie with ASL,” in which a signer interprets the movie for the Deaf community. 

“HBO Max is the premiere destination for storytelling, so being able to share the biggest movie of the year in ASL, the first language for many, will make this story resonate in a more meaningful way,” Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content, said in a press release. “By offering sign language interpretation, we will build upon the film’s empowering message of inclusiveness and offer a unique viewing experience for the Deaf community to enjoy with family and friends.” 

The streaming service kicked off the ASL version with a special community screening in Los Angeles alongside the non-profit Deaf West Theatre, advocacy group RespectAbility, signer Leila Hanaumi, and Barbie star Margot Robbie. Read more

Related story: British Air introduces Signed Language Video for Deaf Passengers 

TravelAbility TakeAway: This is an important milestone given the huge footprint of the Barbie movie. In addition to increasing access to the movie for the Deaf Community, the ASL version and the live event highlight the artistry of ASL signer Leila Hanaumi. Her performance is more than translation; its an act of expressive storytelling.

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

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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.

Oregon Coast Scores $1.1 Million in Grants for Accessibility

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Historical photo in sepia tones of an older Black man playing a violin

As we reported in last month’s Insider, Travel Oregon has awarded $3.6 million in competitive grants to DMOs, attractions, and cities for inclusion and accessibility projects. Of that total, more than $1 million will go to Oregon Coast organizations. 

The scope and diversity of the funded projects is vast. Travelers with disabilities will gain both new and improved access to a wide range of natural, recreational, and historic sites. The grants will also fund accessibility studies by Wheel the World in two regions along the coast. Read more.

TravelAbility TakeAway: If you want to see the impact that all of you are making through your participation in TravelAbility, take a trip to Oregon. Travel Oregon, which sent more than 30 staff members to the Savannah summit, is putting into practice ideas and partnerships they’ve developed through active engagement with the network. It’s inspiring to see an ambitious program implemented state-wide.

Partnership Between TravelAbility and Destinations International Off to a Fast Start

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As we reported in last month’s Insider, Destinations International has named TravelAbility as its official accessibility advisor, providing guidance on how to make destinations more welcoming for people with disabilities. In turn, Destinations International will market TravelAbility’s Accessibility Playbook to its 700+ DMOS. 

“The Playbook is like accessibility in a box and  contains everything we’ve learned over the past five years that can help destinations and travel businesses  improve their accessibility and inclusion initiatives for travelers with disabilities,” said Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of TravelAbility. “It includes more than 100 videos, PowerPoint decks, and contacts for a range of vendors in the accessibility space.”

TravelAbility will also advise Destinations International on prospective speakers and assistive technology entrepreneurs who can showcase their solutions for improving accessibility in the travel industry at their InnovateAble pitch event.

TravelAbility has already started planning its involvement in DI’s events for 2024, including several US meetings this spring and summer:

Marketing & Communications Summit
February 27-29, 2024 | Salt Lake City, UT

CEO Summit
April 2-4, 2024 | Boston, MA

Convention Sales & Services Summit
April 8-9, 2024 | Washington, D.C.

Showcase
April 10, 2024 | Washington, D.C.

Visitor Services Summit
July 16, 2024 | Tampa, FL

Annual Convention
July 16-18, 2024 | Tampa, FL

Read more

TravelAbility TakeAway: “Both partners have hit the ground running and we’re finding multiple opportunities for collaboration and crossover,” said Jake Steinman, TravelAbility founder and CEO. “It’s an exciting time. Sleep is overrated!”

Census Bureau Considers Controversial New Criteria for “Disability”

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Author and disability activist Alice Wong seated in a wheelchair.
Author and disability activist Alice Wong

In an effort to obtain more nuanced information and to bring US disability data in line with international standards, the Census Bureau is recommending replacing yes/no questions with performance scales, such as:

Does this person have trouble walking?

  1. No Difficulty
  2. Some Difficulty
  3. A Lot of Difficulty
  4. Cannot Do At All

One federal agency has recommended that only answers C and D would meet the definition of a “disability,” vs. a “condition.” 

“Millions of disabled people will no longer count, which is just the latest in the historic struggle to be seen as a significant community that matters,” says author and disability activist Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project. 

Read more

TravelAbility TakeAway: This approach to redefining “disability” could have far-reaching implications for federal funding for accessibillity. We’ll be tracking the progress of the debate leading up to the next period of public comment in the Spring.

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