TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Editorial

50 “Accessible Hacks”​ to Make Travel More Enjoyable for People with a Disability

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balloons made into the numbers 5 and zero floating in the sunlight next to some orange balloons with trees in the background

TravelAbility Summit is dedicated to improving travel experiences for people with disabilities that will be held in San Francisco November 11-13, recently released the names of 50 technologies, products, and services that will help the travel industry level-up their accessibility. The 50 final products make travel easier for all and were based on the feedback of people with disabilities, technical experts and disability industry leaders. Through the process of vetting 200 products, we learned an important lesson: There is no one product that works for everyone, which at first can make choosing products for your customers overwhelming. But there is a common need for trusted advice. That’s where we knew we could help.

The number one question we get from the travel industry is, how do I get started with an accessibility plan—and how can I do it on a budget? Our advice is to start anywhere—hack the system and try whatever you think will work best for your hotel, destination, attraction or museum.

The hacks are an eclectic mix of tools and devices that range from a portable wheelchair ramp to a free app with 2 million volunteers who can become the ‘eyes’ of a traveler who is visually impaired. There are also larger, business-oriented hacks, such as TravelTripper, a platform for making a hotel’s booking and browsing experiences more accessible. The travel market is already exploding with requests for more accessible ways to book rooms, see cities and set out on adventures without barriers. When you have to get started somewhere, you get creative. The 50 Hacks is a great place to do both of those things.

For those who may be skeptical, think about this: the hotel or attraction that has thought ahead to meet the needs of a person with a disability will find the most loyal customers the travel industry could have. And we’ve hacked the process for you.

A final word about our methodology: Four members of our team examined websites and/or conducted interviews with executives over a 7-month period; conducted interviews with several special needs travel agents, media, and members of the disability and travel communities, often in-person at conferences and expo trade events. Additionally, we crowdsourced input and recommendations from the most popular disability media and blog posts using a series of Google keyword alerts. The team also had in-depth discussions with flight attendants, airport wheelchair attendants, and travelers who have disabilities who used the products themselves.

For a full list of hacks to help you get started on your accessibility journey, click here.

Surprising Tips for Traveling with a Chronic Illness From 18 People Who Do It Often

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Going on vacation, or even getting out of town on business, can be a necessary break from everyday life. But traveling to and from a destination and dealing with unexpected changes can be stressful. Flight delays, missed connections, lost luggage, and hotel reservation issues can all put a huge damper on a trip. For people who live with chronic illness, traveling means having to worry about these common issues on top of issues like inaccessibility, ableism, and health risks. The phrase, ‘I need a vacation from my vacation’ is very true”, writes the author of this very helpful Bustle.com story.
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OUR TAKE: Many companies are trying their hardest to launch effective tools that will help travelers to know ahead of time what to expect and what to request in advance of their stay. Among them is Airbnb, which this summer released new guidelines that require hosts to list clearer information about the accommodations they are able to provide, and photos of their listing’s “accessibility features.” Many hotels will make lists of restaurants and places to eat for people who have serious food allergies that restrict their diet. Although airlines don’t have the best record with passengers with disabilities (particularly when it comes to keeping wheelchairs from getting damaged), certain airlines will give you the first row (after first class) to sit in. But travelers need to be reminded to check the box that says they require assistance when purchasing a ticket. Much of the concerns and many of the challenges can be overcome by planning ahead. As for business owners in  the hospitality industry, this piece is a good reminder to have (or update) information on facilities, pharmacies, emergency clinics, restaurants and rentals that may be of help to people with chronic illnesses.

Why Are Airplane Bathrooms So Crappy?

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 “Nobody boy in wheelchair with someone pushing him. A travel blanket on his laplikes talking about using the bathroom, except maybe my two adolescent sons. But for wheelchair users planning trips involving flights, the ability (or lack thereof) to use an airplane bathroom (a.k.a. lavatory) can make or break their travel plans. While this post is intended for wheelchair users who haven’t flown yet as such, I consider myself a very seasoned traveler and I definitely learned something,” writes Spin the Globe’s Sylvia Longmire. Read Longmire’s expert guide to airplane bathrooms to help you determine how they fit (or don’t fit) into your travel plans.

OUR TAKE: As with most things travel-related, preparation and some research are required fo the best results. You can request an onboard aisle chair, making it easier to navigate once inside the plane. Southwest and JetBlue have made it part of their standard protocol to have them. If you are flying on a domestic flight, contact an airline within 48 hours of your flight to request one. According to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), the airline is required by law to provide one.     READ MORE

Why Do Service Dogs Get the Short End of the Stick?  

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It’s a common ocwoman kneeling next to Labrador who has a service collar on she is hugging the dog.currence. Someone rolls into a restaurant with a well behaved and vigorously trained service animal, and the hostess looks down with a smile and says, “I have to ask, is this a service animal?” “Yes” replies the hungry patron who just drove 2 hours to meet their friends here. “Ok, let me show you to your table.” The guest rolls to their seat, with the dog heeling obediently by their wheelchair. 

Moments later, the manager approaches, May I see your dog’s papers? Suddenly, what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening quickly evolves into an embarrassing and uncomfortable scene. While this is frustrating to those who need service animals for legitimate disabilities, the unfortunate proliferation of fake service animals is also frustrating to business owners, according to pushlivingadvisors.com

OUR TAKE: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), privately owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.

photo courtesy: Colorado Service Dogs 

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Opinion: The #1 Problem Cities Should Tackle to Improve Accessibility

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Do the people who create technology for products that make cities ‘smart’ solicit direct feedback from the disability community? Do they know the obstacles people with disabilities face most often on a daily basis? No according to a new survey of 175 entrepreneurs in technology incubators showed that 43% of the respondents had a strong understanding of accessibility and inclusion in their own products…one third of the respondents were uncertain whether their technological products could be disabled-friendly, according to this SmartCity Press author. That’s a huge problem—maybe the #1 problem—for people with disabilities who are hoping that cities will become more accessible as technology improves and systems are updated.   READ MORE

OUR TAKE: If you’re in the business of travel, you are probably realizing that when travel influencers seek out the advice of the disability community, accessibility radically improves. But where do you find people to give advice or lend their expertise to a new product or project? That’s one reason we created TravelAbility Summit—to connect the two communities. The TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board, which has at least 50% disability representation, has already been invaluable in shaping the panels and speakers being chosen to present this fall in San Francisco. 

 

photo courtesy: Getty images Disability Collection