TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Editorial

Disabled People Must Be Able to Talk More Openly About Sex—It’s Important for Their Health.

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A columnist who rites a column on disability and is an actress.
Sex shouldn’t be a taboo topic, says Renke.

Here’s a fact you probably didn’t know: Only 5% of people who aren’t disabled have ever been asked out or been on a date with a disabled person, according to one study. Actress and disability campaigner Samantha Renke hopes to change that statistic. She writes candidly in MetroNews UK that, to make matters worse, she has to endure either intrusive questions from those around her or total silence around the topic in general. Renke writes that she thinks that silence has probably led her to lose out on the chance to have some valuable relationships.  Read more.

Was A Disabled American Airlines Passenger Really Left Stranded in Chicago? Here’s the Truth…Caught on Video

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It’s no secret that the airline industry has a dismal record when it comes to offering quality service to travelers with disabilities, particularly passengers who depend heavily on airport porters and wheelchairs. So last month, when a local news station reported that an elderly woman was abandoned in her wheelchair overnight by a porter closing up for the night at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, many believed the accusations to be true. But wait—not so fast. Before you come to any conclusions, you should know that video footage of the event revealed a very different story. Read more.

On a Roll: Magazine Names TravelAbility Summit Board Member Cory Lee Woodard Person of the Year

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a picture of Cory Lee outside of the Taj Mahal
credit: Cory Lee Woodard

TravelAbility Summit Board Member Cory Lee Woodard was recently chosen as “Person of the Year” by New Mobility Magazine. Through his travel blog, Curb Free with Cory Lee, he has become the face (and heart) of accessible travel and we are honored to have him and his lived experience to help guide content for our events. In his spare time, Cory Lee is working on a 55-item bucket list that includes seeing the Superbowl and snorkeling the Great Reef Barrier in Australia. He recently crossed seeing the Taj Mahal off his list. Read more.

Editor’s Note: Welcome to the TravelAbility Report

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Today we launch the first issue of our monthly newsletter, the TravelAbilty Report, which will include profiles, features and news designed for travel suppliers and destinations who have an interest in making the travel experience accessible (and enjoyable) to everyone. It is a complement to the Travel Ability Summit (TAS), a b2b event that will bring together destinations, airports, attractions, travel providers and a host of cutting edge experts and product innovators to better understand how to make the opportunities to make travel easier for those with a variety of disabilities. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently published a report that found that one fifth of the US population has some form of disability. This, of course, doesn’t even account for the coming baby-boomer generation who is just now entering their 70’s.

Our hope is that those attending the Summit and reading this newsletter use the information and contacts to raise awareness and educate their organizations and stakeholders. The first TAS will be held Nov. 12-13, 2019 in San Francisco.

As you look over this inaugural issue, you might find that you may know of someone with an idea, a product, or a service that may warrant inclusion in this newsletter. Please e-mail me us at jake@northamericanjourneys.com.

To view the TravelAbility Summit website click here.

 

Jake Steinman, Editor

Sausalito, California