TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Education

TravelAbility Summit Session Cheatsheet: Inclusive Travel for Autistic Travelers with CAN

by

When autistic travelers and their families plan a trip, even small details can make the difference between a stressful experience and a successful journey. From sensory environments to clear communication and predictable itineraries, thoughtful planning matters. At the 2025 TravelAbility Summit, Sarah Armstrong and Jenny Carwana from the Canucks Autism Network shared practical strategies for creating welcoming and inclusive travel environments, highlighting real-world tools, staff training tips, and small adjustments that can make travel accessible for autistic guests. Read our one-page recap of the session below.

2026 TravelAbility Tampa 2026 ad featuring a group of people including a wheelchair user enjoying a mead in downtown tampa. the summit dates are listed.

Want to experience training like this in person? Join us at next year’s TravelAbility Summit, taking place November 9-11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The summit brings together destinations, venues, and industry leaders committed to making travel and events more inclusive for everyone.

Session Recap

Presenters: 

Sarah Armstrong — Director, Strategic Partnerships, Canucks Autism Network (CAN)
Jenny Carwana — Manager of Accessibility Initiatives & Partnerships, Canucks Autism Network (CAN) 

Who CAN is 

Nonprofit founded in 2008 (Vancouver, BC) with a mission to build inclusive communities where autistic individuals thrive. Programs (21k+ program spaces last year), training (tens of thousands trained), and partnerships across sport, recreation, travel, first responders, and employers. Learn more here.

Why this matters 

  • Autism prevalence continues to rise (e.g., ~1 in 31 children in the U.S.; many adults remain undiagnosed). 
  • Travelers on the spectrum and their families are a significant, growing market—but frontline behavior and predictability often determine whether they travel. 

Inclusive language (set the tone) 

  • Many prefer identity-first (“autistic person”); others prefer person-first (“person with autism”). When in doubt, mirror or ask. 
  • Avoid deficit/“functioning” labels. Use support needs (e.g., “needs high support with transitions”). 
  • Replace stigmatizing terms: use “accessible,” “autistic,” “non-speaking,” “AAC user,” “wheelchair user.” 

Core characteristics to plan for

  • Social/communication differences: literal language, directness, varied response times, alternate communication (AAC, sign, visuals). 
  • Sensory differences: hyper/hypo sensitivities to sound, light, smell, touch; potential for sensory overload; stimming as regulation/joy—don’t discourage. 
  • Preference for predictability: routines, clear expectations, low ambiguity. 

Common travel pain points 

  • Sensory environment: crowds, PA announcements, bright/fluorescent lights, strong smells, tight spaces. 
  • Unwritten rules & fast instructions: subtle social norms; multi-step verbal directions delivered quickly. 
  • Low predictability: last-minute changes (delays/gates/rooms), unclear timing, complex transitions. 

Practical strategies (what to implement) 

1) Sensory-aware environments 

  • Provide/mark quiet spaces (low light, comfortable seating, calm activities). 
  • Offer sensory kits to borrow: noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidgets/comfort items, simple comm boards, venue map/ID bracelet. 
  • Create sensory maps and clear signage that warn about loud sounds, bright areas, smells, crowding. 
  • Aim for scent-reduced policies (including cleaners/air fresheners). 
  • Schedule sensory-friendly hours (reduced sound/lighting, fewer triggers). 

2) Clear, direct, visual communication 

  • Be explicit about expectations and “unwritten rules” (friendly tone, no idioms/jargon).
  • Use the Rule of Three for instructions; pair with visuals (checklists, icons, short videos, live demos). 
  • Allow processing time (up to ~10 seconds) before rephrasing more simply. ● Engage the person directly; respect AAC/non-speaking communication. 

3) Increase predictability (“front-loading”) 

  • Share detailed itineraries with photos, maps, what to bring, what to expect, durations, wait times, transitions, and “what happens if plans change.” 
  • Host practice/dress-rehearsal experiences (e.g., airport walkthroughs): check-in → security → gate → aircraft sit-down/taxi → deplane. 
  • Put all resources on an Accessibility page (storybook guides, videos, checklists). 

Proven models & tools 

  • Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program to support self-identification (not mandatory). 
  • YVR & Air Canada partnership: front-loading storybooks, videos, checklists, sensory kits, recurring Accessibility Tours (families reported this enabled their first successful trips). 

Staff training focus (what to teach) 

  • Respect autonomy; never touch mobility/assistive devices or service animals without permission. 
  • Ask before helping; don’t “police” disability. 
  • Normalize stimming; it’s regulation or joy, not misbehavior. 
  • Offer alternatives (quiet space, kit) when sensing overload; stay calm, kind, and patient.

Quick wins you can deploy this quarter

1. Add an Accessibility page: itineraries, visuals, sensory map, what to expect, contact.
2. Stock sensory kits at guest/concierge desks; train staff on when/how to offer them.
3. Pilot sensory-friendly hours and promote them in booking flows. 
4. Script frontline plain-language briefings + print simple visual checklists.
5. Plan a practice tour with local partners (airport/airline, hotel, attraction).
6. Book frontline training (CAN offers travel-specific courses; customize by role). 

Bottom line 

Predictability + Sensory Support + Direct Communication = Lower stress, higher satisfaction, and trips that actually happen. Accessibility here isn’t about costly build-outs—it’s about exceptional hospitality delivered consistently.

Practical Hacks From the Accessibility Playbook

by

Seven years in the making, the Travelability Accessibility Playbook, created in partnership with Destinations International, is an end-to-end toolkit to equip destination organizations on their accessibility journey, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. 

Sample Survey for Destination Stakeholders and Hotels

You’d like to include accessibility information on your website, but you’re overwhelmed with where to begin. You can’t possibly visit each site on your own, and you simply don’t have the task force to call in backup. 

The easiest way to get started is with a simple Google Form survey. Rather than asking partners to label themselves as “accessible” or not—language that can create unnecessary anxiety—focus on clear, direct questions. The examples below are tailored to each type of partner to help you gather the details needed to build a strong accessibility landing page. Because the questions are specific and straightforward, partners are more likely to respond and it will be easier for them to provide useful information.

General Questions: 

• Do you have a dedicated and detailed accessibility page on your website?  

• Are people with disabilities included in your marketing materials?  

• Does your website meet web accessibility standards?  

For attractions and tour experiences:  

• Do you have quieter times that people with disabilities may visit?  

• Do you have multiple ways to purchase restaurants? 

• Are your staff trained on guest evacuation requirements in case of emergency? 

• Do you offer vibrating alarm clocks w/ flashing lights on loan? 

Dining: 

• Are your food menus available in large print versions?  

• Does your restaurant offer “quiet spaces” for guests who have auditory or neurocognitive disabilities?  

• Do you offer reading glasses, flashlight or magnifying glass if needed?

A SAMPLE SURVEY FOR ACCESSIBLE HOTEL ROOMS 

Hotel Name: 

Please provide a link to the description of your accessible room on your website:

About Your Beds in Accessible Rooms 

• What is the bed height from floor to top of the mattress? 

• Is the bed height adjustable? 

• Are there bed raisers available upon request to adjust bed heights? 

• What is the height of the space from the floor to the bottom of the bed frame? 

About Your Bathroom in Accessible Rooms 

• What is the height from the floor to the toilet seat? 

• How many grab bars are there around the toilet? 

• What is the height of the grab bars from the floor? 

• Is there a raised toilet seat available upon request? 

• Is there a roll-in shower? 

• How wide is the doorway entrance to the bathroom? 

Bonus Questions: About Your Pool 

• Does your hotel have a pool? 

• Does your hotel have a pool lift?

TravelAbility + VisitAble: A New Chapter in Disability Inclusion Training

by

Most destinations think they’re inclusive… until their staff training says otherwise.

Over the past year, one theme has come up in nearly every conversation we’ve had with destinations: training. 

It’s not enough to install ramps or update websites if frontline staff don’t know how to welcome travelers with disabilities. In fact, when we surveyed more than 150 attractions, hotels, restaurants, and tour companies across ten destinations, 70% said staff training was their top request.

That’s why we’re excited to announce a new partnership with VisitAble—a company we’ve appreciated and collaborated with for years—to bring scalable, self-paced disability inclusion training to tourism teams nationwide.

VisitAble’s training is straightforward, practical, and designed to create the kind of mindset shift that turns accessibility from a compliance issue into what it really is: advanced customer service. The modules cover common mistakes, updated language, interaction best practices, accessibility guidelines, and industry-specific scenarios. The entire training takes just 60 minutes for managers and 30 minutes for frontline staff.

Destinations already using VisitAble are seeing the payoff. Travel Lane County’s CEO Samara Phelps noted that the flexible video modules made it easy for her team to complete training around busy schedules while still gaining crucial insights. In Richmond, more than 1,800 employees across hotels and attractions have gone through the training, which Toni Bastian, Director of Accessibility, called “a reliable and engaging resource for our tourism community.”

For TravelAbility, this partnership is about impact at scale. VisitAble’s founder, Joe Jamison, put it best:

“To create lasting impact, we must shift industry-wide mindsets around disability and accessible travel. Our training is designed to create that shift, and our partnership with TravelAbility will scale it.”

We couldn’t agree more. If your destination is ready to move from good intentions to real action, let’s get started together.

Get a free quote

Or read more in Trend Hunter’s feature.

Practical Hacks From the Accessibility Playbook

by

Seven years in the making, the Travelability Accessibility Playbook, created in partnership with Destinations International, is an end-to-end toolkit to equip destination organizations on their accessibility journey, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. 

NEUROCOGNITIVE DISABILITIES 

Neurodivergence describes individuals  whose neurological development  and functioning differ from what is typically considered “normal” or “neurotypical.”  This includes people with conditions such as  autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit  hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia,  Tourette syndrome, PTSD, and more.  

Being neurodivergent is not a deficit but rather reflects natural variations in human neurological  development. They may face challenges in social  communication, sensory processing, executive  function, and emotional regulation. Individuals  with PTSD often have heightened or altered  sensory processing. Everyday stimuli like loud  noises, bright lights, crowds or unexpected touch  can be perceived as threats, triggering a fight,  flight or freeze response. Environments that are too stimulating or unpredictable can become overwhelming very quickly. 

Eight Myths about Autism  

by Peter Wharmby 

1. Autistic people don’t feel empathy.  The majority of us feel enormous amounts  of empathy, even for non-living things, and  especially for animals. 

2. Autistic people can’t make eye contact.  Some of us don’t seem to mind it at all, whilst  the many of us who hate it can force ourselves to when we feel it’s necessary. 

3. Autistic males are far more common  than autistic females. The ratio is rapidly shifting to being more balanced as diagnostic  understanding improves.  

4. Autistic people don’t have a sense of  humor. I mean, some of us don’t, and some of us have what may be seen as a ‘different’ sense of  humor, but there are a lot of funny autistic people out there, including those who do comedy professionally. 

5. Autistic people have learning disabilities.  In fact a surprisingly low percentage of autistic  people have co-occurring learning disabilities. However, people with learning disabilities are  much more likely to be autistic too. 

6. Autistic people are all antisocial. Many of  us may be asocial from trauma associated with  social interaction, but it seems many of us are  quite gregarious and even extroverted.  

7. Autistic people are all STEM subject  specialists. Though plenty are, there are many  of us who have skills, jobs and qualifications in  the humanities, arts and other fields. 

8. Autistic people are all super-gifted in  some way. Though some of us might be  skilled in certain areas, and some of us might  have excellent memories, plenty of us are  perfectly average.  

A WARM WELCOME 

• Respect Individual Differences: Recognize that neurodivergent individuals have  diverse experiences, strengths, and challenges.  

• Listen and Validate: Listen attentively to  the person’s perspectives, experiences, and  preferences.  

• Respect Interests: Respect the individual’s  personal space, boundaries, and ways of  interacting. Ask for consent before initiating  physical contact or offering assistance and  respect their right to decline if they are not  comfortable. Do not pressure the individual  to conform to neurotypical norms such as eye  contact and hand shaking

New Pop Up Masterclass Workshop Series Launch: Cultivating Accessibility Leaders

by

We’re excited to introduce the Cultivating Accessibility Leaders Masterclass Series, a new, in-person workshop series from TravelAbility taking place in three regions across the U.S. — the South, East, and Midwest.

Ideal for DMOs, DMCs, airports, hotels, museums, attractions, event venues, this series delivers hands-on training to empower teams and leaders to assess, improve, and promote accessibility initiatives within their organizations. 

What You’ll Learn:

· How to evaluate current offerings and identify gaps
· Tools and training methods that work
· Best practices for marketing accessibility and inclusive storytelling
· Low-cost adaptive solutions across mobility, sensory, hearing, and vision access
· Lived insights from disabled travelers and influencers

You’ll also have the opportunity to earn the Accessibility Leader Certificate of Completion, recognizing you as a leader in the field with the requisite knowledge to fulfill that role. The program has been developed in partnership with Rosen College of Hospitality Management to recognize inclusive leadership in travel.

Learn More

The first stop? Orlando!

A promotional graphic for the TravelAbility Cultivating Accessibility Leaders Masterclass in Orlando, FL on September 19, 2025. On the left, the TravelAbility logo appears above bold blue text reading “Cultivating Accessibility Leaders Masterclass, Orlando, FL |September 19, 2025.” Beside, a circular photo shows a panel discussion with seated attendees. Yellow and blue ribbon-like graphics curve around the photo and side of the graphic.

A One-Day Masterclass for Accessible Travel Leadership

Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Orlando, FL
Price: Early Bird – $595 through August 2nd | Regular – $795 through September 1 | Late/Onsite $995 

All registered attendees of The Cultivating Accessibility Leaders Masterclas get a special $500 discount off their registration for the 2025 TravelAbility Summit.  

Be part of a growing movement to make accessible travel standard, not special. We hope to see you in Orlando.

Register Today!

Save the Date! The second stop will be Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on December 9th, 2025!

Thank you to our host, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and to our major sponsor, Experience Kissimmee, as well as Visit Orlando, for their generous support in making this initiative possible.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Your name and email will never be sold to third parties.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Your name and email will never be sold to 3rd parties.