TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Education

Tips for Traveling with a Neurodivergent Child

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A recent survey found that 87% of parents with autistic children avoid family vacations due to the overwhelming challenges posed by new environments, sounds, smells, and disruptions. Behavioral issues related to emotional meltdowns can disrupt the entire trip. 93% of respondents would be more likely to travel if autism-certified options were available, with 97% expressing dissatisfaction with current travel options for families with autistic individuals. Read More.

Our Takeaway: By implementing thoughtful accommodations and services that consider the specific needs of neurodivergent guests, the hospitality industry can create a welcoming and supportive environment for all travelers. Training and awareness for staff can result in not only happy guests but also in a greater confidence in repeat travel and stronger brand loyalty, as families with neurodivergent members feel valued and encouraged to return to establishments that genuinely understand and accommodate their needs.

The Best Podcast about Accessible Travel: Barrier Breaking Accessibility

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“As service providers, as business owners, and as professionals, we always need to consider that accessibility and inclusion is something that will impact our lives sooner or later. And that’s why it’s so important, right? That’s why we need to consider it [in] every aspect of our society.” Listen for a conversation around considering disabilities in travel, the importance of accessible travel experiences, and how you can help make travel open to all. Read More.

Our Takeaway: Accessibility in travel matters, because accessibility matters everywhere – impacting almost everyone at some point. If we don’t know how to become accessible, we won’t know how to welcome tomorrow’s guests.

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/  

TravelAbility Partners with Nation’s #1 Hospitality Management College to Change the Way Travelers with a Disability will be Treated in the Future

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Rosen College logo with black type and yellow shell plus TravelAbility logo with wordsThe Intersection of Travel adn Accessibility
Rosen College of Hospitality Management and TravelAbility Logo

TravelAbility is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, a part of the University of Central Florida, to develop TravelAbility: Filling the Accessibility Gap in Hospitality, a self-paced learning module that will be part of the college’s experiential education program, a requirement of graduation for all 3000 students in the program.  A quiz will be administered.

“Perhaps more than any of the other projects we developed over the past four years,” said Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO of TravelAbility. “This collaboration has the potential to make the most impact as it will infuse a new generation of future hospitality supervisors and general managers with the awareness and empathy necessary to not only change the attitude about the way people with disabilities are perceived, but also how they are treated.”

TravelAbility will be contributing its expertise as well as content from The Accessibility Playbook, a copyrighted compendium of business cases, tips, products, innovations, and 99 videos from prior conferences and events.   

“All 3,000 plus students at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management are introduced to the wider societal challenges that impact our industry through their courses, our incredible Internship program, and the opportunities to engage through their P.R.E.P. activities,” commented Alan Fyall, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Rosen College of Hospitality.” “Our partnership with TravelAbility represents an important milestone as the travel industry awakens to the significance of travelers with a disability and the steps required to both welcome and accommodate them in a seamless manner.”

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management was rated #1 academic level tourism program in the U.S. and #2 in the world.

“Building on the success of our education on human trafficking,” remarked Dean Fyall, “our partnership with TravelAbility will have a huge impact on our students and ensure they are suitably equipped to take their industry into the future in a more inclusive and accessible manner.”

What is the Accessibility Gap? Since every disability has a spectrum, and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was written for the median, even if they are fully compliant, hotels, attractions and restaurants still work for only 50% of the people. The Accessibility Gapcan be filled by showcasing information online, providing training about accessibility needs, and implementing adaptive innovations that are currently available.

The course will begin with the spring semester and allow the next generation of travel industry executives, meeting planners and event managers to learn how to be welcoming to all guests. “Travel is the toy department of life,” said Steinman, “everyone should be able to enjoy it.”

About TravelAbility, now celebrating our fifth year, is an organization that works within the travel industry to improve the experience that people with disabilities have while they are traveling. As part of this initiative, we also act as a one-stop source that connects travel organizations with the expertise, innovations, and resources they need so disabled travelers have the information they require to ensure smoother sailing while planning travel.

About UFC Rosen College of Hospitality Management offers their students the opportunity to learn and work in the center of hospitality. The students at the college are given the opportunity to study within an internationally recognized faculty that consists of cutting-edge research, innovative academic programs, and strong industry and community partnerships. 

For more information, contact: info@travelability.net.

TA Insider Insight: This initiative came together after Gisela Canova, Head of internships and Associate Dean Alan Fyall, attended EMS 2022 in Orlando. In a follow up meeting in which they were shown our proprietary Accessibility Playbook, it was decided to move forward with the learning module which, hopefully, will lead to a full online course that will inspire more academic institutions to add accessibility to their curriculum.