Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.
Family Travel
From Around the Web
Information and inspiration from around the web.
Marriott to Overhaul Accessible Room Reservation System in Response to Threat of Federal Lawsuit
While denying responsibility for ADA compliance of its franchises, the company agrees to address gaps in hotel websites.
How a Mobile App Gave Voice to a Nonspeaking Autistic Woman
At 29 years old, Jordyn Zimmerman’s tech journey transformed her relationships and her impact on the world around her.
July is Disability Pride Month; What Exactly Does That Mean?
Disability pride “is a rejection of the idea that I am less able to contribute and participate in the world.”
Starbucks Sees Large and Growing Market for Inclusive Design
The company’s new accessibility features welcomed by a wide range of customers
With Airport Customer Ratings Like These, You May Want to Take the Bus
But a few airports soared above the rest for friendliness
Alaskan Visitor Center Hosts Class on Accessible Tourism
Workshop highlights the benefits of inclusion for the entire community
The Spanish Tourist Office Hosts First Accessible Advisory Panel
“Spain for All” will bring big changes through the tourist office’s first ever advisory panel on accessibility.
Amazon Targets Hospitality Headaches with Alexa Smart Properties
Alexa does a lot more than play your favorite song. Here’s how Alexa’s tech is bridging the gap in staffing shortages and much more.
Making Accessibility a Reality at HRCS
This is how Hudson River Community Sailing has been making Manhattan’s Dyckman Marina welcoming to all abilities over the past 15 years.
Trails for All
Finally, an all-person’s trail. Removing barriers to nature is building a better experience for all.
Did Your City Make the List of the Five Most Wheelchair-Accessible Cities in the US?
Cities were ranked by Insider Monkey, an investment site that calls accessibility a “crucial aspect of urban planning.”
Will Paris Deliver on Its Olympic Accessibility Promise?
Can the city meet the needs of more than A quarter million visitors with disabilities?
Iowans Celebrate Grand Opening of the Country’s “Most Universally Accessible Park”
Six years in the making, Eastern Lake Park features adaptive pontoons and kayaks, and wheelchairs that work on sand and water.
Metro Bilbao Adopts Navilens Technology to Improve Accessibility for Riders with Visual Impairments
Metro Bilbao’s full rollout of Navilens technology is set to boost ROI by revolutionizing accessibility for visually impaired passengers—setting a new standard for transportation systems worldwide.
Hotel accessibility: Equal access
“It’s no good hotels saying ‘we’re accessible’ or having the wheelchair symbol, because it doesn’t mean anything to anyone really.” Blue Badge Access Award winners are setting the example and changing this discourse.
Travel Blogger Highlights ‘Terrifying’ Wheelchair Ordeal
“I hope this process is something I never have to experience again” is not exactly the sentiment you want your guests to leave with. Avoiding life-threatening situations is better for creating return customers.
What Would You Do to Manage an Autistic Child’s Meltdown?
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We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new monthly series, “What Would You Do?” Each month, we’ll present a unique scenario and invite you to consider how you would handle it.
This Month’s Scenario: Managing an Autistic Child’s Meltdown
Imagine you’re the manager of an attraction, and suddenly, an autistic child experiences a meltdown that disrupts other guests that embarrasses their family. One of the guests asks you, as the manager of the facility: “Aren’t you going to do something about this?”
What Would You Do?
As part of our commitment to fostering understanding and empathy, we encourage you to share your insights and creative solutions. Let’s learn from each other and create a more accessible and supportive environment for all our visitors.
Here are answers from three perspectives:
Talia Salem, Content Strategist, Ritz Carlton division of Marriott
I’ve been in this situation many times with my child. The first thing I do is try to survive the meltdown and keep her and others safe. I ask other people to please give us some space because sometimes during meltdowns there’s a lot of kicking and flailing of limbs. Sometimes at theme parks and other places with lines people are too close and are often in our space, which makes them at striking distance during a meltdown. I try not to place too many demands on my child and work with her to calm her nervous system through rocking, music, compressions or whatever works at the time. Then if needed (as often people make rude comments) I explain that my daughter has autism and struggles with impulse control, waiting in lines or whatever the case is. I’ve been able have some good conversations with people on occasion. Often though people stare like I have 5 heads and honestly I hate that. But I’m getting better at ignoring the stares and focusing on what my child needs to be safe and get calm in the moment and try to meet a need like a quiet space some food a drink a movement break etc.
Bartocz Czajka, Strategist, lecturer, Special Education teacher
Parents usually are able to anticipate a meltdown. So the focus should be on preparation and not on the actual meltdown. If that happens (you obviously cannot think of everything 😉 just communicate to other guests about autism-related circumstances and always have a quiet room available for the person(s) involved to get through the crisis
Jennifer Allen,
I’m going to second Talia from the mom perspective! Please just give us a moment, and a bit of space, to sort ourselves out. Getting involved may only escalate things. For the establishment, it would be a GIFT if employees had a basic understanding of what was happening. That may even give them the ability to field any questions that are coming at us from other guests.
News from the TravelAbility Community
Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.
Wheel the World founder Wins Entrepreneur of the Year at annual EDDY Awards in Atlanta.
Winners of the second annual EDDIE awards, short for Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse and Inclusive Excellence, are “not scared of breaking down doors, actually, demolishing doors.” Read about Silberstein and the other nominees, here.
IBCCES Announces Certifications of Dubai and Orlando Airports.
Our partners at IBCCES, the only credentialing organization in the autism field, have had a very busy quarter. Recently, they’ve announced certifications including Dubai Airport, Orlando airport authority, our first Certified attractions in Korea and Macau, just to name a few. You can read about more of their partners, here.
Ed Harris, Lancaster’s Tourism Maestro, Turns Crisis into Triumph.
Discover Lancaster’s CEO took tourism to the next level, driving record growth and setting a new standard for marketing innovation, even in the midst of a pandemic. Read how, here.
Jupiter Rebuilds Beach Walkovers to Help People in Wheelchairs.
Palm Beaches is making waves and redefining shorelines with their inclusivity movement. Find out how, here.
National Parks Becoming More Autism Friendly.
Customized Itineraries, visual schedules, sensory guides, quiet rooms, and sensory-friendly days are a great starting place for welcoming the neurodiverse into the great outdoors. Read how national parks are embracing inclusivity, here.
Accessibility at Vancouver Airport.
YVR is the first airport to receive an ‘Accessibility Certified Gold’ rating under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ (RHFAC) program. Read about their commitment to exceeding standards, here.
Wheel The World, Easy Access Travel and Tapooz Recommended by AARP as Top Tour Companies for Travelers with Physical Challenges.
AARP knows what travelers with mobility issues need to explore the world, and the TravelAbility community is bridging the gap. Learn how, here.
New on Accessible DMO Landing Pages:
San Francisco Travel has organized their accessibility feature in a unique and creative way. See it here.
Visit Myrtle Beach Launches “Traveling the Spectrum”, a groundbreaking docu-series
This movement for changing the world of autism travel needs your help. Please share.
Traveling the Spectrum is a groundbreaking docu-series that highlights the inspiring vacations of three families, each with a member on the autism spectrum. Currently, 87% of families with members on the spectrum don’t travel due to a lack of sensory-friendly options. That’s an untapped audience of millions in America alone who are not traveling to any destination. Traveling the Spectrum is set to change this narrative — but it needs your help. Starting a movement is only possible with collective support.
87% of families with members on the spectrum don’t travel due to a lack of sensory-friendly options.
Traveling the Spectrum is looking for a groundswell of support to show streaming services that this is the type of content that people want to watch. Please take a moment to watch the trailer. If you find yourself moved by the Traveling the Spectrum mission, please give it a like and a share. Visit the website and voice your support for this series to be picked up by streaming services so this message can travel worldwide.
This show goes beyond destination marketing. It’s a series that dives into the essence of humanity. Lend your support to get this series noticed by streaming platforms. This is the start of a ripple effect that can change the way the world views people with autism.
Traveling the Spectrum is more than just a project —it’s a mission to make a difference – and difference that can only be made together.
Please join us by sharing one or all of the following with your teammates and to your social networks:
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