Deaf restaurants are deaf-owned or deaf-run restaurants designed to welcome people with hearing or speech difficulties. Signs of Good Food has put together this map showing 97 restaurant locations around the globe where accessibility and amazing food come together. Learn more, here.
Hearing
News from the TravelAbility Community:
Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.
Fort Wayne International Airport Unveils Accessibility, Universal Design in Renovations
Accessibility is a positive for those with disabilities, but standards are designed to target only the middle 50% of people.
The Palm Beaches: An Autism-Friendly Summer Destination
Not all beaches are created equally. Discover what makes The Palm Beaches the most autism friendly beach destination.
Crayola Experience Mall of America® Becomes a Certified Autism Center™, Enhancing Accessibility for All Guests
What makes the nation’s most colorful interactive fun even better? Making it a welcoming experience for all!
Sunflower Program Works to Make Airport More Accessible
Richmond, VA travelers with invisible disabilities will have a significantly simplified airport experience, thanks to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.
Inside Google’s Process To Creating Newly-Announced Maps Accessibility Features
How does a map app make navigation more accessible for mobility challenged, vision impaired, and hearing impaired? Updates like these!
Airbnb, United Spinal Association Executives Discuss ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Academy, Accessible Travel In Interview
What does economic inclusion look like? Find out through Airbnb’s groundbreaking partnership with United Spinal – empowering hosts with mobility needs to tap into the $24 billion hosting market.
San Diego’s Accessibility Shines in a Tour by Mobility Scooter
Lived experience is the only accurate accessibility review. Here’s how San Diego did.
A Grand Adventure – The Grand Canyon
Divergent Adventures is creating a new kind of adventure experience – one that welcomes the neurodivergent.
AdvenChair Teams up with Wanderlust Tours for AdvenTours
Oregon leads the way in new levels of accessibility and inclusion with outings that allow people with disabilities to explore Central Oregon’s most iconic places with expert guidance.
Collins Aerospace Joins Race to Add Wheelchair Space to Airplane
The space race has begun! The space for wheelchairs on planes, that is. Who’s going to lead the way in accessible flights?
Disabled Disney Guests Told to Ask for Callback Times at Each Ride & Practice Waiting in Line Instead of Getting DAS
So much for the happiest place on earth. Updates to Disney’s accessibility pass may leave some behind.
Jen Roth Serving Entrepreneurs’ Organization-Minnesota While Building Travel Accessibility Website, Wise Blue Yonder
Fully curated travel experiences designed for people of all abilities bring inclusion to new areas of the travel space.
Reno’s Adaptive Cycling Center Blazes a Trail for Outdoor Fun
Adaptive bikes and David’s Chair are just part of what’s making Reno an adaptive adventure destination.
Travel Lane County Wins Prestigious Get in the Hearing Loop Award
Delivering lost sounds directly to hearing devices is changing the way people experience Eugene, Cascades & Coast Region
Travel Lane County, known as the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region, has been awarded the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) 2024 Get in the Hearing Loop Award for its work installing hearing loops throughout Lane County. “We are thrilled to be recognized with this HLAA award,” shared Andy Vobora, Travel Lane County Vice President of Stakeholder Relations. “In 2021, we recognized Ginevra Ralph and Sue Pritchard with the Travel Lane County Community Leadership Award for their work implementing hearing loop technology at the John G. Shedd Institute for Arts and for working with the Loop Lane Committee to advocate for hearing loops in other locations. It inspired me to request funds to work with our hotel and attractions members and get more locations looped. With an additional grant from Travel Oregon, we’ve been able to loop 40 locations throughout Lane County.” Travel Lane County will receive this award in Phoenix, Arizona in June at the 2024 HLAA Conference.
Hearing loops installed over the past year include:
- 25 Hotels
- 4 Performing Arts Venues
- 4 Visitor Centers
- 2 Retail/Restaurants
- 5 Museums/Attractions
The Wildish Theater was the final loop project implemented with the Travel Oregon accessibility grant when work was completed in March 2024. Travel Lane County, the City of Springfield, the Springfield Renaissance Development Corporation (SRDC) and the Wildish Theater partnered to bring the project to life.”We are so excited that the Wildish Community Theater has a Hearing Loop,” said Theater Board President, Kelly Mason.
“The Wildish Community Theater is well known for its high quality acoustics,” said Mike Eyster, SRDC President. Eyster went on to say, “The Hearing Loop will make the theater much more accessible to even more patrons. The Wildish is happy to be a destination that focuses on accessibility. The Theater couldn’t be more grateful for community partners that have a shared vision of inclusion and excellence and a commitment to making the Wildish a place that everyone can enjoy.” Mason and Eyster expressed appreciation for the generous donors that contributed to the Hearing Loop project.
More About Hearing Loops
Travel Lane County is committed to welcoming all visitors to the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region and ensuring they have a great Oregon experience. Hearing loss affects 48 million Americans – That’s 1 in 7 citizens that have this invisible disability. Hearing Loop systems allow customers with T-coil enabled hearing aids and cochlear implants to hear conversations clearly by delivering the staff’s voice directly into the visitor’s hearing device. Staff are better able to welcome guests and ensure they receive all the important information they require. Learn more at Hearing Loss Association of America.A special thank you to Alan Antilla, owner of Hearing Support Solutions, for assessing and installing all of the hearing loop systems at the hotels and attractions Travel Lane County has worked with over the past year.
Coldplay leads the way in making concerts more enjoyable for deaf fans with Vibrating Vests
In addition to a crew of signers, the shows in Singapore included handouts of vibrating vests. Will “sound shirts” be next?
A recent commentary in Channel News Asia lauded Coldplay’s January concerts in Singapore “game changing” for their outreach to deaf and hard of hearing fans. The three performances at the National Stadium included a team of very expressive signers including front man Chris Martin, who signed two of the band’s songs. The venue also distributed vibrating vests to allow deaf individuals to feel the beat.
Read more here.
Campers and Accessibility: Bridging the Gap in Outdoor Experiences
A landmark study by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) identifies the needs of campers with disabilities
Campgrounds offer an idyllic landscape to adventurous travelers: sun-kissed trees, the scent of pine in the air, and families and friends sharing stories around the campfire. But the beautiful scene isn’t attainable for everyone as a recent study by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) revealed. KOA surveyed a percentage of campers at its 500+ campgrounds in the US and Canada and found some eye-opening statistics about the needs of campers with disabilities.
1. The Disability Divide:
- 27% of U.S. residents report having a disability. These are our neighbors, colleagues, and friends—individuals navigating life with unique challenges.
- Now, consider the campers. 38% of them also identify as having a disability. Campers are 41% more likely to have a disability than the average U.S. resident.
2. Beyond the Surface: Factors Impacting Accessibility:
- Visual Impairment:
- Among U.S. residents, 12% grapple with visual impairments. The world appears through a different lens for them.
- Campers, too, face this reality. 16% of them navigate trails, campfires, and sunsets with altered vision. Yet, they persist, guided by determination and perhaps the rustle of leaves underfoot.
- Cognition:
- Cognitive disabilities—including neurodiversity and autism spectrum disorder affect 13% of U.S. residents, Within the camping community, this percentage more than doubles as 27% of campers wrestle with cognitive challenges.
- Hearing
- For 6% of U.S. residents, hearing impairment shapes their world. Yet, they find solace in nature’s symphony. Among campers, 11% navigate the same trails, attuned to vibrations, sign language, and the silent beauty of dawn breaking over the horizon.
3. The Call for Inclusivity:
- Campgrounds, take note: ramps, accessible facilities, and thoughtful design matter. Let’s bridge the gap between adventure and accessibility.
- Because when campers—regardless of ability—sit by the fire, they share not only s’mores but also stories of resilience, laughter, and the wild beauty that binds us all.
Following the lead of more and more state and national parks, Kampgrounds of America, are joining the movement to improve and increase access to beautiful, natural, and often remote outdoor spaces.
Senior executives from Kampgrounds of America will be participating in panels at the Travelability EMS Summit in San Francisco, November 13-15 about their plans to implement more accessibility features along with staff and franchisee training to be more welcoming for everyone.
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