TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Hidden Disabilities

News from the TravelAbility Community:

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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A Grand Adventure – The Grand Canyon

Divergent Adventures is creating a new kind of adventure experience – one that welcomes the neurodivergent.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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News From Around The Web

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Australia: The Year of Accessible Tourism

Unlocking the economic power of accessibility: Queensland’s $12 million initiative is transforming tourism through accessibility grants and improved marketing representation, paving the way for businesses to tap into a $13.5 billion market.

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Sesame Place San Diego receives Autism Certification

Sesame Place San Diego is leading the way in autism accommodations. Discover how their certified autism center renewal and expanded amenities is helping them reach neurodiverse visitors.

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Adventure Sports; Diving for People with Disabilities at the Red Sea

Red Sea Global uses “commercial good sense” in creating Project Aurelia to ensure Red Sea is one of the most inclusive destinations in the world.

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US Airlines Improve in their Handling of Wheelchairs

US airlines’ handling of mobility devices in 2023 exposed! Ranked by reports of mishandling, you may be surprised by which carriers are falling short and who’s making improvements.

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Hyatt Outlines Support for Neuro Diverse travelers

Hyatt’s game-changing survey reveals how hotels can cater to neurodivergent travelers, enhancing every step of their journey from booking to check-out.

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Visit Myrtle Beach Launches “Traveling the Spectrum”, a groundbreaking docu-series

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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:

Accessibility Article Round Up

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Information and inspiration from around the Web

Screen shot of an example of a government site with arrows signifying call outs for accessibility features

DOJ issues new ADA rules for public sector sites; private sector is next

From the article: “It is important for all hotels, restaurants, stores, and other places of public accommodation to be aware of the requirements set forth in this final rule and . . . to start preparing for the issuance of a similar rule.”

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A hotel employee standing with a woman with a service dog at the entrance to a hotel

Training video of the month: Welcoming a blind guest

15 training tips in 77 seconds (courtesy of Scandic Hotels)

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A young woman showcasing one of the scooters to rent in Albuquerque

Visit Albuquerque launches Destination Accessibility

Innovative service rents out scooters and wheelchairs to travelers

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New Hulu series, co-created by a woman with autism, lauded for avoiding stereotypes

Scottish comedian Ashley Storrie (left) found it liberating to “unmask” herself

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Signers at the Coldplay concert in Singapore included lead singer Chris Martin shown in action

Coldplay leads the way in making concerts more accessible and enjoyable for deaf fans

In addition to a crew of signers, the shows in Singapore included handouts of vibrating vests

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Image of gondola ride

Legoland introduces accessible gondola ride

It may look like a ski lift but the new Minifigure Skyflyer features seven individually-themed pods from pirates to space and beyond, 

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$5k Tax Credit for ADA Website Compliance

How to qualify for $5K tax credit for ADA website compliance

Two minute video tells you all you need to know about annual credit

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New Hulu series, created by a woman with autism, lauded for avoiding stereotypes

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Nina and Evie, played by Ashley Storrie and Kat Ronney from a scene in Dinosaur

One of the hardest aspects of living with autism, according to Scottish comedian Ashley Storrie, is “masking”–trying to hide it from everyone else. You would think then that creating and starring in a television series partly based on her life would be terrifying. Instead she found it liberating.

“Being Nina has made me realize that I should just be me and spend less time trying to make everybody feel more comfortable around my weirdness,” says Storrie about the character she plays on Dinosaur.

The title refers to Nina’s infatuation with dinosaurs and her job as a paleontologist, which she loves. But the six-episode series also shows Nina’s struggles to deal with both small and large disruptions to her routines.  is propelled by a major disruption in Nina’s life as the sister she lives with gets engaged and prepares to move out. 

The website “The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism” called the series “excellent” and declared it superior to the “stereotyped-laced” Netflix series Atypical about an autistic adolescent boy. Read an interview with Ashley Storrie on that site.