TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Mobility

Ann Arbor Area Becomes First Destination in Michigan to Achieve “Destination Verified” Status for Accessible Travel

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Ann Arbor leads the way with Wheel the World’s verification program.

Ann Arbor, MI – (November 18, 2024) The greater Ann Arbor area proudly announces its recognition as the first destination in Michigan to achieve the “Destination Verified” status with Wheel the World, a global accessibility platform. This designation, supported by the Pure Michigan Accessible Traveler Grant, highlights the region’s commitment to accessible tourism for travelers with physical, cognitive, and invisible disabilities.

The Wheel the World “Destination Verified” status recognizes communities that have undergone a rigorous, third-party accessibility assessment. In the Ann Arbor area, dozens of businesses, attractions, and hotels received confidential assessments led by the Disability Network of Washtenaw Monroe Livingston (DNWML), whose team was trained by Wheel the World to conduct thorough evaluations. These listings now appear on Wheel the World’s global platform, allowing visitors to easily identify accessible features at hotels, attractions, restaurants and other businesses. 

The Wheel the World “Destination Verified” status recognizes communities that have undergone a rigorous, third-party accessibility assessment.

“Being the first in Michigan to achieve this status is an incredible milestone,” said Sarah Miller, President & CEO of Destination Ann Arbor. “Our partnership with Wheel the World reflects our dedication to making our communities in Washtenaw County a welcoming, inclusive destination where all travelers can enjoy our vibrant community and experiences.” 

The Pure Michigan Accessible Traveler Grant provided essential support for this initiative, aligning with the state’s broader mission to enhance accessible travel throughout Michigan. “Accessibility is at the heart of our mission to ensure that travel is accessible to everyone, and all are welcome in Pure Michigan,” said Kelly Wolgamott, Vice President of Pure Michigan, part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “We are thrilled to congratulate Destination Ann Arbor on achieving Destination Verified status and will look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative will have on our efforts to promote accessible and inclusive travel experiences across the state.”

In partnership with the Disability Network of Washtenaw Monroe Livingston, local assessors were trained by Wheel the World to evaluate accessibility features across businesses, capturing over 200 different data points. These assessments go beyond standard ADA compliance to provide detailed and personalized accessibility information. For example, the evaluations include mapping out hotel bed heights, as some individuals require beds that are lower to the ground for safe transfers, while others may need beds that are higher. Because everyone’s accessibility needs vary, travelers using the Wheel the World platform can search for accommodations and attractions tailored to their specific requirements. “We’re pleased to support this initiative by assessing a wide range of local businesses and work to create a culture of accessibility in our community,” said Alex Gossage, Executive Director of the Disability Network of Washtenaw Monroe Livingston. “This project highlights the importance of creating a destination that values and prioritizes accessibility and inclusion for everyone.”

Participating businesses received detailed accessibility assessments and access to the Wheel the World Academy—a series of training videos on accessibility best practices, dispelling myths, and enhancing understanding around accessibility. These resources enable businesses to better meet the needs of travelers of all abilities, supporting the community’s long-term commitment to inclusivity.

“Achieving the ‘Destination Verified’ status is a testament to the Ann Arbor area’s dedication to accessible tourism,” said Camilo Navarro, Co-Founder of Wheel the World. “Through our joint efforts, we’re making it easier for travelers with accessibility needs to explore and enjoy the destination with confidence.”

The Ann Arbor area’s new “Destination Verified” status with Wheel the World sets a statewide precedent for accessible travel and signals a significant step toward more inclusive tourism throughout Michigan. For more information about the Ann Arbor area’s accessible travel options and partnership with Wheel the World, visit: https://www.annarbor.org/wheel-the-world/ 

CONTACT:

Chad Wiebesick, Director of Public Affairs 

(734) 995-7281

cwiebesick@annarbor.org

http://www.AnnArbor.org

InnovateAble Pitch of the Month

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Each month we feature the 3-minute pitch from an innovation, technology or amenity presented at the 2024 InnovateAble Showcase held on July 26th. 

Hero Door Opener took second in both Judge’s Selection and People’s Choice. The Hero Door Opener is an ingenious adaptive hinge mechanism that automates doors in hotels using a battery operated unit in the door hinge. You can check out their winning pitch, here.

What Would You Do?

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August Scenario: Wheelchair accessible accommodations.

A traveler in a wheelchair is at the hotel where they booked an ADA room thinking the bed height would work out for them. It does not. How would you handle the situation? 

Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnership Partner, Wheel the World:

Hotel staff should be ready to lower or raise beds, either by taking down bed legs (which most cases require, at least in the US) or having available legs or a thinner mattress that can raise the bed. Another great option is to have at least one hoyer lift available; of course, this requires a minimum available space below the bed.

However, this should be addressed by preventing the scenario. How? Providing accurate and verified accessibility information, such as the bed height. Being ADA compliant in this case is not enough; the bed height should adapt to the user, not the user adapting to the law.

If the bed is too high, I would have the box springs removed. But next time I would remember to call Wheel the World to book my accessible room.

Stefan Muhle, Vice President & Regional Managing Director, Noble House Hotels:

Handling this situation requires empathy, understanding, and a proactive approach. Here’s how I’d manage it:

  • Listen, Empathize, and Acknowledge:
  • Listen to the guest’s concerns.
  • Acknowledge the issue and express understanding and empathy for their situation.
  • Immediate Action:
  • Check if our property has any other ADA rooms with different bed heights or adjustable beds that might better suit the guest’s needs.
  • If available, offer to move the guest to another room that better suits their needs.
  • Temporary Solutions:
  • If no other ADA rooms are available, look for temporary solutions such as bed risers or a different mattress (or topper) to adjust the height or providing a platform or step to make it easier for the traveler to get in and out of bed.

Social media responses from disability moms:

Talk to the hotel to see if they can adjust the bed height or change the room.

Ask for a refund.

Move to a different hotel if the beds aren’t adequate for your needs.

Take the box spring out or request a layaway bed.

News From Around The Web

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Heads in Accessible Beds Preliminary Results

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The numbers are coming in! Brace yourself – results are both surprisingly positive and challenging.

A few months ago, TravelAbility spearheaded a pilot program called Heads in Accessible Beds to collect and share essential data on the accessibility of hotel sleeping rooms and bathrooms. These details on ADA compliant rooms address the primary concerns for wheelchair users and exchange the gamble of finding a room that meets their needs with a guarantee.

“We appreciate the leadership of TravelAbility which is helping push our industry forward and educating destination marketing organizations about how to be more welcoming and inclusive to travelers with disabilities. Improving accessibility is not only about physical spaces but includes access to information and increasing the knowledge of staff.

The Heads in Accessible Beds program has been a great entry point for us to engage our hotel partners. I’m really pleased that the compelling context and straightforward action steps have resulted in eight of our hotels taking part in this initial pilot. We’re excited to promote the results and take a step further in making a meaningful improvement to the traveler planning process.”

Claire Mouledoux, SVP of Communications, Visit Alexandria

Thanks to a collaboration with four Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) that are members of the Destination A11Y Club, we’re excited to share preliminary results. Here’s what we’ve found so far:

  • Bed heights ranged from 7”- 38” inches. 
  • None of the bed heights were adjustable.
  • Only one out of the 25 hotels offered bed raisers (Westin Alexandria Old Town).
  • The distance from the floor to the bottom of the bed frame ranged from 0”-18” inches.
  • 21 out of 25 hotels had carpeted rooms. 
  • Number of grab bars ranged from 0-3.
  • The height of the grab bars from the floor ranged from 12”- 36.5” inches.
  • 13 hotels had a raised toilet seat available.
  • Two hotels didn’t have a roll in shower.
  • Width of the doorway into the bathroom ranged from 28.55”- 42”
  • One hotel didn’t have a pool.
  • All hotels that had a pool also had a pool lift, except for one. 

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