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TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Mobility

News from the TravelAbility Community:

July 6, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

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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Filed Under: Accessibility, Airlines, Autism, Hearing, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Neurodiversity, Tourism

Accessibility Article Round Up

April 30, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

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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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessible Landing Pages, ADA//Law, Government, Hidden Disabilities, Hotels, Mental Health, Mobility, Restaurants, Service Animals, The Arts, Vision

TravelAbility Introduces Bed Height Mapping Pilot Program for Accessible Travel

March 30, 2024 by Eliana Satkin

A woman in a wheelchair with her hand on the bed in a hotel room.
Photo Credit: Wheel the World

TravelAbility has announced the launch of a pioneering initiative to map hotel bed heights, addressing the primary concern for wheelchair travelers: the unpredictability of bed heights in hotel accommodations.

Why This Matters: For individuals who use wheelchairs, traveling can often feel like a gamble due to the lack of standardized information on hotel accessibility. While their homes are tailored to their needs, and they are familiar with accessible local businesses, the same cannot be said for hotels they may visit. Images of hotel amenities abound, yet details on ADA-compliant rooms are scarce, leaving wheelchair users without the necessary information to plan their travels.

The Challenge: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets forth certain requirements for hotels, but bed height is not among them. Given the variation in wheelchair sizes, a one-size-fits-all approach does not exist, making this an area of concern for travelers seeking accessible accommodations.

TravelAbility’s Solution: In collaboration with five  Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) that are members of the Destination A11Y Club, TravelAbility is spearheading a pilot program called Heads in Accessible Beds to collect and share essential data on the accessibility of hotel sleeping rooms and bathrooms. This information will be made available on a dedicated, easy-to-find landing page on each DMO’s website, ensuring that wheelchair users—as well as locals hosting visitors with mobility challenges—have access to the information they need to make informed travel decisions. Additionally, hotels can feature this data on their own accessibility pages, further aiding travelers in their planning.

The five destinations that will be participating in the pilot program are Visit Alexandria (VA), Experience Kissimmee (FL), Visit Tampa (FL), Visit Lex (KY) and Visit Myrtle Beach (SC). 

Contact Information: Tricia Roth tricia@travelability.net

About TravelAbility: TravelAbility is committed to making travel more accessible for everyone. By providing crucial information and resources, TravelAbility empowers individuals with mobility challenges to explore the world with confidence.

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Filed Under: Accessibility, ADA//Law, Disability Awareness, Hotels, Mobility, Trends Tagged With: assessments, measurement, pilot program

Best of the Web: News, Info and Inspiration

January 29, 2024 by Dan Tobin

A roundup of the best articles and resources we found in the past month related to disability and accessible travel.

The back of a child on a pier in New York Harbor looking at the NYC skyline through binoculars.

Neuro diversity:

Accessible NYC: Travel Tips for Neurodiverse Families | Free Autism Resources by InfiniTeach – FreeAutismResources.org

There’s Finally a Travel Group for Neurodiverse Young Adults – Thrillist

Wheelchair Accessible Tours:

2023 Accessible Travel Award Winners – Wonders Within Reach

20 of the Best Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in California

Accessible Beach Opens in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast

Blind and Low Vision:

8 Trip-Planning Tips for Blind or Visually Impaired Travelers

All the Light We Cannot See star Aria Mia Loberti strolls Golden Globes red carpet with guide dog

Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Meet an Alaska Airlines leader with a disability who says he is doing what he was meant to do

Disability Resources:

Travel Genius Introduces Geni-us: An AI Map For Travellers, Enabling Inclusive Journeys

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessibility Awards, Airlines, Autism, Conferences & Events, Disability Advocates, Disability Awareness, Family Travel, Hearing, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Museums & Attractions, Neurodiversity, Parks and Public spaces, Restaurants, Service Animals, Technology, The Arts, Transportation, Travel, Travel Industry People, Trends, Vision

TravelAbility Community Members Who Shined Bright

January 29, 2024 by Dan Tobin

Recognitions and updates from our partners in the field

Events

A photo from the Rose Parade of a dancer dressed as a three-headed red rose

Visit Lauderdale turns an industry lunch into a full-scale production

“We unveiled a dynamic new marketing plan for the year, a blossoming bouquet of innovative ideas and strategies that promise to dazzle and embrace.”

People

A collage of head shots of Alvaro Silberstein; Cory Lee, Suzanne Edwards, and Sylvia Longmire

Condé Nast Traveler Names 14 People Making Travel More Accessible in 2024

The list includes several current and former advisors to TravelAbility: Alvaro Silberstein of Wheel the World; Cory Lee of CurbFree with Cory Lee; Suzanne Edwards of AirBnB; and Sylvia Longmire of Spin the Globe

Head shot of Josh Loebner

Interview with longtime TravelAbility advisor Josh Loebner on inclusive design

Community/DMOs

A small boy using a wheelchair next to a man who is pointing out a mural of a dog's face on a city building

BBC features Fort Wayne as a model of accessibility

16 Michigan DMOs win accessibility grants

Visit Huntington Beach takes a field trip to Visit Mesa

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessibility Awards, Accessibility Funding, Disability Advocates, Expert Q&A, Family Travel, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Museums & Attractions, Neurodiversity, Travel Industry People

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