TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Parks and Public spaces

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.

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.

Campers and Accessibility: Bridging the Gap in Outdoor Experiences

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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.
Slide showing statistics from the study: Campers report more factors impacting accessibility than the general public does with disability at the top of the list of factors; camping is considered about as accessible as other types of leisure travel by both groups; individuals who report more barriers to accessibility of campgrounds spend more nights and more money camping but travel shorter distances than those reporting no barriers.

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.

Best of the Web: News, Info and Inspiration

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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

Oregon Coast Scores $1.1 Million in Grants for Accessibility

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Historical photo in sepia tones of an older Black man playing a violin

As we reported in last month’s Insider, Travel Oregon has awarded $3.6 million in competitive grants to DMOs, attractions, and cities for inclusion and accessibility projects. Of that total, more than $1 million will go to Oregon Coast organizations. 

The scope and diversity of the funded projects is vast. Travelers with disabilities will gain both new and improved access to a wide range of natural, recreational, and historic sites. The grants will also fund accessibility studies by Wheel the World in two regions along the coast. Read more.

TravelAbility TakeAway: If you want to see the impact that all of you are making through your participation in TravelAbility, take a trip to Oregon. Travel Oregon, which sent more than 30 staff members to the Savannah summit, is putting into practice ideas and partnerships they’ve developed through active engagement with the network. It’s inspiring to see an ambitious program implemented state-wide.

Tips on Accessible Solo Travel by Chelsea Bear, a TravelAbility Board Member

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Woman wearing sunglasses and smiling as she stands in front of a body of water

Research. Planning. More research. Repeat.

That’s the message threaded through Chelsea Bear’s Trip Advisor article on solo travel for people with disabilities: You can’t be overprepared.

Chelsea confesses that as a person with cerebral palsy who uses an electric scooter, she used to think that solo travel was not an option for her.  Now, she writes, “at age 30, I can happily say that my younger self’s beliefs and fears were completely wrong—I’ve traveled to 10 countries outside of the United States and dozens of states domestically.” In addition to tapping her own experience, Chelsea shares tips from leading travel influencers including Corey Lee, Sylvia Longmire, and Houston Vandergriff. Tips range from zip ties to extra batteries to mapping every conceivable destination and resource ahead of time. Read more.