Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide.
Parks and Public spaces
From Around the Web
Information and inspiration from around the web.
Marriott to Overhaul Accessible Room Reservation System in Response to Threat of Federal Lawsuit
While denying responsibility for ADA compliance of its franchises, the company agrees to address gaps in hotel websites.
How a Mobile App Gave Voice to a Nonspeaking Autistic Woman
At 29 years old, Jordyn Zimmerman’s tech journey transformed her relationships and her impact on the world around her.
July is Disability Pride Month; What Exactly Does That Mean?
Disability pride “is a rejection of the idea that I am less able to contribute and participate in the world.”
Starbucks Sees Large and Growing Market for Inclusive Design
The company’s new accessibility features welcomed by a wide range of customers
With Airport Customer Ratings Like These, You May Want to Take the Bus
But a few airports soared above the rest for friendliness
Alaskan Visitor Center Hosts Class on Accessible Tourism
Workshop highlights the benefits of inclusion for the entire community
The Spanish Tourist Office Hosts First Accessible Advisory Panel
“Spain for All” will bring big changes through the tourist office’s first ever advisory panel on accessibility.
Amazon Targets Hospitality Headaches with Alexa Smart Properties
Alexa does a lot more than play your favorite song. Here’s how Alexa’s tech is bridging the gap in staffing shortages and much more.
Making Accessibility a Reality at HRCS
This is how Hudson River Community Sailing has been making Manhattan’s Dyckman Marina welcoming to all abilities over the past 15 years.
Trails for All
Finally, an all-person’s trail. Removing barriers to nature is building a better experience for all.
Did Your City Make the List of the Five Most Wheelchair-Accessible Cities in the US?
Cities were ranked by Insider Monkey, an investment site that calls accessibility a “crucial aspect of urban planning.”
Will Paris Deliver on Its Olympic Accessibility Promise?
Can the city meet the needs of more than A quarter million visitors with disabilities?
Iowans Celebrate Grand Opening of the Country’s “Most Universally Accessible Park”
Six years in the making, Eastern Lake Park features adaptive pontoons and kayaks, and wheelchairs that work on sand and water.
Metro Bilbao Adopts Navilens Technology to Improve Accessibility for Riders with Visual Impairments
Metro Bilbao’s full rollout of Navilens technology is set to boost ROI by revolutionizing accessibility for visually impaired passengers—setting a new standard for transportation systems worldwide.
Hotel accessibility: Equal access
“It’s no good hotels saying ‘we’re accessible’ or having the wheelchair symbol, because it doesn’t mean anything to anyone really.” Blue Badge Access Award winners are setting the example and changing this discourse.
Travel Blogger Highlights ‘Terrifying’ Wheelchair Ordeal
“I hope this process is something I never have to experience again” is not exactly the sentiment you want your guests to leave with. Avoiding life-threatening situations is better for creating return customers.
News from the TravelAbility Community
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
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.
Best of the Web: News, Info and Inspiration
A roundup of the best articles and resources we found in the past month related to disability and accessible travel.
Neuro diversity:
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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