TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

The Arts

Undiscovered America TV Features Episode on Accessibility

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Celebrating Accessibility Champions in Travel!

TravelAbility is thrilled to have contributed to the curation of destinations and experts featured in the Accessibility episode of Undiscovered America. This exciting episode will be broadcasted to 107 million households this week and will also be available for streaming on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku.

A big congratulations to the following champions who have made inclusion and accessibility a fundamental principle of their work:

Stuart Butler, Chief Marketing Officer Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce:Your dedication to creating a more inclusive future is truly inspiring!

Kevin Wright, VP Brand Stewardship Travel Oregon: Thank you for your commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring equal access for all.

Alison Brooks,VP Destination Experience & Advocacy Visit Mesa : Your innovative approach to accessibility has made a significant impact.

Kristy Durso, Founder Incredible Memories Travel: Your advocacy for accessible travel is making a difference!

Learn More about Undiscovered America

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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Coldplay leads the way in making concerts more enjoyable for deaf fans with Vibrating Vests

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In addition to a crew of signers, the shows in Singapore included handouts of vibrating vests. Will “sound shirts” be next?

Coldplay front man Chris Martin signed two songs, joining a lively team of sign language interpreters at the Singapore concert

A recent commentary in Channel News Asia lauded Coldplay’s January concerts in Singapore “game changing” for their outreach to deaf and hard of hearing fans. The three performances at the National Stadium included a team of very expressive signers including front man Chris Martin, who signed two of the band’s songs. The venue also distributed vibrating vests to allow deaf individuals to feel the beat. 

Read more here.

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.