TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Travel

Prominent Disability Travel Blogger Announces Her 2021 Accessible Travel Awards for Families with Wheelchair Users

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Boy sitting in his wheelchair next to a life-size lego sculpture of a character in a wheelchair.

Jennifer Allen, a prominent accessible family blogger based in Pennsylvania who travels with her five year-old son who has Spina Bifida, decided to share their best and most adventurous experiences in the form of—what else?—an awards.

“While there are always so many barriers in wheelchair travel, I love to celebrate the places that are doing it right, she said.” These are the best accessible destinations we’ve traveled to over the past year – and they would make great travel destinations for 2022! I bet some of these will surprise you.”

To read the full article and to learn more about the best places to travel in 2022, visit the Wonders within Reach website.

Hallelujah! After a Decade of Construction, the Old City of Jerusalem’s Alleys and Hideaways Open to Wheelchair Users

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Wheelchair users as part of a tour group in Jerusalem.

The Centuries-old Old City of Jerusalem has received an accessibility overhaul, making it much more accessible to wheelchair users, baby carriages and other mobility devices.

“The Old City of Jerusalem has become one of the most accessible ancient cities in the world,” Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Ze’ev Elkin said, The Jerusalem Post reported. Achieving “accessibility for the six kilometers was very complex, and it enriches the experience of the tourists in the Old City.”

The project, a decade in the making, involved the flattening of steep descents, as well as the addition of handrails. Additional improvements are also being made to increase accessibility for those with limited vision, including with the new mobile app Step Hear.

OUR TAKE: UNESCO World Heritage Sites have long delayed accessibility improvements, but the Old City of Jerusalem is proving that accessibility can coexist with historic preservation. We can’t wait to check out Jerusalem!

To read more about these exciting developments, read the article from Israel Hayom.

Christmas in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: An Accessible Family Tour

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Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is making a push for holiday travelers, and families are beginning to notice!

Jennifer Allen and her husband recently published a guide to seasonal and Christmas holiday activities in the region on their blog, Wonders Within Reach. The couple have previously traveled to Lancaster County with their children (one of whom uses a wheelchair), and provided great tips for family- and wheelchair-friendly activities.

For more information about their trip, and the top activities in Lancaster, check out Jennifer’s article on Wonders Within Reach.

Taking in the Grandeur of the Grand Canyon with an Autistic Son

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Group of people looking out over the Grand Canyon from a viewing platform.

Lisa Winner, a photographer, shared with National Geographic some of the challenges her son, who is autistic, faces when traveling. Despite her love of the outdoors, Lisa says that “There are many surprises in nature—and anyone who loves an autistic person knows surprises are not their jam.” She recounted the difficulty her son faced when visiting the Grand Canyon, where he was distressed by the unfamiliar environment.

Parents like Winner are encouraging governments and businesses to make outdoor recreation areas more accessible to those with autism. To learn more about Lisa’s family, their trip to the Grand Canyon and how public places can be made autism-friendly, see the article in National Geographic.

Let’s Roll: What Should (and Shouldn’t ) be Part of a Wheelchair Accessible Tour

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Wheelchair user in front of Machu Picchu ruins.

Data from the United Nations reveals that 15% of the global population has one or more disabilities, and there is an increasing demand for accessible travel and tour opportunities. The industry is recognizing this opportunity, and an increasing number of tour businesses are working to make their offerings accessible to disabled travelers.

In an article for Arrival, Jenna Blumenfeld offers tips to operators of tours, activities and attractions on how to make their products accessible.

Blumenfeld suggest that operators should carefully scrutinize the tour route to check for potential accessibility barriers, such as steps, and to plan alternate routes that are more accessible. She also suggests that operators should secure or contract accessible transportation to meet the needs of mobility-challenged guests, and to ensure that every employee and tour guide treats customers with compassion – their journey was not an easy one!

To read the full article and to learn more tips for making tours and attractions disability-friendly, visit the Arrival website.