TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Travel

Senator Duckworth’s Wheelchair Advocacy Will Not Be Crushed

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Senator Duckworth in a wheelchair at a. Democratic event

Change can and does happen, even in Washington, D.C.—at least if you are the invincible Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). As a direct result of legislation introduced by Senator Duckworth in 2018, the Department of Transportation (DOT) revised the Air Travel Consumer Report, requiring airlines to disclose the number of damaged wheelchairs and scooters monthly. That number hadn’t been previously available (wheelchairs had been reported as ‘luggage’ in the past). Senator Duckworth is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities (see earlier posts)

We applaud you, Senator Duckworth, for helping to measure what matters with our all-new “Duckworth Damage Report,’ below.


chart of totals airline chair damage for 3 mostThe fine print: U.S. airlines with at least 0.5 percent of total domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues must report the damage to any chair or mobility scoot transported in its aircraft cargo departments. This report covers December 2018, January & February 2019. Year to Date numbers reflects the change in reporting required by 14 CFR 234 and consolidated data from branded codeshares. Source: Department of Transportation Statistics Bureau

 

Which UK Airports Will Be 2020 All-Stars? (Plus: Free Accessible UK Itinerary)

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silhouette of a boy walking through airport very serene photoWhen a civil aviation report shows that 10% of airports in the UK don’t have a high quality of accessibility what exactly does that mean? For starters, a quarter of airport businesses could not accommodate those in wheelchairs, and a third of companies were unable to accommodate for those with cognitive impairments like autism. Even what may seem to be minor hassles—long wait times for assistance or untrained desk staff—are major factors in a disabled travelers experience. As revisions to systems are made, airports that were looking pretty dismal are rising all-stars. Edinburgh’s ‘Very Good’ rating was particularly impressive given that just two years ago its accessibility was considered ‘Poor’. Another all-star was Liverpool. READ MORE

BONUS! If you want a great experience touring London, here’s an Accessible London itinerary from TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board Member Cory Lee. Thanks, Cory, your expertise is always appreciated.
 

When Life’s A Beach This Summer—Get Beach Trax

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woman in wheelchair on beach using a mat to roll to the oceanTo be sure that everyone on wheels can take advantage of the beach or uneven terrain this summer, why not roll out the ‘red carpet’ of accessibility? Beach Trax. The lightweight, foldable pathway gives portable access to every destination visitor regardless of the terrain.

The details: The best way to explain how easy the product is to use is to think of each ‘track’ as a highly-durable, thick square (imagine a doormat but BIGGER) that folds out in sections. (Or instead of taking our word for it, watch co-founder Kelly Twichel roll it out in seconds, here.) They’ve also kept the price reasonable. Beach Trax (sold in sets of 10) are $650 each. 

About the company: The San Diego-based company’s co-founders, both occupational therapists, were inspired to create Beach Trax when fellow adaptive surfers were looking for a way to get to the water independently. 

young woman in blue tee shirt on the beach smiling she has blonde hair and is wearing a hatWant more details on the product and Twichel’s work?

 READ MORE 

5 Spots Where Spring Break Really Feels Like a Break

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See that happy traveler—the one waving on a beautiful day out on the Banshee? (below) That photo was taken on an adaptive sailing regatta run out of the San Francisco Bay area. It’s one of the many vacation suggestions from the Abilities Expo experts, who have vetted each one to be sure it offers adventures that are wheelchair friendly or accessible in other ways.

To browse the 5 Spots Where Spring Break Really. Feels LIke Spring break, click here. You can also find many more Abilities Expo Vacation picks—from trails to family centers with medical resources on hand—on the site.

For details on the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS), click here.

mom waving from a. sailboat on the water named the banshee

What the Bleeptastic Were You Thinking? Disabled Travelers Force Sacramento to Revise Evacuation Plans

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It took six years to get Sacramento International Airport to agree to what one disabled airport user and many other disability advocates wanted—an emergency plan that included how to evacuate and assist people with disabilities in case of a disaster. A new protocol is finally in place (but don’t count on finding out what the bleeptastic transportation officials were thinking when they approved the original one). The case was settled.

Sacramento airport also wisely decided to give employees training on how to identify and assist disabled people. Finally, Sacramento’s Terminal B has a ‘Plan B’ that is a model of compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Need a refresher on what the ADA is?  Read the details, here. Read more from the Sacramento Bee, here.