Standup comedian Tom Willard (left) made his Broadway debut on December 3, 2018, at New York City’s Caroline’s on Broadway, one of the top comedy clubs in the country, according to a recent story in Disabled-World.com. Willard, 61, spoke and signed his jokes as part of Caroline’s New Talent Showcase. He explains that he lost his hearing gradually as he was growing up and started doing standup only about two years ago. He has performed in a dozen cities and continues to seek out new opportunities. READ MORE
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Interview: Ms. Wheelchair California Reports from CES 2019
Krystina Jackson, a northern California resident for 27 years, earned the title of Ms. Wheelchair California 2018 this past March. With a background in corporate finance and a BS in Business Administration, Krystina is passionate about encouraging women with varying abilities to pursue their passions fearlessly. Here are her thoughts from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show:
Q: What were your impression of CES this year, from an accessibility product/technology perspective?
A: I was blown away by the products and services presented at the expo. It’s safe to say the future is looking extremely bright for accessible travel.
Q: As TravelAbility’s correspondent, could you tell us about the products you think have you saw that have the most potential to make traveling easier for people with disabilities?
A: Yes, here are my four favorites:
- AISINO is a smart hotel check-in that uses facial recognition for guests. It removes many of the physical challenges surrounding checking in. It allows guests of all abilities to be able to select the amenities they prefer for their needs.
- WHILL is an autonomous personal electric vehicle (PEV). PEVs have leveled the playing field for people with mixed abilities so that they can enjoy the same recreational activities together.
- WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT (WWE) is engaging the disability community by allowing families with mixed abilities to enjoy the sport together
- PANDORA is addressing the six dimensions of sound to create a more harmonious audio experience during travel. It’s ideal for people with varying mental and physical abilities.
Q: Who were the most interesting and fun people you met?
The met the most amazing people, including executives from WWE; Sinbad, an American actor, and comedian who currently has a show on Hulu called Rel; and my top pick, of course, is Stevie Wonder—that’s me grabbing a photo with him (left). He was wonderfully warm and inviting. As a musician with a disability, he is a blessing to have as a role model.
Q: How did you become disabled and what is the extent of your disability?
A: I broke my neck while snowboarding in 2002. I fractured my C4 and C5 vertebrae resulting in paralysis from the chest down. Initially, I wasn’t able to breathe well enough to even speak or move my arms. I am tremendously grateful for my recovery and rehab remains a part of my daily lifestyle.
Q: Why did you enter the Ms. California Wheelchair competition?
A: I entered to have an impact and to make a difference. Many tell me I’m a natural born leader and I feel like those type of gifts are given to be shared. I have a responsibility to serve my community with the best of my abilities and I feel empowered doing so.
Editor’s Note: How A Bogus Award Led Me to Produce TravelAbility Summit
My company, North American Journeys (NAJ), is based in Sausalito, a small community connected to San Francisco by the Golden Gate Bridge. In 2017, I received a letter from the local Chamber of Commerce informing me that it was recognizing NAJ as “Travel Agent of the Year.” Upon hearing the news, I was reminded of an advertisement that I saw a few years ago. It said: “Virgin America: More Experience Than Our Name Might Indicate.” Now, I thought, I might have to put up a sign with a message something like this: “North American Journeys: less experience than our name might indicate,” or even better: ”No experience, regardless of what our name might indicate.”
Even though I notified the Chamber that we were not travel agents, over the next 12 months at least 10 people knocked on my door seeking help planning their vacation because they saw mention of NAJ in some promotional propaganda. Surprisingly, five of those making inquiries had a family member with a disability with whom they wanted to travel. If they were seeking out a “travel agent” they knew little about, in person, they had to have exhausted all their other options. So I asked my team to do some research to understand if there was a need for a business-to-business conference focused on disability tourism.
One of those who stopped by our office wanted help in visiting national parks in Utah, and I wish could have referred them to Go Wheel the World, an agency that takes travelers who use a wheelchair to Machu Picchu and other adventure destinations. And when another person asked for help with a trip to Hawaii, I could have introduced them to John Morris, one of our TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board members. Morris is a triple amputee from an automobile accident in 2002 in which his car’s gas tank exploded. He now travels 310 days a year—so often, in fact, he doesn’t even have an official permanent residence. Or, when a woman was looking for the best accessible itinerary for Las Vegas, I could have directed her to Krystina Jackson, a paraplegic from a snowboarding accident over 15 years ago, who was named Ms. Wheelchair California and represented TravelAbility Summit at the recent 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Then there’s John Sage, who owns the Accessible Travel Solutions travel agency who has mapped out accessible programs in 45 countries and could have advised all of them.
Since I’ve had conversations with each of them as well as many others, I have come to realize that they all have something in common: That is, after their physical travails they discovered new talents and interests and are willing to share their expertise widely. And, as for me, I’m now connecting a new group of people who inspire me daily. Together, we are building a network of industry partners who are improving travel experiences for the 1 in 5 people in the U.S. who has a disability. And it may never have happened was it not for that bogus award two years ago. Could the Universe have been trying to tell me something?
Our hope is that those attending the Summit and reading this newsletter use the information and contacts to raise awareness and educate their organizations and stakeholders. As you look over this issue, you might find that you may know of someone with an idea, a product, or a service that may warrant inclusion in this newsletter. Please e-mail me at js@travelabilitysummit.com. The first TAS will be held Nov. 12-13, 2019 in San Francisco. To view the TravelAbility Summit website, click here.
—Jake Steinman, Founder, TravelAbility Summit
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