TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Vision

How the Industry can Make Travel More Inviting to Blind and Low Vision Travelers

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Each year, the TravelAbility Summit brings together travel professionals, entrepreneurs, and disability advocates to explore how to make travel more accessible for everyone. Last year’s summit included a panel of blind travelers who shared the challenges they’ve encountered and offered insights on how destinations can eliminate barriers to blind travel.

Check out the panel’s key takeaways below and click the YouTube link to rewatch the session. Want to learn more? Don’t miss the 2025 TravelAbility Summit at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, October 13-15, 2025, where you can connect with industry experts and disability advocates dedicated to making travel more inclusive for all.

Summary

  • 🏨 Accessible Hotel Experience: Hilton integrates “Be My Eyes”, allowing blind guests to receive assistance in navigating their rooms and amenities.
  • 🚖 Ride-Share Challenges: Blind travelers face cancellation issues with Uber/Lyft due to guide dogs. Some drivers refuse to pick them up, causing major inconvenience.
  • 🌎 Consistency in Accessibility: Industry experts emphasize the need for standardized Braille signage placement, so blind individuals can easily locate information.
  • 🗺️ Navigation Solutions: GPS apps, breadcrumb tracking, and NaviLens QR codes are proposed to enhance navigation in hotels, parks, and public venues.
  • 🏕️ Accessible Outdoor Travel: Blind hikers prefer better trail markings and audio guidance over excessive infrastructure changes.
  • 🏛️ Inclusive Museums & Attractions: Museums should provide tactile maps, high-contrast signs, and digital audio guides for blind visitors.
  • 🐕 Service Dog Challenges: Despite legal protections, hotels and ride services often misunderstand service dog policies, leading to unnecessary restrictions.
  • 🔊 Elevator Accessibility: Adding audio announcements to elevators improves accessibility, making travel easier for blind and visually impaired guests.
  • 🌍 Advocacy & Industry Standards: Experts encourage travel organizations to advocate for more accessible experiences, including better training for staff and public awareness initiatives.

Insights Based on Numbers

  • 20-40% of guide dog users face rejection from ride-share services due to misinformation or discrimination.
  • Hilton’s partnership with “Be My Eyes” enables guests to receive real-time visual assistance from trained personnel.
  • 273 Oregon State Parks are working towards better accessibility through improved signage, GPS solutions, and advocacy.

Watch the full session on YouTube!

Hotel Spotlight: Omni Dallas

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A social media follower raved about Omni Dallas as their top pick for an accessible hotel. What made it unforgettable? The stunning rooftop pool and hot tub—both equipped with lifts—plus a spa experience that was not only relaxing but also truly accessible, thanks to an exceptionally helpful staff.

The hotel’s accessible room page also mentions:

  • Accessible guest rooms with entry that provides 32″ of clear width
  • Lowered light switches, peephole, deadbolt, evacuation instructions and closet rods in guest rooms
  • Roll-in shower with adjustable height hand held shower head
  • Toilet and sink are no higher than 34′ from the floor
  • Grab bars near toilet
  • Visual notification for hotel alarm system, door and phone available
  • Audible alarm notification
  • The hotel has a TTY for guest use
  • Closed caption TV
  • Accessible business center entrance
  • Accessible fitness center entrance
  • Accessible restaurant entrance
  • Accessible main entrance
  • Accessible access to front desk and concierge desk
  • Accessible meeting space
  • Assistive listening devices for meetings available
  • Accessible route from public entrance to accessible guest rooms
  • Accessible route from public entrance to front desk
  • Accessible route from public entrance to restaurants
  • Accessible route from public entrance to meeting rooms
  • Accessible elevators
  • Braille elevator
  • Braille room numbers
  • Accessible pool area and pool lift
  • Hot tub lift
  • Accessible parking space for self-parking available
  • Accessible vehicles can be accommodated
  • Service animals allowed for guests with disabilities

Innovation of the Month: Aira

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Aira – Empowering Independence Through Visual and Sign Language Interpretation

Company Background & Mission

Aira (pronounced eye-rah) has been operating for over 10 years, building a reputation as a trusted accessibility partner primarily focused on serving the Blind and Low Vision (BLV) community. The company’s approach to innovation is grounded in co-creation—developing solutions hand-in-hand with the community to ensure services are genuinely aligned with users’ needs and expectations.

Over the years, Aira has built strong partnerships with more than 270 organizations, including national brands such as Target, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, and Starbucks.  Aira also partners with airports, state and local government agencies, higher education and museums across the United States. 

The very core of everything that Aira does is simple: we believe that ACCESS IS A HUMAN RIGHT. 

The very core of everything that Aira does is simple: we believe that ACCESS IS A HUMAN RIGHT.  

The Problem Aira Solves

Every day, individuals who are blind or have low vision face countless barriers when accessing visual information in real time. Whether navigating a busy airport, reviewing printed materials, or managing visual tasks at work, many situations require immediate, human-based visual interpretation that traditional assistive technology can’t provide. Aira bridges this gap by offering on-demand, live human support via a mobile or desktop application.

Recognizing the broader need for inclusive communication, Aira expanded its services in 2024 to include on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, furthering its mission of accessibility by also serving the Deaf community.  

Deaf community members face a variety of communication barriers throughout the day.  Oftentimes, all that is needed is a quick connection with an interpreter so that they can communicate freely, without barriers to gain important information in the classroom, in the workplace, while shopping or out enjoying vacation.  

How Aira Works

Through Aira’s mobile or desktop apps, users connect with trained Agents or certified ASL interpreters who provide real-time visual or sign language interpretation. The apps are available for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, and can be flexibly deployed through a number of different methods.  Agents assist users by seeing through their device camera, offering descriptions and guidance to complete visual tasks. ASL users can initiate video sessions to connect with interpreters directly from the app, tailored to the meeting type or communication need.

Use Cases for Aira

  • Navigating complex environments like airports or office campuses
  • Reading printed and digital text (e.g., menus, signs, forms, emails)
  • Workplace accommodations and support during meetings or presentations
  • Home tasks such as organizing, labeling, or troubleshooting
  • Real-time communication in ASL for Deaf users during remote or in-person meetings; literally anywhere

Pricing Information

Aira’s services are available through multiple access models:

  • Free Access: Provided by Access Partners such as airports, universities, and businesses who sponsor usage for the public.
  • Subscription Plans: Individuals can purchase plans with a set number of minutes per month, suitable for different levels of personal or professional use.
  • Enterprise and Organizational Licensing: Companies and institutions can offer Aira as a workplace accommodation or customer support tool, with custom integration options.

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Tennessee Tourism Rewrites Accessibility with Music-Driven Alt Text

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Watch the Video Here.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 10, 2025 – The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is redefining accessibility through the power of music, partnering with songwriters in an industry-first initiative to enhance the online travel experience for blind and visually impaired visitors. This groundbreaking program called “Sound Sites” replaces standard image descriptions known as alt-text on TNVacation.com with beautifully-crafted song lyrics, allowing travelers using screen readers to experience Tennessee’s landscapes, culture and spirit through poetic, immersive storytelling.

Leveraging one of Tennessee’s most iconic assets—its legendary songwriters—this initiative creates a richer and more evocative way for visually impaired travelers to connect with the state. Instead of generic, uninspired alt-text such as “image of a mountain” or “street at night,” visitors will hear lyrical descriptions that bring Tennessee’s scenic beauty to life.

Tennessee Sound Sites Reimagining image descriptions for blind communities Broadway in Nashville, TN Photo courtesy of The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development It’s more than just a street, More than a busy four-lane road, More than just a place the shiny new boot tourist goes, It’s where the kid from Minnesota With a big ole dream to chase, Is working on his best new Nashville twang, On the street we call Broadway. Written about Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee Michael Farren, Brian Davis, David Tolliver

Innovating Accessibility Through Music

More than seven million Americans have a non-corrective visual disability, including more than one million who are blind, according to the National Federation of the Blind. That number is expected to double by 2050. Recognizing the need for more meaningful and engaging online experiences, Tennessee is going beyond traditional accessibility standards. While accessibility standards have traditionally focused on functionality, Sound Sites elevates them to an art form, using human creativity to ensure all travelers can experience Tennessee with wonder and excitement.

“Music has the power to connect us all, regardless of how we experience the world,” said Billy Montana, a Tennessee-based, award-winning country songwriter known for hits recorded by Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw. “Sound Sites is a beautiful example of how we can use creativity to make travel more accessible and welcoming to all. I’m honored to be a part of a project helping people feel more connected to Tennessee and to each other.”

Montana is one of 12 talented songwriters bringing Sound Sites to life, joining an all-star lineup that includes country music legend Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks and Grammy-nominated songwriter Michael Farren. The initiative also features a diverse range of artists, from Americana storyteller Hilary Williams—daughter of Hank Williams Jr.—and indie-rock powerhouse Nicole Atkins to Nashville hitmakers David Tolliver, Adam Wood, Brian Davis, Thomas Edwards and Jack Settle. JP Williams, a celebrated blind singer-songwriter, brings an especially meaningful perspective to the project, helping to ensure that Tennessee’s landscapes aren’t just seen, but truly felt.

A Unique Approach to Accessible Travel

With Sound Sites, Tennessee is laying the foundation for a new kind of travel experience—one that will continue to grow, evolve and connect people in new ways.

The program follows the success of Tennessee’s Colorblind Viewfinder initiative, which introduced specialized scenic viewfinders that allow colorblind visitors to experience the full spectrum of fall foliage. With Sound Sites, Tennessee continues to expand what accessible and engaging travel looks like, proving that the state isn’t just seen—it’s felt.

“We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to experience Tennessee’s unmatched beauty, including the millions who travel with visual impairments,” said Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Tennessee’s deep musical roots make this campaign a natural fit, and we’re proud to champion travel experiences that embrace everyone. This is just the beginning of a meaningful, ongoing effort to connect people to the beauty of our great state.”

Experience Tennessee Beyond Description

Hundreds of images are featured across TDTD’s digital properties and social channels, marking the start of an ongoing collaboration with songwriters and members of the blind community to enhance descriptions. The state is also developing best practices to share with tourism partners, aiming to improve accessibility across destination, lodging, and attraction websites throughout Tennessee.

Travelers can explore the Sound Sites experience now at TNvacation.com, where song-driven descriptions bring Tennessee’s landscapes to life in an entirely new way. Join the conversation on social media with @TNvacation using hashtag #TNSoundsPerfect.

About Tennessee Department of Tourist Development 

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centered at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on Facebook, X, and Instagram for travel inspiration.