TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

accessibility

INNOVATEABLE Pitch Fest Showcases 11 Cutting Edge Adaptive Innovations for Travel

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Our Takeaway: For the past four years TravelAbility has hosted LaunchPad, a pitch event curating the best innovations that can help the industry make travel easier for disabled travelers. This year’s event has been rebranded as the InnovateAble Showcase and will be held via Zoom on July 26th from 10AM to 1PM PST to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the ADA.

“We are excited to bring together some of the brightest minds in assistive technology to showcase their latest innovations,” said Jake Steinman, Founder of TravelAbility. “This is a B2B event and an opportunity to feature entrepreneurs with innovations that can be introduced through the destination channels to their industry partners.”

This year’s pitch event will be held via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact us at: info@travelability.net.

Delta’s Support of Roll-in Wheelchair Securement System Creates Burst of Hope for Disabled Travelers

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Our Takeaway: The new Wheelchair Securement System unveiled at an annual trade show in Germany gained spectacular credibility once Delta Airlines announced its support.

TravelAbility provided part of the funding that helped advisory board member John Morris’ travel to the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Show so he would be the first to test drive the securement system in real time.

Here’s what he found:

Delta Flight Products, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines that was established to re-think aircraft interiors, announced it was backing the Air4All wheelchair securement system on commercial jets — the company plans to unveil its design prototype at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany next week. Chris Wood, my friend and colleague in accessible travel advocacy, is a partner in the Air4All seating product. Last year, he spoke to me about his design innovation — you can watch our conversation here and read my initial reporting on Air4All here. With the announcement that Air4All will debut in Hamburg, I decided that I needed to be there — critical reporting on this product, its advancements, features and opportunities for improvement should come from within the disability community. I look forward to seeing, touching, and testing the Air4All system myself, and sharing my insights with each of you. Read More.

Plus-Size Woman Shares Useful Airplane Seat Hacks

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Our Takeaway: Plus-size travelers, especially woman activists believe that they are marginalized and discriminated against by airlines and other suppliers and hacks alone will not be enough.

As society continues to put a greater emphasis on the need for inclusive and accessible travel for all people, the aviation industry is taking small steps toward change. There is still work that needs to be done, however, especially when it comes to size inclusivity. Aircraft cabin features including seats, aisles and lavatories make it glaringly obvious that there is a disparity when considering accessibility for plus-size travelers. Although this lack of consideration can be frustrating, influencer KirstyLeanneTravels gave her followers a simple, yet effective strategy to obtain a second plane seat at no extra cost. In a video posted to her TikTok, Kirsty approaches a flight attendant and asks, “Do you know if there are any two seats next to each other free?” The flight attendant tells her that once all travelers have boarded the aircraft, she will check. The TikTok then pans to Kristy on the plane sitting in the extra seat she asked for. Read More.

The Comedians with Disabilities Act Announce Western Tour Schedule

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Our Takeaway: Yuk-ing it up with a heavy dose of self-deprecating asides, bits about clueless ableists and laughing at the ridiculous barriers they face every day is not only cathartic, but also entertaining.

In celebration of Disability Pride Month in July, which also happens to coincide with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the founders and contributors of the Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) hit the road for its wildly popular show that will span three states: Montana, Oregon and California.

The various venues that will host the comedy troupe are thrilled to have them on the stage. One Montana venue in Butte even did a little renovation to accommodate the act by modifying its restroom to ensure accessibility – and laughter – for all.

“Thanks to the Elk Lodge for pulling through,” Nina G, says. “They saw the need to make this event and others they will have inclusive to everyone. CWDA is proud to be part of this change!” The Comedians with Disabilities Act (CWDA) is a fabulous collection of comedians with disabilities, both seen and unseen, who share their humor and personal experiences. Read more.

Double Amputee Conquers Mt. Everest

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Our Takeaway: Showing that no challenge – not even Nepal’s outlawing of climbers with a disability – was too great a challenge for Hari Magar. After returning victorious from summiting the 29,032-foot mountain, he announced his next challenge will be to dedicate the rest of his life to helping others who have a disability conquer their own life goals.   

Former Gurkha soldier living in Britain, Hari Budha Magar, climbed Mount Everest last week, making him the first double above-the-knee amputee to accomplish the feat.

“My main aim for the rest of my lifetime is going to be working to bring awareness about disability,” says Mr. Magar, speaking to journalists from the Associated Press on his return to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

Hundreds of supporters and officials, including Nepal’s tourism minister, were there to meet him at Kathmandu’s airport and offer him garlands. He left the airport in an open truck decorated with flowers, waving to people along the way.

“We all have our own weaknesses and disabilities, but instead of the weaknesses we should be focusing on our strength, and only then, we can all lead a better and meaningful life,” he says.

Mr. Magar lost both of his legs in Afghanistan during his time in the British army, when he accidentally stepped on an improvised explosive device in 2010. He was born in a remote mountain village in Nepal and now lives with his family in the United Kingdom.

Hari has previously dealt with legal issues because Nepal’s government had banned people with a disability from climbing high mountains. A case was filed in the Supreme Court to overturn the ban, allowing Mr. Magar to continue his plan to climb Everest. Read More.