The Intersection of Travel and Disability
Accountability for airlines’ mistreatment of the disabled community is finally coming. American Airlines is leading the way as an example of what not to do. Read more about the $50 million fine, here.
Experience Kissimmee and Autism Travel Club Unite to Create an Inclusive Central Florida.
Kissimmee, FL, August 30, 2024 – Experience Kissimmee and Autism Travel Club (ATC) are excited to announce its new partnership to increase autism awareness and training and educate businesses in Central Florida. This collaboration aims to make the greater Kissimmee area a more welcoming and accessible destination, especially for visitors with autism and their families.
This partnership will harness the expertise of Autism Travel Club and the wide-reaching influence of Experience Kissimmee and will kick off with a series of ‘Level Up’ seminars led by Becky Large, CEO of ATC scheduled for September 25, 2024. She will share her extensive knowledge of the benefits of autism training and its positive impact on businesses. It’s an opportunity for businesses to level up and make a real difference in the community.
“Partnering with Autism Travel Club is a significant step towards enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in Central Florida. By integrating autism training for local businesses, we are working to ensure that Kissimmee becomes a more welcoming destination for visitors with autism and their families,” said Jason Holic, Sr. Vice President of Operations & Community Engagement from Experience Kissimmee. “This initiative reflects our commitment to creating a supportive environment for all.”
“Partnering with Autism Travel Club is a significant step towards enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in Central Florida.
Jason Holic
To further their commitment to the Autism Ready Destination initiative, the first 20 businesses to register for autism training will receive 50% reimbursement from Experience Kissimmee for the first year of training. Experience Kissimmee will also donate the first year of training access to several local organizations, including Kissimmee Gateway Airport and Osceola County Fire Rescue and EMS. This is a significant step towards achieving an “Autism Ready” designation for the entire destination, demonstrating Kissimmee’s commitment to inclusivity.
Becky Large states, “This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a celebration of shared values and a commitment to making Central Florida a place where everyone feels welcome. With Experience Kissimmee and Autism Travel Club leading the way, the future of Kissimmee looks brighter—and more inclusive—than ever!”
For more information, please visit www.experiencekissimmee.com and www.autismtravel.club.
About Experience Kissimmee:
Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located at the heart of Central Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), minutes from world-famous theme parks and attractions, and nestled in carefully preserved outdoor spaces so visitors can reconnect with nature. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has sprawling resorts with thousands of options ranging from two-bedroom condominiums to 15-bedroom mansions. Learn more at experiencekissimmee.com
Media Contact:
Experience Kissimmee Public Relations
Media@experiencekissimmee.com
About Autism Travel Club
Autism Travel Club, a part of Lead with Love Training Co., is dedicated to spreading autism awareness and equipping
businesses with the tools needed to create welcoming spaces for individuals and families with autism. For more information: autismtravel.club
Contact:
Becky Large
CEO, Autism Travel Club
becky@autismtravel.club
609-744-0099
839 Surfside Drive, Suite 107
Surfside Beach, SC 29575
autismtravel.club
Director, Office of Accessibility and VSA at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
By Jennifer Allen
Betty Siegel has gone beyond bringing the arts to the disabled to bringing people with disabilities to the arts.
Since its doors opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center has held as a core value that the arts are for everyone. Since joining the Kennedy Center in 1999, Betty Siegel has been ready to go beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act to the next level of inclusion.
“When I came on board, it wasn’t just about compliance,” she recalls. “It was about genuinely engaging with the disability community and adopting a more holistic approach.”
Siegel’s work as the Director of the Kennedy Center’s Office of Access/VSA reflects her dedication to providing arts for everyone. Under her leadership, the Center’s accessibility programs have become a model for arts institutions worldwide. “Our motto? ‘Eager to remove barriers and find solutions to challenges,'” she explains. For Siegel, this isn’t just a slogan but a daily mission. Whether it’s establishing policies, offering staff training, or reviewing renovation plans, her role touches every aspect of the Center’s work. The scope is vast: In 2024 alone, her team trained over 500 staff and reached over 3,000 individuals through consultations, presentations, and educational programs.
“Our motto? ‘Eager to remove barriers and find solutions to challenges'”
Betty Siegel
Despite these many accomplishments, Siegel acknowledges that the journey is ongoing. “The world of accessibility is constantly evolving,” she says. “Technology changes, expectations change, and we’re always adapting.” This adaptability keeps her and her team busy as they continue to explore the latest innovations and ensure they meet the diverse needs of audiences. One current focus is a research collaboration with Gallaudet University and the Smithsonian, aimed at applying next-generation assistive listening technologies—a project Siegel is particularly excited about.
One of her proudest achievements is the culture of inclusion that has been fostered at the Kennedy Center. “We’ve worked hard to ensure accessibility is integrated into every aspect of what we do,” she says. This proactive approach anticipates the needs of guests, creating spaces and performances that embrace people of all abilities.
Looking to the future, Siegel remains focused on pushing the envelope. In 2025, the Kennedy Center will host its annual Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) conference in Cleveland, bringing together over 950 cultural arts administrators and accessibility leaders. This gathering, along with ongoing projects like the assistive listening research and efforts to support emerging artists with disabilities, shows Siegel’s continued drive to make the arts accessible to all.
When asked who she follows for ideas and inspiration, Betty recommended the ADA National Network. “The webinars produced by the Great Lakes ADA Center are always interesting and informative.” She’s been impressed by both their helpful resources and their knowledgeable technical assistance staff.
Betty Siegel’s passion, leadership, and relentless pursuit of accessibility have expanded access to the arts, set a powerful example for others to follow, and have set her apart as a TravelAbility Accessibility Champion.
In their latest iteration, Visit Charlottesville Albemarle County may have created the most comprehensive accessible landing page anywhere and a model for all to follow. Not only is it useful to potential visitors, but residents will find it of value as well.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB) is excited to announce a new accessibility landing page and grant-funded efforts aimed at improving accessibility infrastructure for visitors and residents. As part of its comprehensive American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville provided funds to the CACVB to build the tourism industry back stronger following the severe impacts of COVID-19. A portion of this funding supported more than 60 accessibility assessments for local tourism-related businesses and attractions through a strategic partnership with Wheel the World.
These efforts led to Charlottesville and Albemarle County being designated as Destination Verified by Wheel the World. This distinction sets the community apart from other destinations due to its wealth of accessible locations and experiences. The new CACVB landing page highlights these accessible experiences and provides important information about businesses with step-free and/or accessible entrances, transportation and parking, and accessible accommodation details like bed height, toilet height, and space available under bathroom sinks.
“This accessibility information is not only available to visitors looking for things to do, but also our residents,” said Courtney Cacatian, Executive Director of the CACVB. “With our recently passed strategic plan, we will continue building out these accessible experiences allowing us to foster a welcoming community for all visitors.”
In spring 2023, the CACVB secured a $20,000 DRIVE Outdoor grant through the Virginia Tourism Corporation to imagine the future of outdoor recreation in the area. The CACVB convened a stakeholder group consisting of City and County Parks and Recreation departments, the Shenandoah National Park, outdoor recreation outfitters, and environmental groups. This stakeholder group determined that the grant funds should be used to invest in accessible river equipment and training, which could be used by residents and visitors alike.
This funding was provided to the Rivanna River Company (RRC) to purchase three special adaptive kayaks. Additionally, RRC has created four accessible parking spots made from stone dust, giving visitors with mobility issues access to the site. RRC also used compacted stone dust to make the entrance area and a path to the accessible portable toilet more navigable. The adaptive kayak program will launch in spring 2025. Photos of the adaptive kayaks can be found here.
This winter, the CACVB will embark on another stakeholder engagement exercise to identify and promote accessible experiences for history lovers. Following stakeholder engagement meetings, the CACVB will apply for a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation to build an itinerary to promote and amplify these efforts. Influencers with accessibility needs will be invited to explore local sites and attractions that offer welcoming experiences.
For more detailed information on how the CACVB went through its extensive accessibility work, please listen to the Destinations International Architects of Destination Advocacy podcast.
Check out their current accessibility landing page, here.
Triumphs of our own – How the TravelAbility Community is Leading Accessibility Innovators in Transforming Travel and Tourism Worldwide
You must be logged in to post a comment.