DISABILITY TRAVEL GENERATES $17.3 BILLION IN ANNUAL SPENDING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Lipp

Open Doors Organization

773 388-8839

ericlipp@opendoorsnfp.org

DISABILITY TRAVEL GENERATES $17.3 BILLION IN ANNUAL SPENDING

New Nationwide Research from Open Doors Organization as ADA Turns 25

Chicago, IL, July 31, 2015 - The Open Doors Organization (ODO) today released the findings of its 2015 Market Study.  The nationwide survey, conducted by Mandala Research, LLC, is a follow-up to ODO’s groundbreaking studies of 2002 and 2005 on the spending trends and market scope of U.S. adult travelers with disabilities.

“This new data,” says ODO Director Eric Lipp, “shows that the disability travel market has a greater impact than ever on the industry and the broader economy.  In the past two years alone, more than 26 million adults with disabilities traveled for pleasure and/or business, taking 73 million trips.”  The study also shines a light on factors still holding back the market.  Twenty-five years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, many barriers to access still remain in air travel, hotels and restaurants, although these have decreased significantly since the previous study in 2005.

The 2015 ODO study quantifies how much adults with disabilities spend on just their own travel—$17.3 billion annually, up from $13.6 billion in 2002.  Since these individuals typically travel with one or more other adults, the economic impact is actually double, or $34.6 billion.

Like the 2005 ODO study, the new research shows businesses in the travel industry the extent and types of barriers the majority of travelers with disabilities still experience.  Among adults with disabilities who have traveled by air, 72% said they encountered major obstacles with airlines and 65% with airports, down from 84% and 82% in 2005, respectively.  At hotels and restaurants, the percent reporting obstacles—physical barriers, problems with customer service or communication barriers—has significantly decreased as well.

The 53-page report provides detailed findings not just on general travel patterns, frequency of travel and spending, but also gives specifics on cruise travel; ground transportation including ride share services; use of the Internet, mobile devices and assistive equipment; and the most popular destinations nationally and internationally.

Reflecting back on ODO’s earlier research and where the disability travel market is today, Eric Lipp notes, “When we carried out our first nationwide study in 2002, the goal was to wake up the travel industry to the importance of this mostly underserved market segment and give them hard numbers on which to base investment decisions.  Now 13 years later, our economic impact is no longer a secret, especially in air travel.  At large airports like Miami and Minneapolis St. Paul, airlines now must provide more than 1 million wheelchair assists per year.  And as the Baby Boomers continue to age, you can be sure our market will keep growing for years to come.”

The survey was conducted online in January and February 2015 among a national sample of 1,291 adults with disabilities aged 18 or over.  Disability was defined as having blindness, deafness or a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying. Individuals who also have cognitive disabilities were included as respondents as well.  To insure comparability with the 2002 and 2005 studies, Mandala Research used Harris Interactive (now Harris, A Nielsen Company), who had conducted the earlier research, to carry out the online poll.

Copies of the 2015 Market Study are available for sale through the Open Doors Organization website (opendoorsnfp.org) or by calling 773 388-8839 or e-mailing info@opendoorsnfp.org.

The Open Doors Organization is a non-profit organization founded for the purpose of teaching businesses how to succeed in the disability market and make their goods and services accessible to people with disabilities. Mandala Research, LLC, who partnered with ODO on this study, offers a diverse range of travel market research products and services—along with expert analysis—to Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

- end -

Spectacular Arizona! Cities and Canyon experiences from April 2014

April bring mountain towners into what's called "mud season," after all the ski areas close and the visitors leave, and the locals pick up their toys and head south for adventures.  This year we headed to Arizona; we had been to Phoenix, but only briefly, in 2001, and Craig hadn't been to the Grand Canyon ever, so this was going to be a fun adventure indeed - as it always is!

We first spent a week in Phoenix exploring this truly fun and beautiful city, the biggest stops on our list worth mention were the Desert Botanic Gardens and Taliesin West.  Both were basically accessible.

The Gardens were a mostly flat course of rolling around on very fine pebble paths -thanks to Craig's knobby tires and strong arms, it wasn't an issue, although it might be a little tenuous in spots for someone in an older chair with less strength. We were very impressed with the Gardens, augmented by the Chihuly glass sculptures exhibit and the excellent dinner we had at their in house restaurant. We attended the evening session in which we toured the grounds in daylight, dined at the restaurant, and the quickly toured parts of the grounds again at dusk to see the lit-up glass structures, which were magnificent. We're delighted to announce that Chihuly's exhibit will be visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens next (June through November) so we'll hopefully get another glance and we highly recommend you do as well.

 

Taliesin West, the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright and students- still to this day, was very well adapted. Despite being told on the phone that the ramps were only 28" wide, they were indeed 32" and although steep in spots, not an issue for us.  He got into every building on the tour, and it was well worth the visit even though we were skeptical. It was inspiring, impressive, and affordable.

In addition, we also looked into golf in Phoenix. While this proved to be a little bit of a challenge, we managed to find a working SoloRider for our purposes, but also reached out to the City Manager about making sure their adaptive cart fleet was up to speed, and we can happily report they have made this a priority so the next time we visit, golfing will hopefully not be a challenge.  Supposedly all 6-7 of their municipal courses have a SoloRider or two, so any of them are options.  We used the one at Maryvale and found the staff to be extremely helpful and accomodating. The course was well shaded and fun. You can learn more about Phoenix Golf here.

After Phoenix we headed north to Sedona, but on the recommendation of my cousins, we visited the tiny cliff town of Jerome on the way. This wasn't the most accessible tourist spot, but it was worth a stop - or even a drive by if you have the time.  Extremely quaint, complete with a 100-year-old post office (original PO box dials in the front box room?), Jerome is nicknamed the "most wicked place in the west," we're not sure if it's for the people or the location. Hanging literally off the black hills themselves, the switchback road has 180 degree corners and the shops, restaurants, homes, all seem to be on a tilt. There is a step up to some of the shops, but not all of them. The vibe of the place is groovy, like all the old Sedona hippies left the growing metropolis to find solitude here.

Sedona was just up our alley - crystal shops, vortices, gluten free restaurants, red rocks, gorgeous drives and vistas, and a wide range of affordable lodging.  What we road tested for you:

• We stayed at the Sedona Real Inn, the accessible room there was awesome, the staff was extremely amenable (complete with concierge), the breakfasts were filling (average), and the price was great. See the first photo below of the accessible shower - among the best we've seen. 
• We had our two dinners at Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen where everything on the menu - including Andy's ravioli- was gluten free, and Thai Palace Uptown.  Both were delicious. 
• Drive up to the Airport and catch a sunset or a sunrise - the closest vortex on the map, you can really feel the energy swirling up here. There's a parking lot, complete with two handicap spots, and a short trail or just a pull out to sit at, your choice. Bring a dollar or two, there's a donation bucket for local parks there. 
• We also drove the short drives out of the main town to see the other vortex spots, with great views of red rocks along they way.  
• If you're a slow walker, you can also do the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park - a 1/4mi. and 100-200ft inclining dirt trail climbs to this amazing prayer park, but it's not accessible to wheelchairs. That said, there was a sign there that said call for access, so if we'd made advance arrangements, we think you can get the key to drive right up to it. It's really a powerful spot, so it'd be worth it. 

Other than this we ran out of time to explore Sedona further so we'll just have to go back!

Moving on to the Grand Canyon!  On our way, we visited Bearizona, an animal park/preserve that has some great views of animals if your family is into that. I could flood this already-lengthy blog post with adorable pictures of baby bears playing and owls flying so close to our heads they'll knock you over, but you get the picture. Check it out, it's a sweet spot.

Once in the canyon - We were truly awestruck by this amazing 7th Wonder. It was a place that no picture or description can fully describe, you simply have to see it for yourself.  We'd managed to get a copy of Candy Harrington's brand new Grand Canyon guidebook before we went, and got a few great tips out of it for our needs - number one is ask for the accessible driving pass at the entrance gate, with it comes a code that lets you drive to the end of Hermit's Rest where only shuttle busses go. This was a special treat for us because it meant having our cooler with us for a picnic in the middle of a long day.

If you think every view will be the same, you're wrong. Stop at every one as we did, and be impressed in a new way every time. But don't be stupid and go too close to the edge. They pull 250 people out of the canyon every year, and most years a dozen people leap or fall accidentally over the edge. Those 1000-foot cliffs aren't forgiving.

We love camping and stayed at one of the accessible spots in the Mather Campground and it was perfectly convenient and predicable for us - near the restroom, flat tent area, protective metal fire ring. But a few of the lodges look right into the canyon and we think the next time we visit we'll step up and book a room just for the views.  A warm shower would be nice too - camping in April in the Canyon can be cold, our nights dipped into the low 30s. The last time Andy camped there in 1998 they got snowed on.

We also squeezed in a visit to the Grand Canyon IMAX and for those of us who aren't doing the hiking, a flight trip, or the mules, make this movie a stop during your stay. It was enlightening, historical, and almost gut wrenching with the typical IMAX flying.

We must say, reading Candy's book before, during and even after our visit made us reminisce about writing guidebooks - sometimes we miss those days!  It's a great little guide of the area, so definitely check it out. We didn't take much out of it other than the few tips about shuttling because we made our own meals and camped, but there is a lot of information in there that is extremely detailed - right down to the photographs of the lodge's accessible bathrooms! Always the biggest stress when traveling for us - does the shower really have a bench?

If you don't have the Grand Canyon on your bucket list, you should amend the list!

Know of someone with a disability that's trying to find work?

If so, our friend Brooke Lightner here in Steamboat Springs may be just the girl to help you.

Work isn't easy to find, but inspiring work for people with disabilities is out there, you just may need some assistance in finding it. Brooke works for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Colorado’s leading placement organization for people with disabilities. The DVR Business Outreach Specialist team has more than 60 years experience in providing a bridge between companies and talented job seekers, committed to helping employers find candidates who are skilled, loyal, and committed to their success, as well as helping individuals with disabilities prepare for going to work, obtaining and maintaining employment.

DVR is your advocate. DVR educates businesses about the benefits of using DVR as a recruitment resource, the business outreach team prepares and delivers valuable disability awareness training to assist employers in learning about hiring and employing persons with disabilities, proper disability etiquette, and how these can positively impact the business bottom line. Other services to employers include: information and guidance about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and job accommodations, consultative services such as job retention for a current employee with a disability or who has recently acquired a disability, job analysis and adaptive technology, and information about possible DVR financial incentives and tax credits a business may receive for hiring a person with a disability.

Contact Brooke Lightner, the Business Outreach Specialist in your area for more information about our business services. 970-367-3220 or brooke.lightner@state.co.us

Palazzo/Venetian Hotel Vegas installs new Sure Hands Lift

One of our friends at Surehands Lifts and Care Systems forwarded this video to us of the newest lift that went into the Canyon Ranch Spa at the Palazzo/Venetian Resort this past December.  If you're heading that way, check it out! 

And hotels, as you're starting to comply with the new ADA Title III rules, check out Surehands, they're among the best, by far.

Captioning hits Congress

A new bill in congress would require movie and video content in theaters and airplanes to be captioned and described... 

The Captioning and Image Narration to Enhance Movie Accessibility (CINEMA) Act would amend Title III of the ADA to require movie theater complexes of two or more theaters to make captioning and video description available for all films at all showings. Video description is a process that allows an individual who is blind or visually impaired to have access to the key visual elements of the programming by contemporaneous audio narrated descriptions of the actions, settings, facial expressions, costumes, and scene changes during the natural pauses in the audio portion of the programming, usually through headphones.

More:  

www.help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release?id=347af2ed-b204-45a8-b565-0b8a218f5889&groups=Chair

What is protecting and creating the legal rights for airline travel for customers with disabilities?

One of the most common misconceptions of airline travel for people with disabilities is in the legal department.  There are many laws in place that protect travelers with disabilities, some of which have been in place for a decade or even two, that many travelers still don't know about.  In addition, there are frequent updates to these laws, acts, and regulations.  While it is not necessarily your responsibility as a traveler to know and protect these rights, that is perhaps the most important responsibility of our government, yet it is in your extreme best interest to stay on top of them and be proactive about them.

In addition to what is listed briefly below, travelers can use the US Access Board to stay on top of this topic.  http://www.access-board.gov/gs.htm

Highlights of the existing rights:
ADA- Americans with Disabilities Act; 1990
Title I: employment rights
Title II: public services
Title III: public accomodations
Title IV: telecommunication services
Title V: misc provisions
Where the ADA steps in for travel is in the airports


ACAA- Air Carrier Access Act; 1986
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel and requires air carriers to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities
Carriers may not refuse transportation on the basis of disability.
Airlines may not require advance notice for a person with a disability, with some minor exceptions (such as the 48 hr advance notice requirement for emotional support animals).
Airlines are required to provide assistance with boarding, deplaning, and making connections.
Carriers must designate Complaint Resolution Officials (CROs) to respond to complaints from passengers.
Carriers must obtain an assurance of compliance from contractors who provide services to passengers.


Rehabilitation Act Amendment; 1998
The law strengthens section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and requires access to electronic and information technology provided by the Federal government. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Federal agencies must ensure that this technology is accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent it does not pose an "undue burden."


More acronyms and links:
ADAAG- ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities
FAA- Federal Aviation Administration; guidelines are slowly becoming standards
DOJ- Department of Justice
DOT- Department of Transportation
ADCP- Airport Disability Compliance Program; auditing and educating operators on standards

President Obama Signs Twenty-First Century Communications & Video Accessibility Act

reprint from the http://www.disability.gov/ blog, October 8

Today President Obama signed into law the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. This law will ensure that Americans with disabilities can more fully participate in society and enjoy all that new technologies have to offer--especially Internet-based and mobile services.

The new law will make it easier for people who are deaf, blind or have low vision to access the Internet, smart phones, television programming and other communications and video technologies. The law will also make sure that emergency information is accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision. In addition, $10 million per year will be allocated from the Interstate Relay Service Fund for equipment used by individuals who are deaf-blind. For more information read What S.3304 Does For Us from the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology.

Visit Disability.gov for more information about accessible technology.

Axs Vail Valley: Access, universal design, and adaptive adventure

Today I sat with Sarah Will of Axs Vail Valley for our radio show I Can Do That on Blog Talk Radio. Sarah is the driving force and Executive Director of this 5 year old company that has slowly been building momentum for access, advocacy, design, and travel in the Vail and Beaver Creek corridor of Colorado. Vail has seen numerous changes during Sarah's many years in the area, and even before Axs Vail Valley, she was helping to make her new hometown a better place for people with disabilities.

If you're visiting the area and need assistance or live in the area and need consultation on accessibility and universal design, visit www.AxsVailValley.org for more information.

Listen to our podcast of this short thirty minute segment with Sarah starting August 8.



Sarah Will of Axs Vail Valley in 2006 pointing out alternate routes for wheelchair users in Vail Village.

Air Carrier Act Update: ALERT!

Please join the DBTAC - Southwest ADA Center at ILRU for a webcast on “The Air Carrier Access Act Update and Impending Changes”.

Bill Burnell, Manager of Customer First and Regulatory Programs, Continental Airlines Airport Services Policies and Procedures, will present the webcast on "The Air Carrier Access Act Update and Impending Changes” on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 2:00pm Central.

This session is will provide a brief overview of the new amendments to the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) and it’s implementing regulation, 14 CFR Part 382 (Part 382) which will become effective on May 13, 2009. The ACAA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in commercial air transportation along with its implementing regulation, 14 CFR Part 382 (Part 382).

Mr. Burnell will discuss how these new amendments apply to both U.S. and foreign carriers, airport accessibility and changes to common services such as flight reservations. He will also address specific changes that may affect passengers who use respiratory assistive devices and passengers who are deaf or hard-of hearing.

Bill Burnell is responsible for ensuring compliance to all regulations involving disability issues set forth by the government at Continental Airlines. Some of the current programs he has implemented include “Project Airport”, an airport tour program that Continental and Memorial Hermann-TIRR initiated at Houston’s Bush-IAH airport, and the “Customers with Disabilities Advisory Board”, a group comprised of several members of the community with disabilities that meets with members of various departments within Continental to offer suggestions and tips on how to better improve disability handling and the product the airline is offering.

To link to this webcast and download accompanying materials visit:
http://ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/calendar.html
Presentation slides are available in text and PDF as alternate formats.

For instructions on how to access a webcast visit:
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/instructions.html

Please visit this site ahead of time to test and ensure your computer is configured and updated to participate in the webcast.

For technical assistance, please check out our FAQs (frequently asked questions) at:
http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/FAQ.html

Or contact a webcast team member at swdbtac@ilru.org or 713.520.0232 (v/tty).
This webcast is supported through the DBTAC - Southwest ADA Center, a project of ILRU. Southwest ADA Center (www.SouthwestADA.org) is one of ten Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) to provide training, technical assistance and materials dissemination on the ADA and other disability-related laws. NIDRR is part of the U.S. Department of Education.

The opinions and views expressed are those of the presenters and no endorsement by the funding agency should be inferred.

We hope to see you on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009!

Myrtle Beach Additions

Myrtle Beach was fabulous and please stay tuned for articles in upcoming magazines for highlights on the area. I'm happy to report that resorts, golf, mini golf, the beach, and night clubs are all catering to people with disabilities.


In conjunction with the Winter edition of Palaestra, I promised to post the current beach access points for people with disabilities:

MB has 150 Beach Access points, 31 of which are accessible, and more will be added each year.

29th S Emg. Beach Access
24th S
23rd S Emg. Beach Access
20th S
19th S
17th S
16th S Emg. Beach Access
15th S
12th S Emg. Beach Access
9th S (Walkway only)
3rd N
4th N
7th N
14th N (South end)
1600 N
1708 N
1800 N
2106 N
2408 N
2504 N
34th N
41st N
47th N
48th N
51st N
64th N
65th N
66th N
69th N Emg. Beach Access
75th N
76th N Hdcp Acces.