July is Disability Pride Month, an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the people with disabilities around us, both visible and invisible, and to identify how the travel industry can continue to make travel more accessible for all.
Approximately 1 in 4 Americans has a disability. Many people with disabilities and their families face unique challenges when traveling – and that comes when they choose to travel despite expected obstacles.
The International Board of Certification and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) conducted a survey asking over 1,000 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder about their travel habits. 87% said they were not traveling as a family, and 97% said they were not satisfied with the travel options available to families with children on the autism spectrum disorder.
In November 2019, Mesa, Arizona, became the first Autism Certified City in the world (recognized by IBCCES), and the Mesa area has approximately 60 certified businesses and organizations and more than 5,000 trained workers, including emergency medical personnel. Visit Mesa became the first tourism marketing organization in the country to be designated a Certified Autism Center in April 2019, and has since developed resources for travelers with sensory and cognitive disabilities and their families, including this inclusive travel guide.
Earlier this week, Six Flags America became the first theme park in the DMV to become an Autism Certification Center, offering sensory sensitivity days, noise-canceling headphones, custom safety harnesses for guests and other amenities.
Our global competitiveness depends on our ability to make travel enjoyable for everyone. In fact, autism certification has been proven to have a direct impact on the bottom line: Within two months of receiving certification, Marriott hotels saw a 32% increase in bookings.
Seattle, Washington also consistently ranks highly as an accessible city, with features like multisensory crosswalk signs, wheelchair-accessible taxis, and workplace accommodation assistance services. Many theaters in San Diego, California, offer performances with ASL translation and audio description for people with disabilities. Many theme parks and attractions are also working to make their environments more accessible to people with disabilities.
Additionally, investing in upgrades that increase the capabilities of people with physical disabilities is essential to strengthening our industry. Not only must our industry work towards a future that ensures a positive travel experience for people with disabilities, but it must also ensure that travelers with disabilities have access to the services and assistance they need.
Next week marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Since then, industry leaders and policymakers have worked hard to make travel more accessible to people with disabilities.
Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released the first bill on the rights of air travelers with disabilities. While the document is not a formal policy, it outlines 10 points to help travelers understand and assert their rights under the Air Transportation Access Act.
As we rebuild and strengthen our industry after the pandemic, accessibility must remain a top priority. Together, we will continue to make travel – and the world – more welcoming and manageable for people with disabilities.
Tell us how your destination is promoting a more accessible and inclusive environment for travelers with disabilities. Tweet us at @Travel to the United States!
If you or your organization is interested in becoming autism certified, please visit the IBCCES website to learn more about the certification process.