How Can We Make Travel More Accessible?

5 views | Apr 03, 2023, 10:48:30 PM | AP
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Shu Cole is a professor in the Department of Health and Wellness Design at the Indiana University School of Public Health. Cole states since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, there has been progressive improvement in accessible travel. But travel is a journey that contains multiple components, including trip planning, local transportation, air travel, lodging, food and beverage facilities, attractions, activities, and businesses at the destination. The key challenge now is that it is still difficult for some people with disabilities to have a seamless travel experience throughout the whole journey. For example, a person may have reserved an accessible room at a hotel, only to find the room is not accessible at all upon arrival. For someone with low vision, they may be able to navigate airports or convention centers but have a difficult time finding services that can help them travel between the airport and convention center. There are gaps in the travel journey that need to be addressed to make travel more accessible for everyone.