TravelAbility Summit Update: Accessible Products—a Quick Inventory  

As the NAJ Group (publisher of the INBOUND report) moves closer to a decision on a property in which to stage the first TravelAbility Summit, in October 2019 in San Francisco, we are assembling a range of products and tour operators that may be invited as examples that can be replicated and refined by others.  “The advocacy landscape for accessible travel is already well served by events and organizations focused on compliance,” Commented Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of NAJ Group. “By bringing together DMO’s, attractions and suppliers so they can see diverse range of accessibility products that already exist, we hope to inspire creativity that will lead to even more products that will make it easier for those with physical or behavioral challenges to enjoy travel.”

Following is a brief list of individuals or organizations and products that they have available for travelers with disabilities. Please let us know if you have a product and would like to be added to the list. (Last updated Nov. 3, 2018).  If you have knowledge of other products or services that we might include, please contact jake@visitnaj.com.

1. Eric Lipp, founder and executive director of the Open DoorsOrganization, has developed an accessible taxi service in Chicago.
2. Filmmaker Noam Argov created an app that turns into a voice activated Waze-GPS-functionality for blind people when a building’s architectural plans are uploaded onto the app.
3. Ablethrive.comis a one stop site for resources/products for those with disabilities.
4. NYC & Co.has developed an accessibility guide for all of the city’s five boroughs using an outside consultant.
5. Visit Indy has an Accessible travel guide spurred on by its CEO Leonard Hoops.
6. The U.S. National Park Servicehas an accessible section for each park on each park’s website.
7. Sesame Place, Langhorne Pennsylvania has been designated as a Certified Autism Center.
8. Morgan’s Wonderland, a water park in San Antonio. was designed with accessibility in mind.
9. Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, is the state’s first accessible playground.
10. Sheraton Park Anaheim, has partnered with local autism community to train its staff to ensure that all families have fun.
11. Airbnb: Srin Madipaili, Director of Accessible Product, which helps hosts develop more accessible homes and rooms for travelers with disabilities.
12. The Blue Man Group in Orlando now offers an autism-friendly show.
13. Eugene, Oregon has an “adaptive” recreational services manager that regularly inventories and promotes their accessibility products.
14. The Hilton Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was developed as an accessible-friendly hotel from the ground up.
15. Aira combines AI + Google Glass technology to help blind people navigate airports.
16. TraxFamily.com makes GPS tracking bands that include augmented reality for autistic kids.
17. State of Tennessee has developed viewfinders so that color blind travelers can see fall foliage.
18. The Greater Rochester, NY airport unveiled “hearing and counter loops” to make it easier for travelers with hearing issues to hear announcements.
19. Gatorland in Florida offers wheelchair-accessible zip lines over alligator habitats.
20. Space Center Houston, offers “Sensory Friendly” evenings for guests who are on different levels on the autism spectrum.
21. The French medical equipment maker Hippocampe has developed an all-terrain wheelchair for the beach, hiking trails or snow.
22. An Eau Claire, Wisconsin man created an app that helps people with disabilities travel.
23. The Rome airport has launched a “Care to Fly”program offering disabled travelers the opportunity to book “Door to flight”(and vice versa) care assistance.
24. Autism Family Vacations, a new travel agency specializing in Autism travel, has opened in Wisconsin.
25. The Henry Ford (Museum) outside Detroit, Michigan offers “tactile” tours for three types of disabilities.
26. Simpleview, which has developed websites and CRM software for over 500 destinations has partnered with Audioeye to make DMO websites more accessible friendly.
27. Smarter Travel magazine has published a list of the Top 10 Most Accessible friendly Attractions in the world.
28. Austin, Minnesota, the town that gave the world Spam, has an autistic greetermeeting people at the Spam Museum.
29. Italian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, is the first to create a series of  shore excursions for those with impaired mobility.
30. Wings for Autismhelps families and kids rehearse simulated air travel in 15 airports.
31. Four UK rail companies are conducting a Passenger Assist trial by Transreport—an app designed to make rail journeys for disabled users easier. The app will allow disabled users to share their exact location with station staff in real-time.
32. Audio Description Projecttrains “audio describers” who assist the blind to understand what is before them.
33. Mobility Ventures, manufacturers of MV-1, a wheelchair accessible SUV that can be customized from their website.
34. Map’s Voice. A new App created by Puntodis, a Spanish company, that creates destination maps and itineraries in 12 languages using haptic technology that generate speaking descriptions.
35. Personalize tours owner “Pierre Margot-Cattin, offers “Build Your Dreams” tours for people with guide dogs.  Buying home on beach in N. Carolina retrofitted for disabled people with service dogs.
36. Michele Erwin, founder of All Wheels Up is working with Airbus to create tie-down wheelchairs and accessible restrooms for disabled.
37. Axsol Location, is a French company that rents wheelchairs, portable vertical elevators, beach chairs, ramps on an as-needed bases for hotels and events.