A transformed travel industry marks the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

As we in the disability community mark the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we also celebrate a truly transformed travel industry. Airlines, hotels, cruise lines and tour operators finally recognize that the disabled market is a force to be reckoned with. A recent Harris poll estimates that people with disabilities spent $13.6 billion on 31 million trips last year.

Since 1970, Flying Wheels Travel has been advocating on the behalf of people with disabilities and chronic illness to help educate the travel industry about the needs of our clients. “We are delighted that the world is more open to people with disabilities today,” said Barbara Jacobsen, president of Flying Wheels Travel. “When my late husband Judd and I began this agency, we could only hope for what we see today in accessibility.”

As any traveler in an airport, hotel or resort or on a cruise line can testify, disabled travelers are everywhere and remain an important segment of the travel market. Major destinations such as Las Vegas and certain cruise lines have pioneered access for handicapped travelers.

Resorts, hotels, casinos, cruise lines, airports, motor coach operators, airlines and car rental firms have gone out of their way to accommodate the disabled, who contrary to some perceptions, are often affluent and eager travelers looking for opportunities. This includes U.S. and international destinations.

Complaints about the airlines treatment of disabled passengers— tracked by the Department of Transportation (DOT) — are relatively few, at least compared to the number of flight delays or lost bags. This was not the case just a few short years ago, although challenges still remain with some international airlines.

On the plus side, disabled travelers are benefiting from great travel deals and great travel opportunities. Cruise lines, hotels and air carriers as well as Amtrak do a great day in day out job in supporting disabled travelers. Still the need remains for well qualified travel agencies, such as Flying Wheels Travel, to provide the expertise, coordination and advocacy to assure that mature travelers, people with a disability or chronic illness have a well planned and successful travel experience.

“We are proud of the work we have accomplished in making travel more accessible,” said Barbara. “We participated in the writing of the regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carriers Access Act, which regulates airlines handling of disabled, as well as Resolution 700 and 1700 of the International Air Transport Association that impacts international carriers.” Flying Wheels Travel was a pioneer in advocacy and was an early member of the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH), which has sponsored the World Congress for Travelers with Disabilities since 1977.

Travel for people with a disability, chronic illness or the mature traveler should no longer be a scary thing. With various group travel opportunities and expertise for individual travel, Flying Wheels Travel is here to open the world to you.

We are there for you when you need us

The travel chaos caused by Iceland’s volcano shows why travel agents are still the best way to book an overseas trip. As millions of people are stuck where they do not want to be and are struggling to sort out their plans, those with a travel agent only have to make one call. Travel agents provide that human connection you need in a crisis - you will not receive that type of service from a Web Site or an overloaded gate agent.

Booking via the Internet is not always the best option for travel, particularly to foreign destinations. Things can—and do—go wrong, and having an experienced professional to speak with is critical to giving you peace of mind as well as offering solutions. This is especially true if you are disabled, have a chronic illness or are a mature traveler. An experienced travel agent that specializes in accessible travel understands your unique travel requirements and can be there for you in arrange accommodations and travel that meets your needs.

Certainly the fallout from the volcano shows the limitations of online booking. With disruptions caused by the ash cloud creating havoc in Europe and jamming travel Web Sites and call centers, it is extremely difficult for many travelers who have to do all the running around themselves. But those who book through a travel agent are able to make one call and have their agent sort out everything for them—or at least explain the options. That is something you can never get online.

Do not take unnecessary risks in planning you dream vacation. Let Flying Wheels Travel help you plan your travel arrangements to make sure all the details are covered to make you trip the best it can be.

Ecuador is Accessible for All

Ecuador is one of the world’s most environmentally diverse places and its many destinations offer travelers a range of attractions to explore. A unique landscape awaits visitors as Ecuador hosts warm sunny beaches of the Pacific to impressive mountain villages in the Andes to the Amazon rain forest, to the world’s ecological wonder - the Galapagos Islands. Best of all, Ecuador is now accessible to all who want to travel to this beautiful country.

Flying Wheels Travel can arrange trips to the highlands of the Andes, the Amazon or the Galapagos islands for people who use a wheelchair, have a chronic illness or mature travelers. Many people have dreamt of such a vacation but thought it would never be possible. Such was the situation for Bob and Beatrice Husky who recently contacted Flying Wheels Travel to arrange a trip to Ecuador.

One of the interesting things about Ecuador, other than its environmental diversity, is that vice-president uses a wheelchair and is working to make the country more accessible.