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.
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