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Accessible travel is more than you think First , you need to know which disabilities and conditions can impact travel — and there are more than you think .
“ A lot of times when people think about disability , they think [ about ] somebody in a wheelchair , somebody that you can actively see has a vision impairment or something of that nature ,” says Santillo . “ They forget about disabilities that are not visible .”
Truly accessible travel addresses the needs of “ people with disabilities , but also access for people with temporary disabilities , families with young children and the increasing aging population ,” through physical infrastructure and universal design , according to wheelchairtraveller . org , referencing a UN World Tourism Organization report .
In our interview , Santillo uses “ special needs ” to refer to the array of conditions that may require accommodation during the travel experience . Even pregnancy and food allergies fall into this category , says Santillo , something that she discovered while completing her Accessible Travel Advocate certification through Special Needs Group .
Neurodiversity , a broad term that describes mental illness , spectrum disorders , learning disabilities and other brain function variations , should also be on your radar .
Traveling can trigger panic and anxiety because there are so many variables outside of our control .
Condé Nast Traveler reports that , according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America , 40 million people in the United States have anxiety , making it the nation ’ s most prevalent mental illness . “ Even more people — about 25 percent of the population — are specifically anxious about travel . And those are pre-pandemic numbers ,” the story says .
Lynn Clark , owner of Travel Leaders SE Wisconsin , believes in being an advocate for your clients .
THIS SECTION : COURTESY OF LYNN CLARK
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