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Open Doors Organization
By Kelley Snyder
Have you ever traveled with a disability ? Whether traveling with a wheelchair , a vision impairment , or hearing impairment , you know firsthand the barriers one must overcome to travel safely , and successfully . However , not everyone is aware of what accommodations are needed for the disabled community when traveling . It just may not be in their wheelhouse of expertise . That is why we ( the disabled community ) need to speak up for what we need when it comes to accessibility . We need to find the people and organizations that will help speak on our behalf and effect change . People like Eric Lipp , founder , and Executive Director of Open Doors Organization ( ODO ) of Chicago , Illinois .
The Spark for change
Eric Lipp knows firsthand the obstacles that travel can entail with a disability . Attending the University of Arizona as an able-bodied person came with a very personal and difficult life challenge . In his freshman year , his mother sadly passed away from an aneurysm . It was unknown at the time that she suffered from the same disease that would eventually impact Eric physically . After losing his mother , Eric struggled to complete college . However , his “ never give up ” attitude helped him find the grit needed to obtain his degree from the Eller Business School at the University of Arizona . Then , just before his 30th birthday , Eric was diagnosed with Von Hippel Lindau disease . This disease caused a tumor in the middle of Eric ’ s spine known as the thoracic region .
When surgery became the only option to absolve the tumor , his doctor explained they would have to sever nerves in his spinal cord , and as a result that he may never walk again . This was the catalyst for founding Open Doors Organization .
Open Doors Organization
Open Doors Organization specializes in accessible travel training for cruise lines , airlines , and passenger railway trains . Eric is not a lawyer , but he is well-versed in a few key accessibility laws nationally and internationally . His expertise includes the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ), Air Carrier Access Act ( ACAA ), and Complaint Resolution Official ( CRO ). This knowledge has served well in effecting change while working with the United States Department of Transportation ( US-DOT ). Eric ’ s approach to meeting new challenges is not simply to complain to travel
Eric _ s Family - Jake , Andrea , Summer , and Eric