Travel

Access is a Right, Not a Luxury.

How many of us have said, “I need a vacation, It’s my dream to go there.”

Whether you’re planning to explore the great outdoors, relax on a tropical island, or soak up the sun on a beautiful beach, there are many factors to consider when planning your dream vacation. One of the most important things to consider is accessibility.

But why? Shouldn’t every place just be accessible to begin with? Reflect back on where you have last traveled to…were you aware if it was accessible when booking?

Will hotels and at public attractions be wheelchair accessible? Audio-visual smoke detectors? Hotel Shuttles, sensory bags with verbal cue cards? Sensitive allergy menus? Noise cancelling headphones for guided tours?

Good news, Exploryst, TravelAbe, Accessible Go, Open Doors Organization and other companies such as Travel for All, Seable Holidays, Easy Access Travel, Planet Abled, Wheel the World, and Tapooz Travel are the pioneers of this charge to be travel and disability inclusive.

I WANT To Travel The World.

Missing the boat.

No one deserves to feel left out.

1.8 Billion people living with a disability worldwide who are limited to traveling to places that are disability accessible. Those with mobility disabilities spend $58.2 billion per year on travel. For this market to be fully tapped into, the travel industry needs to improve accessibility and cater to the needs of those with disabilities. 

Taxi! 

Would you enjoy waving down taxi after taxi just for them to ignore you for hours?

People with disabilities struggle to move about cities as they are being neglected by taxis. The Transport Minister of Taxi stated that “Unfortunately, vulnerable members of our community are being left on the side of the road and that is unacceptable.”  Drivers have been explained the concept that wheelchair taxi jobs must be a priority, however, these users are still left behind each and every day.

Attractions around the globe must work to make their destination attractive to all.  By prioritizing accessibility, destinations can improve their reputation, increase revenue, and contribute to a more equitable society.
 
I am READY to have the conversation with you so we can have your suitcase ready to go!

Gateways To Remember. Are You With Me?

AI Is Taking Over!

Hi Siri. Hi Alexa. You Are My New Best Friends.

Who would have thought I can adjust the temperature without touching the thermostat? I certainly did not think that AI would be able to tell me what groceries I needed.

Technology can control nearly every aspect of your home, whether that be adjusting the temperature, closing the curtains, turning on/off the lights, setting timers/alarms and more. 

Not only is AI changing the way we work, learn, and play, but it is also changing the way we go about our everyday lives. For people with disabilities, AI is truly becoming a life changer, offering new opportunities and improved quality of life in ways that were once unimaginable.

We are seeing a great increase in accessibility for people with disabilities who are able to use their devices and interact with the world in new and exciting ways. 

Siri and Alexa assist people with mobility issues control their homes and access information.  Text-to-speech software and speech recognition technology makes it easier for people with visual impairments to use computers and mobile devices.

GnoSys, or better known as “Google Translator for the deaf and mute”, translates gestures or sign language into text and speech instantly. DeepMind uses lip-reading algorithms to accurately decipher phrases.

How Did You Get So Smart? 

Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility program aims to create solutions for the physical and cognitive challenges disabled individuals face, while working toward increasing their independence and productivity through their employment, daily life, and communication. 

What’s next?

AI powered self-driving cars will soon eliminate physical isolation, ease independent mobility, promote a more social lifestyle, and help PWD leave the house, have greater access to their communities, and more! 

People first!

As we celebrate the advances of AI, we must remember that these technologies are not just about innovation and progress, but about people and their lives. 

Collectively, we have the power to create a more inclusive and empathetic world, where AI is a tool for empowerment and a force for good.

I am ready to take our world to the next level.

Be A Voice In The World That Is All About Making A Difference. Are You With Me?

Social Media

What’s App? How #Social Are You?

Have you noticed an increase in people with disabilities sharing their stories on social media? 

This powerful trend is bringing attention to the barriers and challenges that people with disabilities face in their daily lives. Social media influencers are showing the positivity of how there is success beyond disability. We are seeing the person first, then the disability. 

From inaccessible buildings to discriminatory attitudes, people with disabilities are speaking out and have become influencers about some of the obstacles that have prevented them from fully participating in society. Social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook have become powerful tools for advocacy for people to share their experiences and connect with others who share similar challenges. 

Along with the videos, many trending hashtags, such as #disability #disabilityawareness #empathymatters #accessibility and #inclusion have created communities of support and solidarity, helping people with disabilities feel less alone and more empowered.

Social media holds businesses and organizations accountable for their actions, but also invites you to get to know us as people. 

Followers? The Real Question Is: How Many Of You Are Leaders?

Storytelling is breaking down stereotypes! 

Spreading empathy is broadening the understanding of diversity and the complexity of disability. People with disabilities are using social media to call out instances of ableism and discrimination. 

Through social media we have an opportunity to create positive change by spreading empathy and showing the importance of access. 

Although people with disabilities continue to face discrimination and barriers to access in many areas of life, sharing their stories and advocating for change on social media makes their voices heard and drives the conversations forward. 

So, the next time you’re scrolling through your social media feed, take a moment to listen and learn about the real stories of people with disabilities. 

You might be surprised and appreciate the work those do in the community for disability rights and inclusion!

The time is now for this global movement.

Let's socialize! Are You With Me?

Step it Up!

Step in our shoes, we will take you places….

It holds true, listening is often the only thing needed to help someone.

“I can only wear this type of shoe because I need the additional ankle support I need to walk. At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my parents still have to tie my shoes. As a teenager who is striving to become totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating and, at times, embarrassing,” said Matthew Walzer, who lives with cerebral palsy. A disorder that impacts walking, balance and some fine motor skills.

Matthew expressed his concerns in a letter to Nike, which propelled a team of designers to step into the creation of a shoe with a hinged sole, allowing for ease of access and egress, with a high-tension band to help retain the shoe’s structural integrity, while still being seen as a comfort, stylish shoe. 

As I shared the adaptive footwear blog idea with my intern Brett (who also has CP) over zoom, his face lit up as he held up his FlyEase sneakers. “Oh my gosh Lori no way I have these, Matthew changed my life! They are the best most easy sneakers ever for me…I wear them everyday!”

Nike FlyEase, Reebok Adapt, Adidas Futurecraft, New Balance, Vans, and Zappos are pushing the boundaries of timeless and versatile product design and comfort, making adaptive shoes more stylish and comfortable for everyone.

It Doesn’t Stop Here. When we Represent, we Must Represent.  

We must remember not only to design something with us in mind but to give us access to the product. To remember disability is not a bad word. 

Not everyone can lace up their sneakers as quickly as you think. 

Designers and engineers are elevating fashion to be more universal by becoming more ACCESSIBLE and AFFORDABLE for a wider range of consumers. They are LISTENING.

Yes, it is a $490 Billion market.

Leading with empathy to best create inclusive designs will initiate positive social change for all industries. 

Let’s take the STEPS so others can GO PLACES they would have never imagined. 

Listen, lead and step up for the other Matthew's in the world. Are you with me?

Be Heumann!

She taught us how to get in “Good trouble.”

Today, on this special Women’s International Day, my heart is filled with gratitude and admiration for all the incredible women who have made a difference in this world. Among them, Judy Heumann, a pioneer who recently passed this weekend, led the fight for U.S. disability rights. She never stopped working for us and with us. 

Judy was the most humble female powerhouse I met in Washington, D.C. when I started my career working in disability and media. She was “the mother of the disability rights movement.” As a New Yorker myself I knew I was going to like this “go getter” from Brooklyn. She was feisty, authentic, and wanted women around her to succeed especially women with disabilities. I loved that she was a teacher like my mom. She taught the world many lessons. Real life lessons to move this movement.

“You are a fire hazard,” 5 year old Judy was told by her principal. 

What!

Judy was at school, in her wheelchair, and with her family. They will never forget hearing these harsh words.  

Certainly this wasn’t the last time she heard discriminatory remarks.  
This was only the beginning.. and it’s still not the end for many of us…

Sometimes the power of words lead us to
A GREATER PURPOSE.

Words hurt, and now more than ever, it is our time to stand up for what we believe in.

Judy’s unique ability to instill confidence in women is a testament to her incredible spirit and character. I admired her unwavering commitment to influence on the importance of creating a more accessible, equitable world. 
 
Her awe-inspiring trailblazing work in the disability rights movement earned her countless accolades, including her induction as an honorary member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2019.

She showed us: the realities of the world not being accessible, the financial heartaches people with disabilities face everyday, whether it be through our healthcare systems, rights to receive an education, to having fair accommodations as an employee. Judy knew the struggle to be counted was real.

As she continued her advocacy for equality and access, she showed leaders we CAN work and lead at Fortune 500 Companies, lead not for profits, be successful entrepreneurs, mothers, teachers, lead as policy changers in the White House, be top scientists, lawyers, news anchors, gold medalists, Oscar nominees and winners, social media influencers, best selling-authors, and be adaptive fashion designers.

We can do ANYTHING when their is opportunity and access. 

The work never stops.

I remember when Justin Dart, “The Father of the ADA” said, “Nobody is going to give us rights, we have to take rights.” He was right.  We all have a job to do.

These last few days, I am deeply inspired by the outpouring love we are all sharing, witnessing the power of this community and the stories being shared.  I’m more than READY to continue her legacy and move the movement into the mainstream so we all can feel the power, equality and  access we deserve. 

Let us ALL honor this exceptional Heumann and LEAD ON.

Thank you for being our leader and I will hold you in my heart forever. 

We need more Heumanns in this world. Are you with me?