August 2021 News
ODO has been working for years researching airports here and across the globe. It's still a huge deal to me when I read that an airport has the budget for new accessible features: flow through elevators, adult changing table restrooms, service animal relief areas, hearing loops, sensory rooms, etc. These types of accessible amenities are starting to become more common. I am so pleased to see things changing, but it still must become the norm, not the exception!
Eric Lipp, Executive Director
Open Doors Organization
TravelAbility Summit A Hit!
The 2021 TravelAbility Summit held in Tampa on Aug. 30-31 offered an exciting, jam-packed program that focused on both the lived experience of speakers with a wide variety of disabilities and concrete steps that destinations and individual properties can take to create and promote their accessibility. ODO contributed twice to the discussion, sharing top findings from the 2020 ODO/Harris Poll Market Study to help make the business case and also providing details on the new IATA Global Mobility Aids Action Group and other IATA initiatives. We were thrilled to see Visit Florida also include ODO statistics in their presentation (slide shown above). Kudos to Jake Steinman and his team for staging this hybrid event, attended by 40 delegates in person and 50 virtually, and to all the experts from around the world who participated. Great job!
EU Accessibility Standard
At long last, the European Community has adopted and published a uniform accessibility standard for all member states. EN 17210:2021, Accessibility and usability of the built environment – Functional requirements sets out basic minimum functional requirements and recommendations that cover the full spectrum of the built environment. The goal is to facilitate equitable and safe use for a wide range of users following Design for All/Universal Design principles. Copies of EN 17210: 2021 and two additional European Technical Reports are available for sale at iTeh, Inc.
Upcoming Events for ODO
Airport PRM Leadership Conference 2021--Oct. 14. This full-day event, hosted virtually by Ozion Airport Software, will feature two tracks this year. A "free form" morning session (10:30am-12:30pm Paris time) will be open only to managers of airports, airlines and service providers, while an afternoon session (2pm - 5pm Paris time) will welcome all PRM stakeholders and feature presentations and panel discussions. Representing ODO this year will be Eric Lipp who will discuss the current state of assistance services at U.S. airports. Registration.
2021 IATA Global Airport, Passenger & Accessibility Symposium--Czech Republic, Nov. 15-18. Rather than holding a separate Global Accessibility Symposium in 2021, IATA is now addressing accessibility within this larger industry event. GAPAS examines the processes that touch the passenger journey, on the ground and in the air, and impact related airport processes and operations. Delegates will collectively shape future solutions through panel discussions and innovation sessions. One may register to attend either in-person or virtually. Program. Registration.
