Whats up, everybody!

I’m scripting this e-mail from my mattress — a spot I’ve hardly left in per week, as I battle the second spherical of a chilly or flu that refuses to go away. About as soon as each couple of years, I discover myself so wrecked by a standard chilly that I’m reminded of the time, after a automotive accident greater than 12 years in the past, that I spent over a yr bedridden, principally within the hospital, as I underwent 50+ surgical procedures.

The 12-year anniversary of that automotive accident was simply two months in the past, however I did not mark the event or point out it on this e-newsletter. I don’t wish to assume a lot about that fateful yr, to be sincere — it was emotionally and bodily draining, and for essentially the most half devoid of hope.

My spirits modified once I took my first post-accident journey as a wheelchair person, and I’ve mirrored on that quite a few instances — most just lately final yr, once I wrote about My Fearless Journey: 3 Reflections After 10 Years of Accessible Journey. I encourage you to present it a learn!

My current sickness has overlapped with some huge journeys (together with a highway journey to North Carolina!) — and whereas I don’t have the vitality to catalogue all of them in the mean time, I promise to catch-up in future editions of this text.

Accessible Journey Summit in San Francisco

Since 2018 or 2019 (time flies!), I’ve served on the advisory board of the TravelAbility Summit — it’s an annual occasion that brings collectively accessible journey consultants, tourism leaders, and vacation spot advertising organizations to deal with huge questions on accessible journey sources, coaching and advertising.

It’s essential to notice that this isn’t a dialog about infrastructure — the folks attending this summit don’t management the pursestrings of state or native governments, in order that they gained’t ship higher public transportation, paratransit or sidewalks. What they will do is educate native companies in regards to the significance of accessibility, and to develop sources for disabled guests. That is work that I’ve been engaged with for years, and I’m at all times excited to attach with locations serious about advancing accessibility. This yr was no exception!

I used to be delighted to reconnect with previous purchasers, together with Toni Bastian from Richmond Area Tourism (take a look at my Richmond, Virginia Wheelchair Accessible Journey Information) and Jessa Campbell and Kendall Likes from Go to Fort Wayne (take a look at the Fort Wayne, Indiana Wheelchair Accessible Journey Information). These have been two of my favourite locations to work with in 2024, and I stay up for visiting these cities once more sooner or later!

I’m an everyday speaker on the summit, and this yr I used to be most proud to headline a session entitled “From Paris to LA: Insights on Serving to Los Angeles Win Accessible Gold in 2028.” I mirrored on the teachings realized from the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, a few of which I mentioned in my August 10, 2024 e-newsletter. It was an enticing dialog, and I stay up for the inflow of disabled vacationers who will go to the US within the Summer season of 2028. Whereas the Olympic and Paralympic Video games will certainly be the primary draw, these overseas guests will even discover different locations in California and throughout the nation throughout their time right here. It is necessary that we work to make out communities welcoming to everybody, and I stay up for working with locations each small and huge to construct a extra accessible and inclusive tourism product providing.

Subsequent week, on the Worldwide Day of Individuals with Disabilities, I will probably be taking part in a webinar with LA Tourism to debate preparations for the 2028 Video games, the place I’ll provide insights to assist companies and journey suppliers place themselves to welcome guests with disabilities. The work is starting!

DOT Levies Largest-Ever Superb for Incapacity Discrimination In opposition to American Airways

Late final month, the U.S. Division of Transportation made headlines when it introduced a high-quality of $50 million, levied towards American Airways for its repeated discrimination towards disabled passengers from 2019 to 2023. The high-quality was in response to 1000’s of broken wheelchairs and mistreated passengers.

I’ve reported on the discriminatory practices and tradition at American Airways for years, and it’s clear {that a} high-quality was warranted:

Suffice it to say, American Airways will not be one of many good guys. One would possibly anticipate the provider to reverse course following a historic high-quality, however I don’t assume that may occur. The sample and apply of violations is more likely to proceed.

Final week, I skilled a very egregious violation that I intend to doc in a future article and file as a proper criticism — that means, the criticism will seem within the DOT’s docket and be a public report, open for everybody to see.

When requested about my perspective on the $50 million high-quality, I’ve commented that it was not sufficient — American Airways has triggered billions in distress for disabled passengers and there was little effort by the provider to treatment its failures. In case you have flown or plan to fly with American Airways, you’ll want to report any disability-related incidents to the USDOT. For an airline with a $10 billion market cap, that $50 million high-quality (half of which will probably be credited to previous and future deliberate expenditures) is a drop within the bucket. Make of this what you’ll, however Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airways, collected a $31.4 million compensation bundle in 2023.

The DOT famous that investigations of different carriers are ongoing, and I welcome that — asking solely, what took so lengthy?

NEW Fall 2025 Wheelchair Journey Group Journey to Greece

The Could and June 2025 Wheelchair Journey Group Journeys to Greece each sold-out in lower than 48 hours, however you continue to have an opportunity to journey with me! Mark your calendars, as a result of I’m including a THIRD group journey to Greece, which will probably be hosted from September 29 to October 7, 2025. The price of this wheelchair accessible tour will probably be $5,450 USD per particular person primarily based on double occupancy.

Reserving for the Fall 2025 Wheelchair Journey Group Journey to Greece will open on Monday, December 9, 2024. Paid subscribers of this text will get early entry on that date, with free subscribers receiving a chance to ebook provided that house stays. If you want to get early entry to order a spot on this and future excursions, please think about upgrading to a paid e-newsletter subscription. Your readership and assist are instrumental in supporting my work in accessible journey.

Blissful Thanksgiving

12 years in the past, on the Wednesday earlier than Thanksgiving 2012, I departed Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta after greater than two months within the intensive care unit. That day, I traveled to my hometown of Gainesville, Florida for additional remedy and rehabilitation — not in an ambulance or medical transport van, however in a motorcoach that had as soon as been owned by nation music famous person Religion Hill. The bus was graciously loaned to us in order that I might journey dwelling in consolation.

I fondly recall that reminiscence as a result of in the present day, fairly than touring to rejoice Thanksgiving with my household, I’ll as an alternative stay at dwelling in mattress — with my solely duties being to relaxation and get well from this chilly, and to cancel my beforehand booked airline ticket to Florida.

Whereas I could also be spending tomorrow’s vacation alone, I stay extremely grateful for the present of life and the alternatives of those previous 12 years — and I hope, in a really particular method, to your happiness and well being as we method the vacation season. I’m grateful for you, the Wheelchair Journey neighborhood, who give me a cause to get away from bed within the morning or, on this case, to put in writing an e-mail from mattress!

Blissful Thanksgiving, and discuss to you quickly!

All one of the best,
— John