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2007 Events
Oct 22nd - 25th ODO's Director, Eric Lipp presented a white paper he co-authored with ODO's Research Director Laurel Van Horn "Disability Travel Market: stable and growing", at the Travel Industry Association of America's (TIA) Marketing Outlook Forum in Charlotte, N.C., June 18th ODO’s research director Laurel Van Horn presented her paper on “Disability Travel in the US: recent research and findings”at the TRANSED Symposium in Montréal, Canada. May 31st – June 2nd ODO’s program director Theresa Pacione participated in a Roundtable discussion on the pros and cons of disability simulation in awareness training at the Society for Disability Studies Conference in Seattle, Washington. May 14th ODO’s executive director Eric Lipp presented research findings on travelers with disabilities in the US at the Disability Coalition Meeting of the Transportation Security Administration in Washington, D.C. May 10th – 11th ODO sponsored the 2nd Annual Airline Symposium in downtown Chicago – a meeting that brings together key personnel from various companies in the airline industry to problem solve and share best practices on issues that affect their customers with disabilities.
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
CHICAGO AIRPORT SYSTEM INTRODUCES NEW ACCESSIBLE KIOSKS FOR TRAVELERS
WITH DISABILITIES Kiosks are equipped with public access videophones that provide
video relay services for Deaf and hard of hearing
CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Aviation, together with the
Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, introduced the first
new accessible kiosk at AccessChicago, the City’s tenth annual
products and services expo for people with disabilities held at Navy
Pier on July 25. The kiosk that was on display is the first of eleven
units that will be installed at O’Hare and Midway International
Airports.
Thanks to these progressive new kiosks, travelers who are Deaf and hard
of hearing or have speech impediments now have the ability to place a
videophone call to request services or communicate with family, friends
or another Deaf person using sign language.
Each new kiosk is equipped with a public access videophone (PAV), a
multilingual touch screen monitor providing airport transportation and
tourist information, and an overhead plasma monitor that features
accessibility information about tourist attractions in the City of
Chicago and streaming text announcements.
The most extraordinary feature of the kiosks is the PAV, a device that
is capable of providing video relay service for Deaf and hard of hearing
travelers. Video relay service is the functionally equivalent way for
Deaf and hard of hearing individuals to place phone calls. With the PAV
technology, a caller using sign language can communicate with another
person via an interpreter through a video connection.
By providing the newest generation of videophone technology, the
Chicago Airport System is recognized for offering the most sophisticated
level of communications access possible for Deaf and hard of hearing
travelers.
“The Chicago Airport System is leading the industry by using new
technologies to expand on services offered to all travelers passing
through our airports,” said Aviation Commissioner Nuria I. Fernandez.
“These specially designed kiosks that provide increased communication
access for Deaf travelers will serve as a model for other airports
around the country.”
Each kiosk is wheelchair accessible. The PAV comes equipped with a
keyboard for users who prefer to use text-based relay services.
Point-to-point video calls are also possible with the PAV, allowing
users to communicate back and forth through sign language. There is no
charge to callers using the videophone to access video relay service.
Callers who wish to communicate via videophone with a family member or
friend can charge the call to a credit card.
"This is an important step in our efforts to ensure accessibility for
travelers with disabilities visiting Chicago," said Mayor's Office for
People with Disabilities Commissioner Karen Tamley. "We are constantly
looking at ways to improve the experience of visitors with disabilities
to our great city, particularly in light of the fact that Chicago was
recently recognized as a top tourist destination for people with
disabilities."
The PAV phone and touch screen information displays are primarily
geared for people with disabilities, however, any traveler can use the
system to video conference or access e-mail.
The project was made possible in conjunction with Communication Service
for the Deaf (CSD), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring
public accessibility and increasing awareness of issues affecting the
Deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities.
“Video communication, either video relay service or point-to-point,
is the industry standard when it comes to Deaf and hard of hearing
people’s preference,” said Ben Soukup, CSD Chief Executive Officer.
“We applaud the City of Chicago’s progressive attitude and efforts
to make their airports the most accessible in the nation for our Deaf
and hard of hearing constituents.”
The first accessible kiosk will be located at O’Hare in Terminal 3
near gate K-1. Eight more kiosks will be installed in the upper and
lower levels of the terminals and Bus/Shuttle Center at O’Hare and two
kiosks are planned for Midway. The Department of Aviation is in the
process of producing the units and will be rolling them out over the
coming months with completion expected in early 2008.
~ ~ ~ ~
The Chicago Airport System is self-supporting, using no local or state
tax dollars for operations or capital improvements at O’Hare and
Midway International airports. Together, Chicago’s airports generate
more than $45 billion in annual economic activity and create 540,000
jobs for the region. Please visit www.flychicago.com to learn more about
the Chicago Airport System.
# # #
NOD ANNOUNCES TOP CITIES IN DISABILITY FRIENDLINESS, OUTREACH JANUARY 12, 2007 - Berkeley, CA, and Chicago, IL, been chosen as the winner and runner-up in the sixth annual Accessible America Contest, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) announced today. The cities are being heralded as national models for their focus on disability issues and successful design of programs, services and facilities that are accessible for citizens and visitors who have disabilities. Berkeley will receive the top prize of $25,000 sponsored by UPS. Their best practices including the nation’s first universally designed affordable housing development; free and reduced price accessible taxi services to people with disabilities; A Medical Return Transportation Improvement Program to subsidize taxi and van rides for people returning from medical appointments; a Citywide Inclusion Program within its Parks and Recreations Department; a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan for people with disabilities; emergency attendant care and transportation services funded by a self-imposed tax; programs promoting artists with disabilities; internship and mentorship programs for youth with disabilities, to promote their inclusion in the workforce. Chicago will receive a Wal-Mart sponsored cash award of $10,000. Chicago was chosen for a variety of programs that help incorporate people with disabilities in community life, including a revision of the city building code to include comprehensive requirements for adaptability and visitability; a home modification program for low to moderate income households; a Mayoral Task Force on Employment of People with Disabilities to bring more people with disabilities into the workforce; the Business Enterprises Owned and Operated by People with Disabilities certification program; a Festival of Disability Arts and Culture, showcasing the works of artists with disabilities, and the contribution of the disability community to community life; an evacuation committee comprised of representatives of various disability agencies; quarterly training for first responders in the special needs of people with disabilities in a disaster; established an extreme weather emergency plan that includes well-being calls, and visits to people with disabilities, and other at-risk residents; an annual disability pride parade through downtown; cooperation with Chicago Public Schools to coordinate National Disability Mentoring Day, and a National Job Shadow Day for students with disabilities.
DECEMBER 9-11, 2005 ABILITIES EXPO TEXAS: 12/10, 1-2PM and 12/11, 11:30-12:30PM, ODO’s Executive Director Eric Lipp will be speaking on Travel Tips for People with Disabilities at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. For more information on the Abilities Expo visit the expo website at: http://tex.abilitiesexpo.com/iaetex/v42/conference/special.cvm
APRIL 20-30, 2006, BODIES OF WORK: The CHICAGO FESTIVAL OF DISABILITY ARTS AND CULTURE (CFDAC)is a 10-day, multi-venue arts festival of visual and performing arts that addresses disability issues and highlights the work of disabled artists. For information contact: Eva Silverman, City of Chicago, Dept. of Cultural Affairs 312 744-4405, TTY:312 7442947, or esilvermancityofchicago.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING EVENTS CALL THE OPEN DOORS ORGANIZATION AT (773)388-8839.
IN THE NEWS
The U.S. Access Board announced the release of new design guidelines that cover access for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Copies of the new accessibility guidelines and other information are available at http://www.access-board.gov/ada-aba/index.htm.
Congratulations to Southwest Airlines on the completion of an exemplary training video on how to better service customers with disabilities.
Open Doors Organization and Executive Director, Eric Lipp have been featured in numerous articles in the Wall Street Journal, LA Times, NY Times, New York Daily News, Hotel Motel Management Magazine, Galveston Journal, St Louis Post Dispatch and Corporate Incentive Travel. To receive a copy of any of these articles please contact us at info@opendoorsnfp.org.
www.rollingrains.com - is a website that addresses timely disability issues and encourages dialogue from readers via blogs.
www.disabledTravelers.com - website is a comprehensive new resource dedicated to accessible travel information. Launched April of 2005, this site provide information on businesses from around the world that specialize in disability travel.You can even choose a full service or specialty agent to help book your trip!
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APRIL 20-30, 2006 - BODIES of WORK: The Chicago Festival of Disability Arts & Culture
Bodies of Work was Chicago's first-ever festival of disability art and culture. The 10-day, citywide festival was an unprecedented event for Chicago and the U.S. It features theatrical performances, dance, literature, poetry, spoken word, film, visual art exhibitions, and educational programs that explore and celebrate the contributions of artists with disabilities, and works that illuminate the disability experience and contemporary disabled lives.
Presented by a consortium of more than 50 Chicago-area cultural, academic, health-care and social service organizations, the Festival offered over 60 free and “for a fee” events that took place in 22 venues from the lakefront to the suburbs. Theresa Pacione, ODO's Program Director, has been a member of the planning since its inception in 2003. Open Doors Organization supported and co-sponsore 3 Bodies of Work Festival events. For more information visit Youth Prgrams on the main menue.
APRIL 28 and 29 ODO's, Research Director, Laurel Van Horn, was invited to speak at New York University (NYU) Center For Marketing during an intense 2-day multicultural marketing course, "MARKETING TO THE NEW MAJORITY: How to Reach the Multicultural Consumer." Her presentation, entitled "Overview of the Disability Market: Focus on the Travel Industry" was well received.
APRIL 10-12, 2006 - Kostas (Gus) Zografopoulos, ODO's Project Consultant, represented Open Doors Organization at the NATIONAL ADA SYMPOSIUM and EXPO in St. Louis, Mo. His talk, entitled "Access Travel & Hospitality," discussed the market trends in the disability travel market, and the extent and types of barriers that the majority of travelers with disabilities still face.
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