Accessibility training and mapping
With generous funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario through the Tourism Growth Program, we have begun work and research to build awareness around the need for accessible spaces and places in our region. The funding will help us to map six geographical areas in our region through the AccessNow app, a crowdsourced resource that shows the ratings of any buildings or sites worldwide. Anyone can download the app for free and then go out on a mission to map a region. We are doing this mapping with teams from destination marketing organizations and municipal offices who are interested in promoting communities that are open and available to everyone. Why should we become accessible? Why should we encourage accessibility improvements?
- Because we should include everyone in an industry that is based on human curiosity, love of learning, and thirst for adventure, attributes that belong to all of us, not just able-bodied people.
- Because travelers with disabilities are the largest minority in our communities and a $35 billion-$60 billion untapped market in tourism.
- Because current and predicted trends in tourism include skip-gen travel and multi-generational travel.
- Because in 2025 the average age of a boomer will be 75. This is the generation with the most disposable income for leisure and travel.
- Because the average age at which people require some assistance for a disability is 65.
By mapping tourism clusters and regions, we hope to bring awareness to the need for accessible spaces and to celebrate those that are accessible so that disabled travelers know they are welcome. The funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario through the Tourism Growth Program and the participation of our colleagues across the region has made this work feasible and transformative.
