New Pins on the Map and an Accessible Airport Transformation

Delivering a keynote about accessible travel in a new city, plus an airport that is going beyond the minimum ADA requirements.

Would you rather visit a new destination, or return to one that you loved?

Five years ago, that would not have been a difficult decision for me — of course I wanted to explore new places! But now, having visited countless cities in nearly 60 countries, there is a long list of accessible destinations that I would be happy returning to again and again.

I find myself revisiting a lot of cities on that list, often to attend conferences and events, or simply to visit friends. Some of my most frequently visited cities include Chicago, London, and Washington, D.C., all of which have a lot to offer wheelchair users. Of course, I am always eager to welcome readers to Boston, Massachusetts! Sometimes, it’s easier to visit places where you have been comfortable than to set off on new adventures.

Fort Wayne has invested a lot of money in public art, with beautiful murals found on many downtown buildings and in neighborhoods across the city.

Last week, I was reminded why it’s important to never stop exploring when I got back to my adventurous ways and added a new pin to my flight map — after touching down at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), I had officially flown to my 139th airport as a wheelchair user. Each new pin on the map brings me joy, but my experiences in Fort Wayne made the newest pin more special than most.

Accessibility Takes Center Stage

My trip to Indiana was sponsored by Visit Fort Wayne, and I was invited to deliver the keynote at their inaugural Power of Tourism Awards Luncheon. No limits were placed on the content of my speech, and I was encouraged to share my best practices for accessibility and inclusion in the travel industry.

Nearly 300 people attended Visit Fort Wayne’s Power of Tourism event, which recognized business leaders and organizations for their contributions to the local tourism economy.

During the keynote, I spoke about my life experience, both as a nondisabled traveler and wheelchair user, and shared my four-step process for developing accessible travel products and services. I repeatedly stressed the importance of engaging with disabled people at every step of development — input from those with lived experience is critical to ensuring that physical spaces, products and services are thoughtfully designed and accessible to everyone.

My speech was well-received, and I was met by many local business owners and managers who committed to incorporating my suggestions into their work.

Building a Modern Accessible Airport

Over the next couple of weeks, I will share a lot from my trip to Fort Wayne, including a new accessible destination guide, but want to first start by highlighting the city’s airport, which is undergoing a radical, $140-million transformation dubbed “Project Gateway.”

The project has two phases, a westward and eastward expansion of the terminal building, an increase in gates, and a significant focus on accessibility improvements. Phase one is complete, while the eastward terminal expansion is well underway and expected to be complete by next summer.

I was given a behind-the-scenes tour of construction at FWA Airport, and leadership provided additional detail about their vision for what they hope will become an accessible airport terminal for the future.

Some of the major accessibility improvements incorporated into phase one included the installation of an adult changing table (America’s 19th airport with an adult changing table), improved wayfinding (prominent signage with large text), a terminal-wide cane trail, a sensory room, an airside service animal relief area, and more.

Airport leaders shared with me their development process, during which they gained insight from travelers with disabilities and local organizations representing disabled people. They identified barriers, then looked to the principles of universal design for solutions, aiming to exceed ADA requirements which are minimum standards.

Following my tour of the airport, I was interviewed by a local news station about the improvements being made there. You can watch the segment here.

Submit your public comments by today’s deadline!

I have covered the DOT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Accessible Air Travel extensively, writing a detailed primer and hosting two live chats with readers to discuss the proposed changes (watch part 1 and part 2). The deadline for public comments is today, May 13.

To have your voice heard prior to the announcement of a final rule, it is important to submit your comments today — directly to the federal register.

Looking ahead

I’m currently enjoying the Florida sunshine after spending Mother’s Day with my mom, but have big travel plans upcoming. Here are a few trips and events that are on the horizon:

• In less than two weeks, I will travel to Hamburg, Germany to attend the 2024 Aircraft Interiors Expo. I will be reporting on the latest innovations in aircraft cabin design, including a new (second) prototype for a wheelchair securement space for airplanes from Delta Flight Products. I’ll also be getting an update on the FAA certification of last year’s Air4All prototype.

• Liechtenstein — I’ve tried to visit Europe’s fourth smallest country once before, but failed after my wheelchair was damaged on a flight and I was left waiting for repairs. I’m going to give it another go this month, when I plan to take the train from Zurich, Switzerland.

• In early June, I’ll be traveling to Rome, Italy to meet with partners and finalize details for the 2025 Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Rome, Italy — that’s right, you heard it here first, with details to follow this summer!

As I catch up from a couple of weeks of traveling around the country, where I spent time in Massachusetts, D.C., Indiana and Florida, I warn you to buckle up for a series of emails — I have a lot of stories to share!

Talk to you tomorrow,
John