The Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy (CIDAD) at St. Cloud State University has partnered with Journeyable, the world’s most accessible travel community, to elevate accessibility on the world stage and empower every person with determination to journey limitlessly.
Concurrently, CIDAD launched Access to All, a new disability awareness training initiative.
The news was announced Nov. 16 at the official Journeyable launch in Kauai, Hawaii, where SCSU and CIDAD were celebrated as the exclusive education partner of Journeyable.
A first-of-its-kind ecosystem for supporting, enhancing and promoting accessible travel, Journeyable features a social community, content network, an episodic series and a story sharing platform where a global travel audience can engage with eye-opening stories, exciting travel content viewable by location or type of experience, as well as insights to help navigate the world. Journeyable is home to epic pioneers, from celebrities and mega influencers to advocates, destinations and everyday heroes.
Championed by world surfing powerhouse and adaptability advocate Bethany Hamilton and Fred Maahs, founder of Maahs Travels, a global consultancy focused on making travel and tourism more accessible, Journeyable is on a mission to unite travelers through inspirational and empowering content.
Aligned with Journeyable’s vision, CIDAD’s Access to All has meticulously designed courses to dismantle the barriers disabled individuals experience within the hospitality industry. These one-hour courses provide service professionals with top-of-the-line knowledge on how to make everyone’s experience memorable and inclusive.
“As the creator of this disability awareness training initiative and as a person with a disability, this project is a deeply personal mission and a professional endeavor,” said Dr. Amy Hebert Knopf, director of education and research for CIDAD. “Having a firsthand understanding of the pressing need for inclusive travel, I see the dual benefits of our trainings.”
“These trainings enhance the experiences of disabled travelers and tap into the disability community’s $13 trillion disposable income,” Knopf continued. “They create significant economic opportunities for hospitality businesses and industries. For me, this initiative goes beyond mere training or compliance; it’s about pioneering a transformative journey toward a world where accessibility and inclusion become the norm.”
Disability awareness trainings are available for a variety of topics: accessible lodging, accessible tourism, accessible travel and transportation, theme parks and attractions, assembly and event management and food, beverage and managed services. Digital badges are also available upon completing each of the courses.
“Our digital badges empower professionals to exceed industry standards in disability inclusion, raising the bar within travel and hospitality to ensure experiences truly provide access to all,” Knopf said.
