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The Paralympic Games, held alongside the Olympics, bring together athletes with disabilities from around the world. What started in 1948 as a small event for WWII veterans is now a global symbol of inclusion, governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Paris 2024 Paralympics, featuring 4,400 athletes, made history as the first Summer Games in France, sparking improvements like better accessibility in Paris transport. Let’s keep celebrating the Paralympics and work toward a world where everyone can participate fully, without barriers! Image Description: Orange graphic with the VisitAble logo in the top left corner and a TV icon in the middle. Within the TV icon is an image from the Paralympics being played in Paris and the Paris 2024 Olympics logo positioned in the top left corner of that image. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #inclusion #paralympics #Paris2024

The French government just allocated $10.5 million to six universities to improve accessibility for students with disabilities. Announced in April 2023, this initiative is setting a new standard for inclusion in higher education. With the number of students needing support doubling from 2017 to 2023, this funding is a big step in making sure all students have equal access. These universities will introduce new strategies and technologies to improve campus accessibility and student support. Their successful projects will be used as examples for other schools to follow when working to improve accessibility! For more details, click this link: https://lnkd.in/gUiZBAXp Image Description: The background shows two people talking at a French university. The person on the left is holding a gray cane. In the bottom left corner, there's a logo for French Universities. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #Disability #Accessibility #Inclusion #InclusiveDesign #Blind #Blindness #Advocate #Education #Empower #Design #Promote #Improve

We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with The Metropolitan Business League (MBL) and Project PEACE, which is part of the Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities, as they make disability awareness and inclusion a core part of their mission. Building on our previous work together, we’ve had the opportunity to certify two more small businesses through MBL’s 2024 Richmond Kauffman FastTrac? Program: Henry IV Helping Hands of Hope and Hollin Wright Enterprises, LLC are now VisitAble Advocate certified! Henry IV Helping Hands of Hope is a mission-driven organization focused on facilitating safe havens through the US for homeless Veterans and others where they receive needed care and resources. We truly enjoyed collaborating with them during the certification process. Their dedication highlights how organizations can make a real impact by creating inclusive spaces for everyone. Hollin Wright Enterprises, LLC is a social venture firm that works to put people before profit, ultimately building job and business options by teaming up with the government and private businesses. Their perseverance and dedication to training staff and contractors demonstrates their commitment to disability inclusion and we are incredibly proud to witness the ongoing efforts of this organization to foster inclusive environments for both their employees and clients. If you'd like to learn more about Henry IV Helping Hands of Hope and Hollin Wright Enterprises, LLC, click these links: https://lnkd.in/eXF6iyvs https://lnkd.in/eCZAJrU5 Image Description: A peach-colored background with the upper half of the image displaying the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) and VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities logos. The Hollin Wright Enterprises, LLC and Henry 4 Helping Hands of Hope logos are centered in the middle. The bottom half of the image is gray with VisitAble’s Advocate Certification badge on the right hand side. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #MBLProjectPEACE #VCUPartnershipForPeopleWithDisabilities #RichmondKauffmanFastTrac #HenryIVHelpingHands #HollinWrightEnterprisesLLC

Around 98% of websites don’t meet accessibility standards, creating barriers for people with disabilities. Common issues like missing image descriptions, poor navigation, and lack of captions make it harder for individuals with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities to use websites effectively. The good news is that improving accessibility is straightforward. Simple changes, like adding alt text to images, ensuring keyboard navigation, and providing text transcripts for audio, can make a big difference. These steps not only help meet legal requirements but also make websites more inclusive and user-friendly for everyone! To learn more about website accessibility, please visit: https://lnkd.in/exuSMufF Image Description: Light orange background. Black text at top reads “Did you know?”. Within a gray website tab graphic, black text reads “98% of websites don’t comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines”. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #InclusiveDesign #Blind #blindness #Internet #Website

Congratulations to the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Data Science for earning VisitAble’s Advocate certification, making them the first school of higher education to reach this impressive milestone! The UVA School of Data Science is setting a strong example for other institutions by prioritizing accessibility and inclusion. Their team's dedication in training both staff and faculty have been remarkable, and it shows their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all. We are so proud to partner with them on this journey and excited to see the continued progress they’ll make as they grow and lead by example in the higher education space. Their leadership in promoting accessibility is paving the way for future generations of inclusive education. If you’d like to learn more about the UVA School of Data Science and their disability inclusion journey, click these links: https://lnkd.in/dhGi_Qe https://lnkd.in/e2vhAaqK Image Description: Orange, white, and yellow background featuring an image of the UVA Data Science Building. The top of the image shows a banner with the "UVA DATA SCIENCE" logo. In the bottom center is VisitAble’s Advocate Certification badge, marked as valid through October 2025. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #HigherEducation #UVA #SchoolOfDataScience #SDS #DisabilityAwareness

Washington State is easing its “Burden of Proof” laws, making it easier for parents of children with disabilities to navigate special education programs. “Burden of Proof” laws require that parents provide extensive “proof” that the school district made the wrong call about their child’s disability services. This poses a stronger problem for parents with financial limitations or language barriers. However, the policy change is surrounded by debate. It is unclear if the change will create more successes for families. What do you think? Drop a comment below! To learn more about Burden of Proof laws, click these links: https://lnkd.in/gG2scNzc https://lnkd.in/ev77FW_J Image Description: Tan background with black text that reads, “Washington is changing its ‘burden of proof’ laws. What will this mean for people with disabilities?”. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #inclusion #equality #equity #DisabilityRights #DisabilityJustice #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAdvocacy #law #BurdenOfProof #washington

?? Exciting News! VisitAble is heading to the 2024 TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit from November 13-15 in San Francisco! ?? Our Founder, Joe Jamison, CPACC, will be there, ready to dive into conversations on building a more inclusive future in hospitality. Whether you're looking to make your destination or organization more welcoming, or just curious about disability inclusion, let's connect! We’re incredibly grateful to TravelAbility for hosting this impactful event, and can’t wait to learn from and have conversations with influential leaders like Kristy Durso, Toni Bastian, TMP, Stuart Butler, Apoorva Gandhi, Sophia Hyder Hock, Danica Gonzalves, Esq., and many more. If you’ll be there, drop us a message—we’d love to chat! #DisabilityInclusion #TravelAbilitySummit #InclusiveTravel #VisitAble

We are pleased to announce the next Richmond Region Tourism (RRT) partner who has successfully completed VisitAble’s Advocate Certification - congratulations to Virginia Crossing Hotel & Conference Center Tapestry by Hilton! In the midst of navigating a busy season, their team went above and beyond to ensure they met our certification requirements showing their unwavering commitment to accessibility and disability inclusion. Their perseverance and hard work to train as many staff members during this time reflect their dedication to fostering an inclusive guest experience for all. Located in Glen Allen, Virginia, the Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center combines historic charm with modern hospitality, providing visitors a unique experience. By completing this certification, they are leading by example in creating spaces where everyone can experience the warmth and hospitality of the Richmond Region. To learn more about Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center and how they’re making a difference, click this link: https://lnkd.in/eJtvZA5T Image Description: Light orange background with the top half featuring logos for Richmond Region Tourism and Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The center features an image of the Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center. Below shows VisitAble’s Advocate Certification badge marked as valid through August 2025. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #hotel #lodging #RichmondRegionTourism #VirginiaCrossings #InclusiveTourism

Paul Castle, a blind author and illustrator, was recently denied entry to a Seattle restaurant with his guide dog, Mr. Maple, after an employee questioned whether the dog was a real service animal. The employee didn't understand that legal blindness doesn’t always mean total sight loss. Despite offering paperwork (which isn’t required), Castle was threatened with a call to the police. This situation shows the need for better understanding of blindness and service animals. Under the ADA, service dogs are allowed in all public places. Castle hopes raising awareness will lead to more inclusion. The restaurant manager apologized and promised better training. To learn more, please click this link: https://lnkd.in/eQcJPHub Image Description: Background is a photo of Paul Castle and his dog. Two photos show his book covers. Light orange box with black text reads “Blind artist, Paul Castle, has a mission to educate: All disabilities are a spectrum." #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #InclusiveDesign #Blind #blindness #advocate

The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) is the latest health district to earn VisitAble’s Advocate Certification! Continuing our work with another Virginia Department of Health (VDH) health district, we’re expanding our impact to new communities across the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, as well as the City of Fredericksburg. What truly stands out about RAHD is their dedication to ensuring accessibility and inclusion are integrated into their internal systems, making disability awareness an ongoing organizational priority. Their team’s commitment to embedding these practices into everyday operations shows not only a desire to meet our certification standards but a long-term vision for a more inclusive future. To learn more about RAHD and their mission, click this link: https://lnkd.in/gQyiegWx Image Description: The top of the image features the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) logo and the Rappahannock Area Health District logo. Beneath the logos is an exterior shot of a health facility or office building and an image of a bridge extending over a body of water. The RAHD logo appears in the center of the image, along with the VisitAble Advocate Certification badge in the lower right corner valid through October 2025. #VisitAble #VisitAbleCertification #disability #accessibility #promote #improve #empower #design #inclusion #DisabilityInclusion #VDH #RappahannockHealthDistrict #InclusiveHealth