It's time for a family vacation! What about those with mental and physical disabilities?
People with disabilities, and their impact on travel and vacation industries.
Billion dollar idea!
From GPT-4, OpenAI
According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people, or approximately 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability. Of this population, it is estimated that a significant proportion experience mental or physical health disabilities that may impact their travel and vacation experiences. While the exact percentage of individuals with disabilities who are affected by travel and vacation limitations is difficult to measure, it is clear that accessibility and accommodations are important considerations for individuals with disabilities when planning travel and vacation activities. As a result, many travel companies and destinations have taken steps to improve accessibility and provide accommodations, in order to better serve this population.
The physical and mental health of people can greatly affect their travel and vacation activities. For example, individuals with physical limitations may require accommodations when traveling, such as wheelchair accessibility or special dietary needs. Mental health can also impact travel choices and activities, as individuals with anxiety or phobias may avoid certain modes of transportation or destinations. Additionally, individuals with high levels of stress may choose to engage in activities that promote relaxation and wellness, such as yoga retreats or spa vacations. Overall, physical and mental health can play a significant role in travel and vacation planning, as individuals strive to find experiences that align with their personal needs and preferences.
Opportunities
I am investigating ways to improve the mental and physical health of families with disabilities.
Our family has been faced with: (seems as though with every doctor's visit we become aware that we are in the early stages of something new)
Market
"According to Open Doors, the 2015 study has calculated that adults with disabilities are spending $17.3 billion annually on just their own travel, up from?$13.6 billion?in 2002. As the study suggests since these individuals typically travel with one or more other adults, the economic impact has doubled, reaching $34.6 billion?in annual spending. Eric Lipp, the Executive Director of Open Doors stated that “the disability travel market has a greater impact than ever on the industry and the broader economy. In the past two years alone, more than 26 million adults with disabilities traveled for pleasure and/or business, taking 73 million trips.” While progress has continued to develop the study also highlights factors still holding back the market.?This July marks twenty-nine years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There are still many barriers to access that still remain in air travel, hotels, and restaurants, even though these have decreased since the original study was presented in 2002, there is significant progress to be made in truly understanding the market to better serve customers and cultivate a brand strategy that can keep up with the growing demand."
In the U.S.,?26% of the adult population ?lives with a disability, and?1 billion people ?worldwide are members of the disability community. But as prominent as this community is in the population, it remains largely unseen, or inaccurately depicted, in content that appears on screen.?
As of September 2022, there were 923,229 total television program titles available to audiences, up 43% since the third quarter of 20191. And while the volume of disability-inclusive content has increased over time, progress is slow, especially when compared to the increase in available programming generally. Disability inclusion in video content peaked in 2019, when 518 productions were released featuring disability themes and characters2. But this number is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to total content production. As of December 2022, 7,556 video titles included disability thematic attributes, but that represents just 4.1% of the 183,089 total titles with descriptor metadata released during the same period.
Representation for people living with visible disabilities is much lower, dropping to less than 1% across all platforms. This gap in representation presents opportunities for content creators and platforms to champion talent and elevate stories of people with visible disabilities.?
“The inclusion of disabled talent does not happen by accident. It is critical to have representation behind the scenes to ensure better and more authentic representation on screen,” said Lauren Appelbaum, SVP of Communications and Entertainment & News Media,?RespectAbility . “We need people with disabilities in a position to influence storylines and narratives, help make decisions about casting and talent, and represent the disability community throughout the creative process.”
Urgency for solution
The sudden urgency to create a reality show about the challenges came when our daughter faced the reality that her parents weren't immortal.
Necessity is the mother of invention. For our daughter handling the basics became her necessity to attend events, church, drive, and travel independently.
Impossible challenges are something I'm well aware of from my own life experiences:
My true story includes my ability to successfully found a technology company in the Ozarks and take it global. Contacts and references are in the article for the benefit of investors.
Investors and producers
Investors will come from Travel, Tourism & Hospitality, and from national organizations suppprting people with disabilities.
Article written prior to pandemic, so it's now time to revisit
The travel and hospitality industries need to take notice and realize that catering to the disability market is more than just good business, it is essential to the growth and longevity of a companies’ brand. Baby Boomers are a perfect illustration of the power and diversity of the disability market. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the 78 million Boomer’s 40% or 16 million will be dealing with at least one disability and millions more will be dealing with various chronic illnesses. However, part of the great ethos of this generation is to continue to be more active and independent. This is certainly playing out across the travel and hospitality industries. According to the World Economic Forum, Baby Boomers spend $157 billion dollars on trips every year and while their impact is not going unnoticed it is important to see how this demographic will have a ripple effect across the whole industry and impact other market segments of the disability consumer base.
It is time that the industry refines its approach toward the larger disability consumer market and explore trends even beyond Boomers that will impact their bottom line. Since disability can have an impact across one’s life exploring different demographics maybe critical but also that the concept of inclusive design is vital for the business of airlines, hotels and resorts, travel technology, to the destinations themselves. As we look towards the future it is of the utmost importance that travel and hospitality companies offer new amenities and services that cater to a potential loyal customer base that can truly transform their business.
Another important fact about people with disabilities is their flexible schedules to fill slow periods and off season.
Open AI ChatGPT says --?Artificial intelligence can help people with disabilities in a variety of ways. AI-powered assistive technologies can help people with disabilities to better interact with their environment,?allowing them to access information, communicate with others, and perform tasks that may otherwise be difficult or impossible. AI can also be used to create virtual companions and social networks, providing people with disabilities with a way to connect with others and combat loneliness.?AI-powered chatbots can also provide?people with disabilities with a way to interact with others in a safe and secure environment.
A nicer, safer M3GAN for a friend? Stay tune - life becomes stranger than fiction.
Future
Driverless cars benefit disabled -- Open AI ChatGPT - there's hope for others, like myself, who have been unable to teach people with disabilities to drive. Lot of extenuating circumstances - confidence, liabilities, suitable vehicle, time, patience, etc.
Driverless cars can provide a great benefit to people with disabilities, as they can provide increased independence and mobility. Driverless cars can be programmed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities, such as providing wheelchair access, providing voice commands, and providing other accessibility features. Additionally, driverless cars can provide a safer and more comfortable ride for people with disabilities, as they can be programmed to drive more cautiously and avoid sudden stops or turns.
Mental Health Treatment and Friends for the Disabled, as well as other lonely people (aka M3GAN -?I’m your friend till the end)!
In the past, there have been many suggestions for people without friends disabled or otherwise.
Click on the link. Background for investors.
Creating pitch for investors, suppliers, travel, and hospitality partners
领英推荐
First step is identifying evangelists with skin in the game
Next is completing pitch with production costs, and revenue expectations
Local sponsors could come from?
Local, state, regional, national, and global opportunities could increase revenue exponentially.
Its critical to raise sufficient capital initially.
Addendum
Focus on my daughter?, learning to drive, and travel independence - local and national (global could become an option) My website?
Unlikely Player on the "Cover" of the Coolest Fashion Magazine
Excerpt:
FASHION SIDEBAR?- when totally by accident you become a fashion chick magnet star, late in life!
Biggest takeaway from recent Hog / Tiger (Arkansas / LSU) game was - after several years away from attending in person (note reference to LinkedIn articles / magazine ad on recent spinal cord stimulation procedure at UAMS) that I had become a chick magnet / fashion statement? OK maybe it was my vintage jacket - funny that no one was more amazed than my fashion conscious daughter. (Later learned my wife once considered donating it to Goodwill. Now easily the most valuable item in my closet - gasp!) We met a lot of people at game and at restaurant afterwards! Only because of my jacket!
Attending game was a challenge, but manageable with a cane, no walker, etc. Parked in space near stadium (but not designated for people with disabilities).
Everyone hates Ticketmaster. Is everyone wrong? The loud "sound of silence" from the disabled!
I will be writing an article on my experiences with Ticketmaster (positive & negative) all facts no editing — and people with disabilities and distributing later today - social media and my vast network of mainstream media - check my professional background
Although I have experienced discrimination against the disabled for a brief time, I have seen it throughout the life of my daughter.
Major reason for my fight is I will only be around for a few more years, but she has hopefully several more decades ahead!
That's what friends are for - Update on Ticketmaster, disabilities, & me --JPH & Jim Guy Tucker - strange friendship - conservative, liberal, & me.
We were greeted by former Arkansas Governor, Jim Guy Tucker at the nearby posh Copper Grill Restaurant. For us it was less than $50 for food, nonalcoholic drinks, and desserts for over 2 1/2 hours.
As Razorback fans, we were able to watch the NCAA tournament game between Arkansas and Illinois prior to the concert. Jim Guy had arranged the best seats in the bar to watch it. He stayed to welcome us and talked prior to gametime.
He personally greeted my daughter at the door when we arrived. I was surprised by his frail condition, but not his willingness to be there to greet us.
How many CEOs does it take to replace a lightbulb? Updates on economic development. Real and virtual vacation plans?
Planes, trains, automobiles, buses, and transit systems - Summer West Coast vacation
In the planning stage, a vacation for the disabled.
All done in 1 week