Accessible Travel Tools

Westchester County Tourism & Film is hosting a series of workshops that offer guidance and resources to support tourism partners as they continually create a welcoming environment for visitors with disabilities. The following resources contain helpful and practical tips to enhance accessibility in both the physical and digital environments.

This resource is a living document with new information continually added - check back often for updates. If you have any questions on the program, please contact Mary Haley at (914) 995-8503 or mhaley@visitwestchesterny.com.

10 Strategies to Welcome Visitors with Disabilities

Did you know 96% of people with disabilities report that they regularly encounter accessibility challenges while traveling, even after doing hours of research? To proactively respond to these travel barriers, we've pulled together some top tips to create memorable and positive experiences for all guests. 

1. Approach others with respect, kindness and understanding.

Assume that people are competent and can think, learn and understand on their own. 

2. Keep these key Elements of Service in mind when interacting:

• Observe – observe the environment and situation.
• ​Ask – ask if the person would like assistance. 
• Listen – actively listen to what the person needs, not what is assumed that they need.
• Respond – respond as directed to the person’s request for assistance.
• Follow through to ensure that the requested goal is achieved.

3. ​Be mindful with language that may have negative or demeaning implications. 

• Say wheelchair user instead of wheelchair bound.
• ​Say disability instead of differently-abled.
• Say hard of hearing instead of hearing impaired.
• Say autistic instead of “on the spectrum”. 
• Remember that not all disabilities are visible. Avoid phrases like “you don’t look disabled.” 
• It is ok to use everyday words like “run, watch, see” in conversation with people with disabilities. These words carry no judgement.

4. Assess the physical surroundings and get to know the property.

• Are there clear pathways and good wayfinding to move through the space?
• Are signs well-located and designed to be accessible (see # 7 for details)? 
• Do people with disabilities have a clear, unobstructed view of displays and performances?

5. Check daily to ensure supportive equipment is ready for use.

• Is all equipment safely stored and kept in a consistent place?
• Is equipment in working condition? Do toolkits have all pieces? Are batteries for equipment charged? 

6. Be patient and willing to communicate in many ways. 

• Communication can be through speech, writing, typing, gestures.
• Keep eyes and lips visible when speaking.
• Incorporate simple American Sign Language (ASL) signs into training. Helpful phrases to learn include “hello”, “thank you” and “please.” Remember, though, that not all people who are deaf or hard of hearing use American Sign Language (ASL).

7. Respect a person's space and belongings. 

• Refrain from touching people with disabilities unless you have permission to do so.
• Remember not to touch a blind person’s white cane, a guide dog (or the dog’s equipment) or handle any kind of equipment without permission.
• Note that American Sign Language is an expressive language and touch can be a strategy people use to communicate while signing.

8. Design signage, staff uniforms and written materials so they are easy to read.

• Use a light background with dark text.
• ​​Have large print materials available (16 point font size).
• Make Braille materials available. 
• Include Alt Text with all digital photos. Alt Text provides a photo description to someone who is blind or has low vision and can be read by screen reader technology. 
• Use camel case for web and social media addresses. Camel case is when each word in the address is capitalized. For example, VisitWestchesterNY. 
• Display accessibility information signage in a place that is easy to find.

9. Keep all communication and invitations simple. 

If you are sending an email invitation, include all the details in the body of the email including information about accommodations.

Sample Invitation Text
Join us at the Art Museum to celebrate the opening of our new gallery. We're hosting a special event to mark this milestone, featuring exclusive exhibits, guest speakers, and interactive experiences for all ages. Don't miss this unforgettable celebration of art—hope to see you there!

Where: Art Museum, 123 Anyplace Rd., Town, NY 10623
When: Saturday, December 7, 2024. 7-10pm
Find more information and RSVP: tinyurl.com/artmuseum

Please reach out to accessibility@museum.org by Saturday, November 30th with accessibility requests. ASL Interpretation will be provided for the presentation and speaker portion of the evening.

10. Check that your website is accessible, up-to-date and accurate.

• Engage a professional digital accessibility auditor to check that the website is accessible.
• Be honest about what is and is not accessible on the property.
• Read more about digital accessibility resources and information.
   

Westchester County Tourism & Film is adding accessibility features for accommodations, attractions and restaurants to our website listings. If you haven’t already, please fill out the survey to let us know what we can add for your property. Please note that this is NOT an audit on a property’s accessibility features or ADA compliance – it is simply a way for travelers with disabilities to gather information about properties while they are planning their travel to Westchester County.