2022 Aurora Visitor Guide - 29

TRAVEL IS FOR EVERYONE
LET'S MAKE IT INCLUSIVE FOR ALL VISITORS
Angela Wilson, founder and CEO of Colorado-based Exploryst, is working to
ensure that the more than 2 billion people worldwide who are within the
spectrum of disability will have positive travel experiences in Colorado. Wilson
compiles helpful information about hospitality and tourism industry businesses by
requesting the specifics or visiting the locations and posts it on exploryst.com.
The majority of Aurora's and Colorado's
restaurants, hotels and attractions meet the
federal standard for being Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) friendly. However, being
ADA compliant does not guarantee that the rest
of the property or activity is accessible in regard
to other disability aspects. For example, is there
audio accompaniment within the museum tour? Is
the trail paved? Are Braille menus available? Visit
Aurora caught up with Wilson to find out more.
VISIT AURORA:
HELP US DEFINE THE TERMS.
ANGELA WILSON: Businesses within the
hospitality and tourism industries usually define
accessible only as " wheelchair accessible. " Since
these individuals only represent about 3% of
the disability community, the word " accessible "
needs to be redefined.
When looking at physical accessibility, the
strictest definition is wheelchair accessible
(ADA compliance). Of course, not everyone
with physical disabilities needs that strict of
a definition, which encompasses only paved
routes. Nowadays, there are so many different
types of wheeled devices and depending on the
skill set of the user, a paved route might be too
restrictive for most, especially outdoors.
Mild activities are things to do that can be
completed by families with young toddlers,
anyone new to exercise and someone with
a history of joint pain, arthritis, chronic pain,
injuries, less substantial disabilities, etc. These
include bus tours, neighborhood tours with minor
uneven ground, trails with minimal rocks and
tree roots, some uneven terrain, and more.
The final mobility definition is moderate
activities, which may be activities with several
flights of stairs, bike rides, whitewater rafting,
trails with some rocks and tree roots, uneven
terrain, and actions requiring more endurance
and stamina.
Other slices of the larger spectrum of disability
include deaf/hard of hearing, blind/low vision,
or low sensory, to name a few. Like anything
else, accessibility and disability are fluid.
Everyone has different needs for travel, so your
business may be able to offer services and
accommodation for much more of the
disability pie than currently thought.
VISIT AURORA:
HOW CAN BUSINESSES BE
MORE INCLUSIVE?
ANGELA WILSON: The requirements
of individuals are vast within the disability
population. Do not think that just because your
business cannot adhere to the strict definition of
ADA, you cannot become more inclusive. There
are other ways to be " accessible enough " for the
1.4 million Colorado residents and the
84+ million U.S. residents within the spectrum
of disability.
Some of the initial actions could be to sit in a chair
in different parts of your hotel or event space and
see how they are navigated. Next would be to
close your eyes and take the route. Then, cover
your ears and take the same route. You will be
very surprised what people with just those three
disability factors face in the world every day.
exploryst.com
Gateway to the Rockies | VISITAURORA.COM
29
http://www.exploryst.com http://www.exploryst.com http://www.VISITAURORA.COM
2022 Aurora Visitor Guide

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