By Shelley Roossien, Accessibility & Inclusion Specialist
The holidays are here — a season filled with joy, family and perhaps a bit of stress. Whether you’re planning a trip to see loved ones or tackling your gift list, accessibility matters and can often become an unnecessary worry. So, let’s talk about some ways to make shopping and traveling easier and more inclusive for all.
Accessible Travel: Innovations That Make Flying Easier
Airports can feel overwhelming, but some airlines are stepping up in big ways. For example, Emirates recently introduced new accessibility services designed to make air travel smoother for passengers with disabilities. This includes initiatives such as an Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on their website, offering sensory tools to neurodiverse passengers and offering in-flight entertainment that includes audio navigational cues and movies with closed captioning and audio description.
If you’re flying this season, be sure to check your airline’s accessibility options before booking. Many carriers now offer services like priority boarding, mobility assistance and real-time updates in accessible formats through their mobile apps.
Accessible Shopping: Self-Checkout and Contactless Payments
Let’s face it. Shopping during the holidays can be a real nightmare, with long lines and busy stores. And many retailers are reducing the number of cashiers with the rise in popularity of self-checkout machines, which are typically not accessible for people with disabilities. However, places like Target are improving the self-checkout experience by adding Braille and high contrast buttons, physical navigation buttons and audio guidance through the system. Target partnered with the National Federation for the Blind to develop this system and gain feedback from the blind community and are actively encouraging other retailers to adopt the technology.
And when it comes time to pay, touchscreen payment terminals tend to be quite inaccessible. Visa is seeking to change that by making their Tap-to-Phone technology more inclusive through their new Tap to Phone PIN solution. Features like tactile confirmation and audio feedback of successful payments eliminate many of the existing barriers to making purchases independently.
Holiday Accessibility Tips for Stress-Free Shopping and Travel
- Research and Plan: Call ahead to confirm accessibility features at hotels, airports and stores.
- Book assistance in advance: TSA Cares program can provide assistance at airports if requested at least 72 hours before a flight.
- Use apps: Many travel and shopping apps now include accessibility filters — use them to find the best options.
- Pack smart: Bring any assistive devices, chargers and backup supplies you might need. Make sure anything that is essential goes in your carry on, not your checked luggage.
- Ask for help: Staff are often trained to assist. Don’t hesitate to request accommodations.
The holidays should be about connection and joy, not barriers. With these innovations and a little planning, we can make the season brighter and more inclusive for everyone.
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