[Travelandtourism] Association for Airline Passenger Rights Convenes Successful 1st Annual Air Travel Accessibility Conference

Fri Dec 13 13:53:49 UTC 2013

I got permission to re-post this from AAPR, besides belonging to this organization, and the National Federation of the Blind. I also belong to SATH, this is the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, for those looking to go into the travel industry as a travel agent, should definitely, look into this organization. 
Here is the information below on the Conference.
Cheryl Echevarria

Association for Airline Passenger Rights Convenes Successful 1st Annual Air Travel Accessibility Conference; event hosts representatives from five countries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 10, 2013) -- The Association for Airline Passenger Rights, (AAPR) today successfully convened its 1st Annual Air Travel Accessibility Conference, designed to identify and discuss ways to improve accessible air travel for passengers with access and functional needs. AAPR defines access and functional needs passengers as Wounded Warriors, passengers with disabilities, passengers of size and senior citizens needing assistance. The conference was held in Washington, DC at the Westin Washington DC City Center, with representatives present from the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Australia and the Netherlands.

AAPR is the only airline consumer rights group that includes "accessibility " as one of its stated objectives. Accessibility has increasingly gained the attention of the U.S. Department of Transportation, evidenced by the number of fines over the last few years against airlines for violating the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). In fact, consumer complaints among passengers with disabilities are on the rise, according to the Aviation Consumer Protection & Enforcement (ACPE).

"Today represented an excellent first step toward achieving better accessibility standards in the air travel industry," stated Brandon M. Macsata, Executive Director of the Association for Airline Passenger Rights.  "Flyers with access and functional needs have long desired a constructive outlet, whereby they could identify and discuss the various barriers to accessible air travel, as well as put into motion the needed strategies to overcome them. Our conference, which was represented by nearly every major stakeholder group, provided that platform."

Macsata stated the measurable outcomes that will be tracked moving forward include tracking the U.S. Department of Transportation's technical assistance capacity programs, promoting the "business case" behind improve accessibility standards, social media as a means of improving customer service, increased marketing educating passengers about "complaint resolution officers," implementing a much-needed ACAA education program designed for the airlines and airports, improving security screenings, terminal mapping, and better engaging pilots on Section 382 under the ACAA. 

To learn more about the 1st Annual Air Travel Accessibility Conference, visit http://www.flyfriendlyskies.com/events.html. 

The conference was supported by the following Gold Sponsors: Audio Description Services, Caption First, Great Lakes ADA Center, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, NAAFA, Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH), Solutions Marketing Group (SMG) & The Macsata-Kornegay Group (TMKG); Silver Sponsors: Able to Travel, a program of the United Spinal Association, National Business & Disability Council (NBDC), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), & SSB BART Group; and our Bronze Sponsors: Bender Consulting & Scootaround.

For more information about the Association for Airline Passenger Rights or its conference,, please visit www.flyfriendlyskies.com or contact AAPR directly at info at flyfriendlyskies.com.

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For further information contact:

Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR)

Email: info at flyfriendlyskies.com

Website: http://www.flyfriendlyskies.com

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