Members of United Spinal Association will now be able to book their vacations without the hassle of assuring accessibility of their airline, hotels and even car service. Rich World Wide Travel (RWWT) in conjunction with United Spinal Association will now be offering accessible travel service for people with disabilities at reduced fees.
Coordinating the corporate travel for the United Spinal Association for five years has allowed RWWT, a member of Virtuoso (providing better access to corporate hotel rates), to expand their knowledge of travel planning for individuals with spinal cord injury and disease as well as other special needs.
“We recognize the benefits we get from RWWT,” said Steven Nardizzi, Assistant Executive Director of Member Services at the United Spinal Association. “There might be fear and trepidation to travel with a disability. We want them thinking of having fun, not of getting stuck at the airport.”
The new service, being expanded to the 3,000 members of United Spinal, will be taking the guesswork out of travel for individuals with disabilities, especially for those who are first time travelers, says Nardizzi.
“The Travel department will also assist anyone on staff with their leisure travel arrangements at the reduced member rates: $25 per person or $50 per family for travel, car rentals, accommodations and/or tour packages offered by RWWT,” said Paul Tobin, Deputy Executive Director of United Spinal Association.
Nathan Devore, Co-President of Rich World Wide Travel said, “We will be helpful to members because we will offer a qualified leisure travel agent who will have an understanding of the specific accessibility needs of the clientele.” The travel agent will also be negotiating discounted travel rates for members. The relationship RWWT has with different hotels will also allow for additional amenities and VIP treatment.
Along with receiving all of the training given by RWWT, the person in this new role would be working side-by-side at United Spinal headquarters with Stephanie Acosta, the current on-site Travel Coordinator of Meetings and Travel, who handles the corporate travel for the Association.
“Every person has different needs,” says Acosta. “There could be three different wheelchair users . . . Maybe one wants a roll-in shower, one wants a shower bench, maybe one doesn’t want the wheelchair accessible bathroom at all. It all depends on the individual.”
“Travel is like a book,” says Devore. “If you stay home it’s like reading only one page.” Because of restrictions, or fear of restrictions, many of the new clientele are people who have not been able to travel very much, and RWWT wants to help change that. “Travel is something they deserve as much as anyone else.”
Jennifer M. Rodriguez is Assistant Public Affairs Officer.
