What should be included in the RFP

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True accessibility means that People with Disabilities (PwD's) have an experience that is inclusive, welcoming, and equitable. In order to provide this experience, organizations must proactively rather than reactively address potential accessibility barriers. Ideally, this starts during the Request For Proposal (RFP) process when destinations and locations are being selected. Destinations and locations that do not meet minimum accessibility standards should be avoided.

Below are questions that can be included in the RFP process to evaluate accessibility. These are based on The Three Pillars of Accessible Travel (accessible facilities, accessibility documentation, and accessible customer service). Questions cover all components of a trip (airport, ground transportation, hotel, etc…) and all disability types (mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, and allergy).

Disability Types

#1 Which types of disabilities have been considered in creating an accessible and inclusive experience?

• Mobility
• Blind and low vision
• Deaf and hard of hearing
• Cognitive and sensory
• Allergy

Accessible Travel Pillar #1: Facilities

#2 How have the accessibility of the facilities been assessed?

• By engineers and/or architects
• By internal accessibility experts with a degree in accessibility or an IAAP Certification
• By external accessibility experts with a degree in accessibility or an IAAP Certification
• By other individuals (describe)
• None

#3 What is the basis of the accessibility assessment?

• ISO International Accessibility Standards
• National/local accessibility laws
• Accessibility standards for a specific travel sector (destination, aviation, accommodation, etc…)
• Other (describe)
• None

#4 Which facilities have been assessed?

• Airport
• Private ground transportation
• Public ground transportation
• Pedestrian routes
• Hotels
• Short-term rentals
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Convention Center
• Visitor Center
• Other (describe)
• None

Accessible Travel Pillar #2: Documentation

#5 What is the format of publicly-available, free accessibility documentation?

• List of accessibility features (e.g. bullet points)
• Descriptions of accessibility features (e.g. sentences)
• Photos of accessibility features
• Measurements of accessibility features
• Other (describe)
• None

#6 At which locations has accessibility documentation been created?

• Airport
• Private ground transportation
• Public ground transportation
• Pedestrian routes
• Hotels
• Short-term rentals
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Convention Center
• Visitor Center
• Other (describe)
• None

#7 Where is the accessibility documentation found?

• On the Destination website
• On the Event website
• On the local travel businesses websites
• On a third-party website
• Other (describe)
• None

Accessible Travel Pillar #3: Customer Service

#8 What types of accessibility training have staff received?

• Disability awareness training
• Role-specific training (reservations agent, front desk, housekeeping, food and beverage, etc…)
• Other (describe)
• None

#9 How was the accessibility training developed?

• Internally developed
• Internally developed by an IAAP certified accessibility professional
• Externally developed
• Externally developed by an IAAP certified accessibility professional
• Other (describe)
• None

#10 At which locations have staff received accessibility training?

• Destination
• Airport
• Private ground transportation
• Public ground transportation
• Pedestrian routes
• Hotels
• Short-term rentals
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Convention Center
• Visitor Center

#11 Which of the following occurs during the registration or trip planning process?

• Accessibility documentation for the individual locations is available before the registration or trip planning process commences
• Accessibility documentation for the individual locations is provided after the registration or trip planning process commences
• A general input field similar to "Please describe any accessibility needs that you have" is included
• Several questions regarding specific accessibility needs are included
• An individual who handles accessibility part-time is available to assist PwD's with the trip planning process
• An individual who handles accessibility full-time is available to assist PwD's with the trip planning process

Certification

#12 What types of accessibility certifications have been achieved?

• Certification based on ISO Accessible Travel Standards
• Certification from an organization that has been accredited by ANSI to certify accessible travel
• Certification from an IAAP certified accessibility professional
• Other accessibility certifications

#13 Which locations have received accessibility certification?

• Destination
• Airport
• Private ground transportation
• Public ground transportation
• Pedestrian routes
• Hotels
• Short-term rentals
• Attractions
• Restaurants
• Convention Center
• Visitor Center