Accessible Travel Conference Showcases True Inclusion

The inaugural New York Accessible Travel Conference (NYATC) debuted on November 6 at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center in Kew Gardens, Queens. It offers a blueprint for what an inclusive event can look like when accessibility is embedded from the start.

Organized by the Queens Economic Development Corporation and travel company Accessible Travel NYC, the conference brought together tourism leaders focused on positioning New York City as the world’s most inclusive travel destination.

“Accessibility is not just a compliance checkbox, it’s creativity, pride, and a competitive advantage,” said Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, founder of Accessible Travel NYC. “This conference is about showing how inclusion strengthens the bottom line while creating meaningful experiences for all visitors.” She said the effort was designed to support the 29% of adults living with disabilities in the U.S. and the visitors New York City aims to welcome.

Accessibility Started Long Before Attendees Arrived

Event accessibility was woven into every pre-conference touchpoint. Registration was fully screen-reader friendly, and all accessibility options, from CART captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation to food considerations, were clearly listed, with both email and phone support for direct outreach.

All communication, including pre-event materials, was written in plain language. Organizers collected detailed access needs from both speakers and attendees well in advance.

A visual access guide outlined transit options, photos of the venue, accessible routes, and sensory considerations. A separate “getting-there” guide detailed every transportation method available to the venue.

Sessions, keynotes, and scripts were shared ahead of time with CART teams to ensure accurate, real-time captioning. Captioning, displayed prominently, ran throughout the entire program.

Inclusive Design Onsite

The conference opened with a live access check: microphone and captioning tests, a description of the room layout, seating options, and directions to accessible restrooms and step-free emergency exits. Attendees were reminded that sensory supports, including earplugs, fidget tools, and masks, were available at registration.

Lachhman-Persad modeled inclusive introductions, sharing a self-description and pronouns and inviting participants to voice additional access needs at any time. “We emphasized mindfulness in the space and welcomed solution-based feedback if we missed something,” she said.

Wide aisles, wheelchair-accessible seating, and restrooms close to the main space were key design elements.

Speaker diversity was intentional. “The lineup reflected both visible and non-apparent disabilities, as well as cultural diversity,” said Lachhman-Persad. Staff and volunteers received guidance on disability etiquette, inclusive language, and offering — not imposing — assistance.

Beyond the Event

Following the conference, the CART transcript was transformed into a plain-text summary for distribution. Disabled speakers and attendees were featured in photography and post-event storytelling, a deliberate shift from performative inclusion to authentic representation.

“Accessibility was built into every stage, from registration to follow-up, so it wasn’t an afterthought but the framework itself,” said Lachhman-Persad. “It strengthened the attendee experience and the industry’s collective learning so that everyone belongs.”

The Queens Economic Development Corporation partnered with Accessible Travel NYC on the event. "With Queens as the gateway to the city, we were proud to host this conference because accessibility creates opportunity for attendees, for businesses, and for the communities we serve,” said Ben Guttmann, executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation.