Accessible Cruising on Royal Caribbean

Miami, Florida - May 9, 2008 - We take an inside look at the accessible amenities on one of the fabulous cruise ships of Royal Caribbean. Host Elio Navarro tours the ship with Ron Pettit, Access Manager, in charge of insuring a great experience for persons with disabilities. He shows off accessible features such as automatic doors, pool and whirlpool lifts, wheelchair friendly closets, and more. Check out this video introduction and learn more about accessible cruising on Royal Caribbean. Watch Video (6:10)

2008 Abilities Expo - NY Metro

Edison, NJ - March 28-30, 2008 - xAble.com is bringing one of the world's premier expos for our community - online! Experience vivid online video of all of the exciting events, exhibitors, and performances that will take place at the 2008 Abilities Expo - NY Metro! xAble.com will be on-site featuring cool new products from the show-room floor, highlighting great performances from people like Justin Hines, and interviewing a variety of individuals and organizations from the Disability Community in the xAble.com Studio! If you can't make it out to the expo this year, don't worry - just tune into xAble.com starting March 28 and experience the best of the Abilities Expo from your computer.
View Complete Coverage

How Friendly Are the Skies?

Pittsburgh, PA - Feb 28, 2008 - When it comes to flying the friendly skies, how friendly are airlines when it comes to people with disabilities? What are airlines doing to make air travel more accessible? What's currently in place, and what's planned for the future? xAble decided to take a look at a few airlines to find out. Read Article

The Ability to Ride & Dream... Once Again

Tampa, FL - Feb 20, 2008 - In September 1979, Deni Andretta was a U.S. Equestrian Rider, competing at the highest level and training new students at many stables. One month later, she was fighting for her life after sustaining significant injuries in a car accident. When she finally returned to health, all her horseback riding dreams seemed shattered. She was denied access to the same stables where she had previously taught, and her competitive plans were quickly halted. But the passion to ride horses continued... Read Article

Tiffiny Carlson's Beauty Ability

Minneapolis, MN - Feb 14, 2008 - I didn't really have any good role models in my hospital or my rehab. In the initial rehab experience, it didn't really introduce me to anybody that gave me hope for the future, it was a hard three years. After I met this lady, whose name was Karen, she helped me realize. It sounds petty, but really as a female, when you take care of yourself, whether it's your hair or your makeup, or going out and buying clothes that make you feel good when you do all these things that really makes you feel better about everything...
Read the Conversation (Unabridged)
View Video - Listen to Audio (iPod Download)

Deaf Perceptions: Lisa Goldstein

Pittsburgh, PA - Jan 29, 2008 - From just looking at me, you'd never know. If you heard me talk, you might have a suspicion. If you followed me up many flights of stairs, you'd wonder. That's right, boys and girls, I'm an alien from outer space. No, of course the truth isn't that exotic. I'm deaf, a disability that's almost invisible. I only know a little sign, so it's only when I open my mouth that people might realize something's up...
Read Lisa Goldstein's Essay

The ChairScholars Foundation

Tampa, FL - Jan 25, 2008 - xAble.com visits the ChairScholars Foundation, a powerful non-profit changing lives of people with disabilities through the gift of education with college scholarships. Aspiring college students, check out this video and get your application in by February 28, 2008!
Watch The ChairScholars Foundation

Power through Participation: Juliette Rizzo

Washington, D.C. - March 22, 2008 - Her biography is impressive, her energy is contagious. Juliette Rizzo, a resident of Maryland and Washington D. C. commuter, is a go-getter with an extraordinary track record of advocacy. Juliette was Ms. Wheelchair Maryland in 2004 followed by Ms. Wheelchair America in 2005 and was recently named one of Maryland's top 100 women for 2008. With a platform of power through participation, Juliette has participated in and led disability-related activities and organizations from the grassroots level to the national government level, becoming a Director in the U.S. Department of Education. Juliette recently spoke with xAble.com's Jessi Navarro to share just how she became the advocate and leader of today. Listen as she discusses employment and advocacy for the disability community and current disability issues in Washington, D.C. View Video of Interview

You're Hired! An Interview with Jeff Klare of Hire Disability Solutions

March 13, 2008 - Hire Disabilty Solutions is working to help solve the challenges for persons with disabilities in the workplace. The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities is a staggering 60%! Jeff Klare's mission is to make that percentage much smaller, to be at the same level as the population without a disability. Hear how Hire Disability Solutions is helping to lower barriers by reaching out to companies and assisting persons with disabilities to find great jobs.
Listen to the Interview with Jeff Klare
(A text transcript will be available soon.)

The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality World Congress 2008

SATH Introduction

Orlando, FL - Jan 6-9, 2008 - xAble.com was delighted to cover the 12th annual Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) World Congress. SATH is a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness and removing barriers to travel for persons with disabilities. The SATH World Congress provided a wide variety of sessions and educational panels on all aspects of travel related to the disability community.

Check out sessions on traveling for the hearing impaired and Deaf, adventure travel for persons with disabilities, and travel tips on major airlines. We also have great interviews with travel companies including Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Suntastic Tours. There are also several interviews with conference attendees and exhibitors. If you missed the conference, you can see it here!
View Complete Coverage of the 12th SATH World Congress!

SATH Interview with Royal Caribbean

Orlando, Florida - Jan 7, 2008 - Meet Lisa Bauer, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, and Ron Pettit, Access Manager, for Royal Caribbean International. Lisa and Ron share about their involvement with SATH and recent success with the first ever all deaf cruise, chartered on the Freedom of the Seas.
Watch the interview with Royal Caribbean

Travel to South Africa

Orlando, Florida - Jan 7, 2008 - Meet Pam Taylor, a passionate tour leader for Flamingo Tours who helps people with all types of disabilities travel to South Africa. In this interview, she explains many of the accommodations available as well as the incredible sights that await visitors in this exotic locale.
Watch the Travel to South Africa Interview