Blog
We’ve Been Busy: A Roundup
September 23, 2023
Peter Slatin delivers a keynote at Access U.
Real change is happening in accessible travel, and the Slatin Group is proud to be at the forefront of an ever-growing group of advocates, nonprofit organizations and businesses working worldwide toward inclusive travel that is accessible for all. In recent months we’ve delivered two keynotes, led two virtual presentations for top hospitality and tourism organizations and conducted Elements of Service workshops for a top New York City park and attraction. In July we were honored to join the Advisory Board for the just announced Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion, an important new initiative spearheaded by Martha Jackson, deputy commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the interim executive director of the new Center. Finally, we spent most of July collaborating on a new project in hospitality education at the nascent Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy, a hub of research and innovation hiding in seemingly sleepy St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Watch this space.
- We added the final touch to summer at New York law firm Ellenoff Grossman & Schole’s seminar at the New York Yacht Club called Disability Accessibility for Websites and Places of Public Accommodation, where we introduced the concept of social accessibility to an audience of hospitality heavy hitters.
- July 26: The 33rd anniversary of the signing into law of the ADA, and our sixth annual NYC Talks panel discussion for New York City Tourism + Conventions. Focusing on neurodiversity in the performing arts, we brought together Ava X. Rigelhaupt, the autistic creative consultant for the forthcoming Broadway musical “How to Dance in Ohio,” which will open in December with an all-autistic cast. Also consulting on the show and joining our panel was Becky Leifman, co-founder and executive director of CO/Lab Theater Group; and autistic actor DeWitt Burgess.
- July 19: Introduced the Accessibility Blueprint and Elements of Service at a webinar hosted by the National Restaurant Educational Foundation. I invited restaurateur and sommelier Yannick Benjamin (Contento and Beaupierre) to join me. NRAEF A return engagement is planned for the Fall.
- June 30: Conducted a day of Elements of Service workshops for leaders and staff at The High Line, the converted short-line elevated rail, a city park and one of New York’ most visited attractions.
- May 23: Joined a keynote panel and breakout session at Noble House Hotels & Resorts Leadership Conference at their L’Estancia property in San Diego. The three-day conference was attended by Noble House’s general managers and HR directors from each of its independently named properties. Thanks to Chief HRO Holly Lawson for the invitation. Following our keynote panel, Noble House’s general counsel Gabe Rosenthal unexpectedly came on stage to tell the audience that our discussion of diversity and accessibility was “the most important panel” of the conference.
- May 9: Marking 15 years since the death of my brother John Slatin, a digital accessibility pioneer, I delivered the opening keynote at John Slatin Access U in Austin. Produced by Knowbility, this digital accessibility event focuses on learning and digital accessibility. I was honored to discuss “The Future History of Accessibility.”