Open Doors Organization

09/12/2025

Awareness and advocacy show no bounds here at Open Doors Organization. This week, our founder, Eric Lipp, represented accessibility and inclusion at the Airport Experience Summit (ASQ Forum) in Guangzhou, China. ACI World

From sharing insights on stage with international airport leaders to highlighting the role of accessibility in passenger experience, Eric brought Open Doors Organization’s mission to the global aviation community.

We are continually proud when accessibility takes center stage in conversations about the future of airports and travel worldwide.

Alt text photo description: The photo shows a professional conference panel taking place on a large stage with a modern blue backdrop. Four panelists are seated in white chairs, each with a microphone and water bottle. To the far left, Eric sits with his mobility scooter next to him and is speaking into a microphone. Next to him, a woman in a sleeveless white blouse and black pants sits attentively. The third panelist, a man in a dark suit and tie, is reading or looking down at his notes. The fourth man, also in a dark suit, is seated with one hand on his chin, appearing thoughtful. Behind them, projected text on the screen lists the names and titles of some of the speakers in both English and Chinese.

09/03/2025

Collaboration and learning took place at our annual airline symposium. Always inspiring to connect with passionate people who continue to bring new energy and ideas to the table. Thanks to all who attended!

Alt text photo description: From left to right: Anthony Corona - Consultant - Communications and Outreach; Katy O’Reilly
Director of Programs; Pat Pound - Consultant - sit together at a table in a classroom with a wall that is blue behind them. They are smiling warmly at the camera. Anthony on the left wears a blue patterned shirt. Katy in the middle wears a black top. Pat on the right wears a black-and-white patterned blouse. All three have green lanyards and event badges. On the table in front of them are laptops, notebooks, drinks, and a green catering box. In the background, other attendees are gathered in conversation near a large whiteboard.

08/29/2025

We are really looking forward to this summit! Blind Travel Foundation
Check out their website for more information! https://www.blindtravel.org/blind-travel-summit/

We are hosting the Blind Travel Summit November 13–14, 2025 at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austin, Texas!

Led by Mike May—Consumer Technology Hall of Famer, Paralympian, accessibility trailblazer, and Blind Travel Foundation board member.

“This summit is a unique opportunity for conversations among active blind travelers, and travel industry experts using lived experience to consider what is possible, what works and what can be improved.”

Why attend?
An opportunity to have conversations with fellow blind travelers, tech users, and accessibility advocates
Engage in sessions with partners across rideshare, AV, air travel, hotels, apps, gear, and more.
Uber, Waymo, United, Airbnb, and more will be speaking!

Call for session leads
Have a topic or story to share? Submit your session idea today. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRG6s1hOvkKrD1SJPAe4NkvFXpq2BrUC05-Yy917NZ456dsA/viewform

Register Now!
Early registration for $30 ends October 1st. Early registrants will be entered into door prize drawings for Aira minutes, EchoVision smart glasses, and FEELDOM NAVi-BADGES! https://secure.qgiv.com/for/blindtravelfoundation/event/blindtravelsummit2025/

Hotel Block
We have secured a group rate at the Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Downtown — $191 per night, includes breakfast & taxes. Book by October 12th.
Hotel link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/blindtravelsummit2025/

Stay in the Loop
Join our newsletter and learn more: https://www.blindtravel.org/sign-up/

Sponsors
Huge thanks to our Gold Sponsors, Uber and United. Bronze Sponsors: AGIGA AI , Aira, Ambutech, Feeldom Life by FEELDOM, and Open Doors. Want to join them? https://www.blindtravel.org/blind-travel-summit-sponsorship/

Let’s build the future of accessible travel—together. See you in Austin!
https://www.blindtravel.org/blind-travel-summit/

08/28/2025

Earlier this month we were in Las Vegas doing work for Spirit Airlines. We observed their operations from top to bottom including check in, gate agents, ramp, and wheelchair pushing procedures.

Alt text photo description: The photo shows a yellow commercial airplane parked on the airport tarmac under a clear blue sky. The aircraft is painted in Spirit Airlines’ bright yellow livery. The plane is viewed from the front-left side, so its nose, cockpit windows, landing gear, and large left engine are clearly visible. A couple of ground crew members in safety vests are standing near the aircraft, one closer to the nose and another farther back. Orange cones are placed around the area for safety. The aircraft has a sleek, shiny finish and is identified as an Airbus A320neo by the marking near the cockpit. In the background, other airplanes and airport vehicles can be seen.

08/21/2025

Thank you to all our friends, sponsors and attendees who showed up at our 14th Annual Beyond the Waters Beach Party! It was a huge success and everyone had a blast. What a fun way to celebrate the summer days that we still have left. Thanks again to everyone who made the event possible.

Alt text photo descriptions:
Photo 1: Two people are standing in front of a white tent, having fun and smiling. There’s a white banner behind them hanging from the tent that says Beyond the Waters Beach Party Chicago.
Photo 2: 2 orange tents. The tent that is to the left of the photo says Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Adaptive Sports and Fitness across the side of the tent. There are a large number of hand cycles under the tent.
Photo 3: A person looking at the camera, making a peace sign with his hand and sitting on a hand cycle.

07/27/2025

Today marks the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (ADA)

Open Doors Organization has always talked about how the ADA is a starting place, not a ceiling.

Pat is a consultant with Open Doors Organization (ODO) focusing on blindness related issues such as web and mobile accessibility as well as the air travel experience for travelers with vision loss and those with service dogs.

Here’s Pat’s experience of how the ADA has changed over time:

She writes, “I rarely ever found live theater with audio description for blind individuals. If I did find it, I had to make sure that I kept that evening open because it was usually only offered one time.”

Fast forward to when the ADA was in effect, she says, “I was vacationing in Chicago and called a week ahead of time to see if I could get audio description at the theater. Because of ODO and their work with the theaters, there was audio description available. However, it was not scheduled during the time I was there. The theater staff were so gracious to contact the describer and arrange for them to describe on the evening I was there. I was joined by several other people with disabilities and we were all amazed to be able to have audio description.

Thank you, ADA and thank you, Open Doors Organization!

Alt text photo description: Pat is sitting outside. She is wearing a magenta dress. Her guide dog is a black lab and is sitting to her left. She has her arm embraced around her dog.

07/24/2025

Thanks to Stamford Health for such a smooth MRI experience earlier this week! Did you know that there are wheelchairs made from MRI safe material? Sarah transferred into an approved wheelchair and was able to go into the MRI procedure with ease.

Alt text photo description: Sarah is sitting in her manual wheelchair to the right of the photo. Across from her on the left side is the MRI approved wheelchair. It is a large brown wheelchair.

07/12/2025

Open Doors Organization (ODO) was proud to attend the National Federation of the Blind Conference and Convention last week in New Orleans. We were honored to represent service animal users and share information about our Service Animal Portal, as well as the many ways ODO works to make the travel experience more accessible for the blind and low vision community—and the broader cross-disability community.

We were also proud to share space with Blind LGBT Pride International and to continue building partnerships that promote inclusion and accessibility for all.

Alt text photo description: From left to right: Pat, Anthony and Ariana stand to the left and right of a table with the ODO logo hanging down the front.

Head to this link to read more about the convention and the National Confederation for the Blind: https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention

07/09/2025

Definitely worth checking out in NYC! Thanks for sharing, Have Wheelchair Will Travel!

07/03/2025

Edison wants to wish everyone a Happy July 4th. Stay safe, everyone - Dogs and humans! Comment below and tell us what your plans are.

Alt text photo description: A yellow lab puppy, service dog in training, is lying on the floor in a store with a red, white, and blue hat on his head.

NEADS World Class Service Dogs

06/25/2025

Good job Grand Central Terminal!
The electronic screens for showing the train schedules are at a perfect high-level height for people who use mobility devices to be able to see without straining their neck to look up at a screen when they are up too high.

Alt text photo description: A black electronic screen is shown in the photo. The screen has red blue and green colors on it which signifies the different train lines. Underneath each train line there are multiple rows with all the information for each train time to the left of the electronic screen. There is a map that is behind glass and the title says “MTA Railroad Map”

06/19/2025

Chicago O'Hare International Airport this is great! Thank you for efforts to make travel smoother for people with disabilities. Check out the link in the post below for more information about the accessibility at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.