NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, just announced its new digital resource for making the Manhattan travel experience more accessible for visitors: Accessible NYC.
The accessibility of a destination is “a crucial factor” for many visitors’ travel decisions, NYC & Company said in a press release. This new set of travel planning tools will provide more and new information to visitors who are trying to see all that New York City has to offer.
In the press release, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the goal of Accessible NYC is to “make sure accessibility does not stand in the way of enjoying destinations” across the five boroughs, and that the resources incorporated into this new tool will make that goal a reality.
CEO of NYC & Company Fred Dixon echoed Mayor de Blasio, saying in the release that experiencing all of New York’s attractions should be accessible to everyone visiting the travel destination. He also said that he hopes this tool reinforces the fact that all people are welcome to travel in the city.
Some features of the new Accessible NYC include editorial they can read to decide where they might want to travel in New York, such as “Accessible Broadway Theater” to the “Accessible Arts & Culture Calendar,” as well as an interactive search filter that will allow visitors to find hotels, restaurants, attractions and more across all five Manhattan boroughs. The interactive search filter will be sorted by the specific resources that will accommodate their mobility, auditory and visual needs.
Victor Calise, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, said that more than 60 million people visit New York City every year, and of those 60 million, about 10 percent are people with disabilities. With the launch of Accessible NYC, Calise said that these people can make “informed decisions” before embarking on Manhattan, and will ensure that their time in the city can be spent in “the most accessible places.”
Accessible NYC visitor resources were informed in part by the 2014 NYC Building Code, 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards for Design and the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, according to NYC & Company. Confirming the availability of necessary amenities at certain businesses in advance is recommended.
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