Fw: Personalized Travel Helps People with Disabilities

[Guest guest]

I wasn't sure I wanted to send this, as it is a solicitation for a travel

business. On the other hand, they do offer a unique service, which is why, I

suspect, the Arc chose to promote it.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Personalized Travel Helps People with Disabilities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view it in your browser.

Finding a Way Together: Troy Discovers Hammer Travel

As part of our commitment to providing opportunities for people with

intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate in the activities

they choose, The Arc would like to introduce you to companies that share our

vision. Hammer Travel is one such company providing people with I/DD the freedom

to travel when and where they choose. Here’s the story of Troy, one of

Hammer’s success stories.

Troy has a passion for traveling the world, public speaking and meeting

new friends. He also has a developmental and physical disability causing him to

need a wheelchair for mobility. While Troy has been able to travel to exciting

places including Alaska, the Caribbean, and California he does face certain

challenges. Many of these are the same that everyone faces including getting

time off from work and choosing a destination. However Troy also faces some

unique challenges that many people with I/DD often do. These include his need

for around the clock support, medication/personal aid, transportation issues and

accessible airfare and lodging. All of these can be a burden to tackle alone. So

when Troy travels he reaches out to a travel provider.

Unfortunately for Troy many travel providers told him his independence

would be limited on trips because his electric wheelchair was too large to

transport. Also, that he would need to bring his own staff to transfer him. Troy

knew that there had to be a provider out there that could better support his

unique needs and kept searching. While attending a self-advocacy conference,

Troy met Josh Senso, the Director of Hammer Travel, and found the solution to

his travel needs. “Meeting Troy and watching him get more and more excited as

I told him about Hammer Travel is exactly why we wanted to start this

service,†explains Senso.

Hammer Travel is a service offered by a long-time provider out of

Minnesota. Hammer Residences, Inc. was founded in 1923 and has helped thousands

of adults and children with developmental disabilities experience life to the

fullest. A few years ago a challenge was given to employees to find a new way

that Hammer could extend their mission. At that time Senso was working with

fellow program manager, Tom . They organized a fishing trip each summer that

was growing by leaps and bounds. Together they brought the idea of starting a

travel business to Hammer’s CEO. Over the next few years Hammer Travel, LLC

was born.

Hammer Travel assists individuals like Troy in experiencing a personalized

vacation. With this in mind, they organize their trips so each person can

participate in the social aspects of the group while also being able to choose

activities to suit their preferences. A variety of different travel services are

offered. These include: predetermined destination travel, family supported

travel, individual or small group travel, and convention attendee assistance. To

learn more about meeting the travel needs of individuals with disabilities visit

Hammer Travel’s website or call 877.345.8599.

After his recent trip with Hammer Travel Troy is now following another

passion as a volunteer travel consultant. Together he and Hammer Travel are

working to find solutions for the common travel challenges for people with

disabilities. “Travel challenges are lessoned through communication with

individual travelers. Hearing Troy’s opinions really make a difference to

us,†says Senso before continuing on, “we can’t wait to have him travel

with us again.â€

To learn more please call 877.345.8599 to speak with a Hammer Travel Team

Member or visit www.HammerTravel.org

The Arc 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 800.433.5255 | Contact Us

Privacy Policy | Email Preferences © 2011 The Arc

If you do not want to receive future email from The Arc, please

e-mail us with the words " unsubscribe from Future Email " in the subject line.