How do we define and deliver on becoming an accessible destination – a foundational value our community identifies as the underlying basis for all we believe and all we do?
ACTIVE
Goal: Transform Fort Wayne/Allen County into a globally recognized premier accessible destination.
Points of Progress
July 2025
On July 17, Visit Fort Wayne announced the launch of the community-driven initiative to build an Accessible Destination Action plan alongside Whereabout, a destination strategy consulting firm. This effort aims to build strategies that elevate the destination as one of the Midwest’s most accessible places to visit, live, and explore. Through the next couple of months, Whereabout will engage community members through interviews, workshops, and surveys to gather input and ideas.
The Fort Wayne Zoo has earned a Certified Autism Center designation by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, the certification is for organizations that have completed an autism-specific training and certification program through IBCCES. The program teaches skills and resources related to autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
2025
Built Destination Accessible Taskforce (16 members) who are identifying, alongside Visit Fort Wayne, a consultant to guide an assessment of Fort Wayne/Allen County’s accessibility and building a community action plan to improve our destination’s accessibility.
December 2024
Researching potential organizations and providers who have capabilities in leading a community-wide assessment that assesses current infrastructure/policies/services, identifies areas of improvement, and builds an action plan for improving accessibility and universal design in Fort Wayne/Allen County.
Organizing meetings with the Fort Wayne/Allen County Disability Advisory Council and the Northeast Indiana Disability Advocacy Coalition to learn about missions and focus and discuss where the Tourism Master Plan can advocate and help move forward Fort Wayne and Allen County’s accessibility – fill any gaps related to the visitor economy.
Collaborating with The League and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community on recommendations for restaurants on how they can include the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in their facilities better.
Turnstone continues to host adaptive events and rentals as well as training events for community partners, including airline gate agents.
Citilink continues to improve the accessibility of transportation with their new Universal Design bus shelter at Turnstone, with two more sets to be installed in the community.
AWS Foundation continues to help educate the community and created seven videos offering education on the basic principles of Universal Design for events.
