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Meaghan Walls on World Cup readiness, universal design, and the missed business opportunity of leaving disabled guests out of the experience.
Host Alycia Anderson welcomes Meaghan Walls, CEO of the Center for Disability Inclusion and president/CEO of Assistology, to discuss how hospitality and events still leave disabled people out and why the upcoming World Cup in Kansas City makes accessibility and disability inclusion urgent across infrastructure, transportation, hotels, and short-term rentals. They explore shortcomings like limited and segregated accessible seating, inaccessible restrooms, and ticketing systems that create major barriers, and Meaghan shares a venue that renovated after losing CDI’s summit due to restroom inaccessibility. Meaghan explains CDI’s beyond-compliance approach, covering AV, counters, wayfinding, information and communication access, and operational practices, and cites disability travel and entertainment spending. She describes the DineAble white paper research on restaurant experiences and dignity, then connects inclusion to hiring by challenging exclusionary job descriptions. They close by promoting the hybrid CDI Disability Inclusion Summit on September 24 and Meaghan’s guiding question: “Who does this not work for?”
Small Lines, Big Access Energy
There’s been such a long history of perception that creating access is a financial burden versus an opportunity.
~ Meaghan Walls
Every first-time visitor to a space is disabled by the limits of the information that they’re provided when they get there.
~ Meaghan Walls
If your employees can’t access the systems, the environments, the processes, or the technology, you’re also missing out on a huge talent pool.
~ Meaghan Walls
Big Ideas for Better Welcome
🌍 Global events must be accessible from the start
🏨 Hospitality should mean welcome for everyone
♿ Accessibility is more than ADA compliance
🎟️ Disabled guests deserve choice, dignity, and equal access to fun
🚻 Restrooms, seating, ticketing, and wayfinding can make or break the experience
💡 Access is a business opportunity, not a burden
🍽️ Restaurant design impacts dignity, independence, and belonging
💬 The question every business should ask: “Who does this not work for?”
👥 Inclusive hospitality includes both customers and employees
🧠 Mindset, policy, and operations matter just as much as physical design
📣 Disability inclusion creates better experiences for all visitors
🤝 Sustainable inclusion requires collaboration, community, and lived experience
Jump Into the Moments That Matter
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:25 Meet Meaghan Walls
02:31 World Cup Accessibility Urgency
05:53 Seating Choice And Dignity
11:23 Beyond ADA Compliance
16:24 Tech Barriers And Spending Power
18:56 DineAble Restaurant Stories
24:06 Hospitality Hiring Inclusion
28:44 CDI And Summit Details
33:52 Pushing Forward Moment
34:48 Final Thanks And Sign Off
Connect with Meaghan Walls
Keep learning from Meaghan Walls and explore her work in accessibility, universal design, and disability inclusion:
Assistology
Visit assistologyomaha.com to learn more about Meaghan’s accessibility consulting work focused on inclusive environments, assistive technology, and removing barriers to participation.
Center for Disability Inclusion
Explore centerfordisabilityinclusion.org to discover CDI’s resources, business solutions, events, and the upcoming Disability Inclusion Summit.
Connect with Meaghan on LinkedIn
Follow and connect with Meaghan Walls on LinkedIn for more insights on disability inclusion, accessibility, hospitality, and inclusive design. Connect with Meaghan Walls
Connect with Alycia:
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