Who: Neha Arora
Education: B. Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from UP Technical University
Travelling has always been an adventure for Neha Arora who grew up with two parents with disabilities. The experience gave her a different outlook to life, and made her think about others with disabilities who may be facing problems travelling the world. Neha’s father is visually impaired and her mother is orthopedically challenged (Orthopedic handicaps are conditions of the skeletal system that limit a person’s abilities), and each of these conditions presented its own set of problems.
Many places in the world that are popular with tourists are not accessible to everyone. From our temples to monuments in foreign lands. To give persons with disabilities a chance to experience more of the world, Neha started a company called Planet Abled.
Planet Abled takes into consideration the limitations that disabled customers face and tries to address them. For people who are wheelchair-bound, they try to add ramps and ensure that they have accessible bathrooms. For those who are visually impaired, they provide a guide who is not only well-versed in the surroundings but is trained to deal with the situation. There also sign language interpreters who are provided for those who are hearing impaired. Similarly, all the volunteers on the tour are well trained and empathetic.
Neha, says it best, “The way this is different from a normal tour is that on a regular tour we just see things, we don’t absorb or experience things deeply. Here since each tour is customized for people with different disabilities, it creates a totally different experience for everyone involved, be it, participants or volunteers, assisting them.”
Neha’s background in engineering has made her a logical and practical thinker. She’s a problem solver and her skills have resulted in the success of Planet Abled. The best reward, as Neha says is that “People call from all over the country asking when I am coming to their city. This is what I have earned.” Congratulations, Neha!
Long Story Short
- Neha Arora grew up with two disabled parents, and travelling together as a family was always a challenge.
- For many years, she wondered how people with disabilities were travelling and if she could make things easier for them.
- Her thoughts led to the birth of Planet Abled, a tourism company that helps plan disability-friendly trips.
- Planet Abled tries to customise each trip for the customer and ensure that they have everything they need to enjoy themselves.
- They have guides, volunteers, and interpreters to ensure that everyone is having a wonderful experience.