March 13, 2018 News from the President's Desk! As the winter season nears closing, we are preparing for the ramping up of the ports in Seattle and Vancouver. So, please keep us in mind for needs in the Pacific Northwest, including, Vancouver, Washington for the American Steamboat Company and in Portland, Oregon for America Cruise…
February 12, 2018 News from the President's Desk! I hope everyone is in good helath and those in the North battling the extremely cold winter are staying safe, booking vacations in warmer climates. Here at SNG, we are extremely enthusiatic as we close in on our 11-Year anniversay on February 14th. Sincere…
January 11, 2018 News from the President's Desk! Happy New Year! I hope that everyone enjoyed some time with loved ones during the Holidays! 2017 was a fantastic year; we are looking forward to an even more promising 2018! We are presently running the Transatlantic Special again! Details regarding our special for transatlantic…
December 8, 2017 News from the President's Desk! Dear Travel Partners, It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another year. In conjunction with NACTA's South Florida Chapter, SNG donated items to Aguadilla Nursing Home in Puerto Rico; the nursing home after being affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria is still without electricity, but continues in assisting locals within the community. We are thoroughly looking forward to…
November 13, 2017 News from the President's Desk! I hope everyone is well. We continue to update our Cruise Accessiblity Portal on our website. Please visit our site regularly for continued updates. You'll be glad you did! I want to take this time to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your continued support. I wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! Keep Smilin', Andrew Garnett, CATA President/CEO …
September 8, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in Texas regarding Hurricane Harvey. Enclosed within the Newsletter, please read the feature on our Galveston Port Agent who shared his own story as well as pictures. We also wish for the saftey of those in projected path of Hurricane Irma. Please…
August 10, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer amongst family and friends. Enclosed within the Newsletter, please read about our Updating of SNG's Cruise Accessibilty Portal, as well as our featured Equipment of the Month. Thank you again for being a continued partner as we continue to evolve in Delivering an Accessible World™. Keep…
October 11, 2017 From the President's Corner! Best Day Foundation Event …
July 11, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is looking foward to the Summer months ahead. New Product (please click below for details) ACID-REFLUX? OPTUM-ALIGN MATTRESS FOR PASSENGERS @ SEA Below, plese find links to Newsletter Articles …
June 14, 2017 From the President's Corner! Thank you for your continued support as we continue in Delivering an Accessible World. Featured in this month’s Newsletter… New Product Offered by Special Needs Group MiraBurst · Beneficial to Chemotherapy Patients in masking “metal-mouth” · Diabetic individuals experience sweet taste without sugar consumption · Assist in healthy living lifestyle/weight management program SNG is pleased to service two Pacific Northwest River Cruise Ports · Portland,…
May 19, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is in good health and enjoying spring weather. What’s Hot @ Special Needs Group Seasonal Features - One-Way Sailings from Vancouver to and from Seward & Whittier - Alaska Land Portions Beginning or Ending in Anchorage & Fairbanks - Boston Open for Business…Cruise Port as well as Pre- and Post-Cruise As we expand further in Delivering an Accessible World, we…
April 20, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is enjoying some nice Spring weather. Enclosed within the newsletter, please see a glimpse of how SNG provides support to the special needs community in our back yard, South Florida. Recently, Special Needs Group participated at two local events, the 9th annual Boating & Beach Bash in Boca Raton, the nation’s largest free event for people with special needs, and the Best Day Foundation in Pompano Beach. As…
March 27, 2017 From the President's Corner! Hope everyone is adjusting to daylight savings time and have been able to convince the kiddos to wake up even though it is still dark outside! The additional hour of sunlight will be nice at the end of the day once we are well adjusted. As the winter season nears closing, we are preparing for the openings of the ports in Seattle and Vancouver in April. Also in April, SNG is pleased…
February 10, 2017 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is in good health and those in North battling the cold weather are staying safe and busy booking warm vacations. Here at SNG, we are extremely excited as we close in on our 10-Year anniversary on February 14th. It doesn’t seem possible that a decade has passed since SNG was born with a vision to make it possible for anyone to travel, even if they have a disability or…
January 23, 2017 From the President's Corner! Happy New Year! I hope that everyone enjoyed some time with loved ones during the Holidays! 2016 was a fantastic year; I look forward to what promises to be a spectacular upcoming year. Through the 1st Quarter of the year, we are running our annual Transatlantic Special promotion. Guests renting medical equipment for 2017 Transatlantic sailings from North America to Europe receive an additional piece of equipment (of equal or lesser value) FREE…
December 14, 2016 From the President's Corner! It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another year. 2016 was an extremely busy year for us at SNG. In total for the year, SNG attended 40 events/trade shows getting the word out on our mission of Delivering an Accessible World! We are grateful for these opportunities to let people know that their Special Needs can be met making it possible to travel the world! We…
November 23, 2016 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is well and ready to enjoy Thanksgiving with loved ones. Below please find information on the upcoming DC Metro Abilities Expo taking place Dec 2nd to the 4th. We will be represesnted at a booth and there is a workshop scheduled on Traveling with a Disability. If you are in the area please stop by. We are extremely grateful for your continued support as we make travel accessible…
October 21, 2016 From the President's Corner! I hope everyone is doing well and settled back in the routine of kids back in school. My son and I are getting there. On another note, we just had a scare with Hurricane Matthew, but were fortunate to be spared any serious damage. We hope that those who were hit fared well. As we can continue to evolve, SNG is always expanding our areas which we are able to service. …
September 2011 WHY IT’S IMPORTANT FOR TRAVELERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, TO USE A TRAVEL AGENT Traveling can be a wonderful experience, filled with new places and cultures to discover. However, the experience can be much more enjoyable when working with a travel agent who can plan every aspect of the trip ahead of time, eliminating a great deal of stress for the traveler. This especially holds true for travelers with special needs. Individuals with special…
August 2011 THEME PARKS IN THE OFF SEASON: AN EASIER TIME TO NAVIGATE Summer is practically over, the lines are shorter, and it's a great time to visit a theme park. For individuals with special needs, the off-season is a prime time to enjoy theme parks to the fullest, as small crowds equal easier navigation. Whereas in the past, even in the off-season, many individuals and families with children and special needs skipped theme park vacations…
June/July 2011 CRUISE LINES' SMOKING BANS HELP PASSENGERS TRAVELING WITH OXYGEN BREATHE MORE EASILY AND SAFELY More and more cruise lines are now enforcing smoking policies that prohibit smoking in staterooms. Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland American Line recently announced that smoking will soon be banned in all of their ships' staterooms. The three companies join other cruise lines including Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania and Azamara in banning passengers from…
May 2011 HOW THE RISE OF OBESITY IN AMERICA IS INCREASING DEMAND FOR BARIATRIC EQUIPMENT FOR TRAVEL AND MORE It's a fact: 93 million Americans are overweight. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in three Americans is overweight. Another one-third is obese, meaning they are at least 20 percent heavier than their ideal body weight. Approximately one in 20 people is morbidly obese, or 50 to 100 percent above his/her…
Jan. / Feb. 2011 MOBILITY SCOOTER ETIQUETTE/TIPS As baby boomers are now in or reaching their mature years, a record number of people are driving around in mobility scooters, whether it be on vacation, in a supermarket, at a convention, etc. While those driving scooters deserve the respect of others in order to smoothly operate their equipment, driving a scooter is a two-way street. If scooter drivers are conscious and courteous of those around them, they…
Nov./Dec. 2010 NEW ONLINE RESERVATION AND BOOKING SERVICE FOR WHEELCHAIR AND SCOOTER RENTALS Travelers with special needs and slow walkers can now book wheelchair rentals and scooter rentals online through Special Needs Group's new internet booking tool. The new online booking tool enables you to book equipment 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Travelers may choose from a variety of scooters, accommodating up to 500 pounds or wheelchairs, accommodating travelers weighting up to 750 pounds. Once booked…
October 2010 CRUISE LINE ACCESSIBILITY With all the cruise ships currently sailing and the cruise industry's recent building "boom" - - 52 NEW vessels delivered or on order between 2009 and 2010 - - it is not always clear as to which ships are the most accessible and the best for sailing. Special Needs Group highly recommends that you work with travel professionals who have experience booking special needs travel. A specialized agent can help…
September 2010 TIPS FOR FLYING ABROAD FOR TRAVELERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS September and October, the traditional "shoulder season" between summer's high season and winter's low season are good months for slow walkers and individuals with special needs to travel. There are fewer tourists overall, meaning more space on walkways, fewer lines for museums and other attractions. Prices traditionally drop, too, especially for international destinations. If you are planning to take advantage of shoulder season to…
August 2010 A SALUTE TO INVENTORS AND ACCESSIBILITY INVENTIONS August is National Inventor Month, a time to celebrate the creative men and women who dare to think differently and bravely confront ridicule to bring solutions, ease, excitement and accessibility into our lives. Because we work with wheelchairs, scooters and other special needs equipment, we are devoting the month of August to uncovering the invention of key assist items. Braille Louis Braille did not really invent…
July 2010 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT This year, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Since the ADA's inception, we have seen significant changes within the travel industry including accessibility across the fleet for cruise ships, including foreign-flagged vessels carrying U.S. passengers and more ramps, railings and grab bars in public venues. We have also seen a deepening respect and higher level of…
May 2010 CHOOSING A SPECIAL NEEDS TOUR OR EXCURSION Group travel options for persons with special needs are becoming more popular and more varied. Whether you use a wheelchair, need oxygen, have a hearing impairment or rely on a service animal, there is a group trip for you. Here are a few tips for finding and enjoying the right trip. Use an agency with solid experience organizing group trips for persons with disabilities, preferably one that…
April 2010 GROUP TRAVEL FOR PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Group travel options for persons with special needs are becoming more popular and more varied. Whether you use a wheelchair, need oxygen, have a hearing impairment or rely on a service animal, there is a group trip for you. Here are a few tips for finding and enjoying the right trip. Use an agency with solid experience organizing group trips for persons with disabilities, preferably one that…