GS&P’s Jim Harding to Lead Course on Wayfinding for Aging and Disabled Travelers

January 11, 2018

Gresham, Smith and Partners announces that Jim Harding, SEGD, director of environmental graphics, will lead the Airport Consultants Council’s online training program on enhancing airport wayfinding for aging travelers and persons with disabilities on Jan. 18. Alongside Mark D.K. Adams, RCDD/NTS, principal systems manager at Burns Engineering, Inc., Harding will discuss the findings in Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 177, a continuation of wayfinding research that explores the complex navigational challenges faced by aging travelers and passengers with disabilities such as low vision or blindness, mobility limitations or problems with short-term memory. The duo will cover best wayfinding practices and principles outlined in the report, equipping industry professionals with the tools needed to promote independent travel at airports worldwide.

“Airports continue to see more travelers over the age of 65 and the number of disabled passengers is on the rise. The research-based wayfinding solutions provided in this toolkit are beneficial for airport operators,” commented Harding. “User-friendly tools, such as the Wayfinding Accessibility Audit Checklist that our team at GS&P developed, help airports identify gaps in the customer journey. During this training program, we’ll look at ways to enhance the airport experience for aging travelers and persons with disabilities and how by taking steps to help these customers travel independently, we can improve the experience for all passengers.”

A summary of the training session follows.

Enhancing Airport Wayfinding for Aging Travelers and Persons with Disabilities
Presentation by Jim Harding, SEGD, and Mark D.K. Adams, RCDD/NTS

In order to help aging travelers and persons with disabilities travel independently, an airport must consider more than simply helping these customers know where to go. Unless a comprehensive list of considerations are addressed, these travelers will encounter issues that affect their ability to travel independently regardless of their wayfinding abilities. In this session, Harding and Adams will walk trainees through ACRP Report 177, equipping them with the tools to design and plan airports that not only benefit aging travelers and persons with disabilities, but every individual.