When Pete De Vasto reflects on his role as a member of the PDX Access Committee, the first thing that comes to mind are questions. “Should we do this better? What would work best for travelers? Are we meeting their needs? The committee wants to be sure they’re getting it right.”
At the Port of Portland, we believe public spaces like Portland International Airport should be usable for everybody. Travel is stressful as it is: We want to do what we can to make the experience easier and make sure everyone who passes through here feels welcome.
But we all have different needs, whether we’re traveling solo or with family, have visual impairments, mobility issues, or nearly any other lived experience. If we want public spaces to be accessible to everyone, we have to provide options informed by real people’s needs.
“The questions are constantly being asked: Should we do this better? What would work better for you? They want to be sure they’re getting it right.”
— Pete De Vasto, PDX Access Committee member
Everyone's journey is different. Whatever that journey looks like, we want to make it the best it can possibly be for each individual.
Since 2018, the Port has worked closely with local partners to better understand the lived experiences and challenges faced by the communities we serve. We've worked hard to take a balanced approach and consider the needs of everyone who works with our PDX Access Committee, not just those who can attend every meeting or easily share their feedback.
We’ve taken the insights and learnings gained from the Access Committee to find ways to address those needs, whether that means making changes at the airport or offering new resources to travelers. These learnings from the PDX Access Committee are also informing the design of our new main terminal, set to open in 2024 as part of the PDX Next construction program.
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People with vision issues, who aren't English-language proficient and anyone who might have trouble navigating large, complex spaces can now more easily find their way through the terminal, thanks to adjustments we made to signage and wayfinding.
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Those who might have a hard time hearing can now be reached via visual paging, which supplements overhead paging announcements.
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There are now four all-user restrooms located throughout PDX, and we’ll have more when the new terminal opens. These can be used by anyone, regardless of their gender identity, and can also be helpful for caregivers, whether they’re assisting kids or older adults.
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Anyone prone to sensory overload, regardless of age, can find calm and respite in our PDX Sensory Room.
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Travelers with non-visible or hidden disabilities – including chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism or epilepsy – can wear a sunflower lanyard to signal to airport employees that they may need extra time, attention or support while at PDX.
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Travelers with vision impairments (or anyone else who might need assistance finding their way around) can use GoodMaps Explore, an indoor navigation app similar to Google Maps, for help moving through PDX
Accessibility improvements at PDX over the last 5 years are a huge win for older adults, neurodivergent travelers, gender-non-conforming travelers and families, and they’re all a result of the input and engagement of our PDX Access Committee. We're proud of this partnership and excited to continue working to make PDX welcoming and usable for everybody.
Learn more about accessibility services available at PDX.
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