Eric Lipp

Eric Lipp, Founder and Executive Director of the Open Doors Organization, started the organization after personally experiencing the restrictions that people with disabilities face in everyday life. This experience was the catalyst in encouraging Eric to found the Open Doors Organization (ODO). ODO works as Part 382 US Air Carrier Access Act experts across the globe, working with 38 foreign carriers. ODO also recently worked with London Heathrow on the 2012 London Olympic Paralympic games and recently received the Community Support Award from the US Dept. of Homeland Security, TSA. ODO also acts as the Centralized Dispatch for all 250 Wheelchair Accessible Taxi’s in Chicago. Eric initiated the groundbreaking 2002, 2005 ODO/Harris Interactive studies on travelers with disabilities and the soon to be released 2015 ODO study on travelers with disabilities. He and ODO are the host of the Universal Access in Airports biennial event. Www.opendoorsnfp.org He is a frequent speaker at national trade shows & international conferences as well as often quoted in national press (NY Times, USA Today, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune and media. Eric and Open Doors Org are the leaders in accessibility at airports with ACI, A4A, IATA and AAAE. ODO is also considered experts in the cruise line industry working with RCL, Celebrity and NCL. ODO trains and helps with policy for bus and motorcoach companies in all 50 states as well as working with numerous hotel management companies and restaurant groups. ODO also has extensive programming for museums and theaters.