When it comes to improving the collective travel experience of people with disabilities (PWDs), Ph.D. student Chenggang Hua in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) Department of Health & Wellness Design keeps challenging the U.S. tourism industry to broaden their horizons.
Hua recently received the Best Ph.D. Paper Award by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) for "Travel participation as an outlet for social integration of people with spinal cord injury: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study," co-authored by SPH-B Professor Shu Cole, Ph.D., in the Department of Health & Wellness Design; and Ye Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor at Florida Atlantic University.
"[Hua’s] paper addresses a critical topic that is understudied, demanding both innovative thinking and rigorous research," shares co-author Dr. Cole, who last fall made headlines for her research to help airlines improve travel and safety experiences for wheelchair users. "I have no doubt that his contributions will continue to advance the study on accessible travel, tourism, and hospitality."
Hua has been at the forefront of emerging research on alleviating depression in trauma survivors through travel participation, and last summer was awarded the Best Research Paper Award with co-author Xing Yao at the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Annual International Conference.
"Receiving this award [from JHTM] is a tremendous honor that amplifies the impact of my research and aligns closely with my academic goals of exploring ableism perspectives in the tourism and hospitality context for 2025," says Hua. "With this recognition, I aim to bridge academic research with actionable industry practices."
Hua says Dr. Zhang, who is an IU Bloomington graduate and a former SPH-B faculty member, was not only an excellent co-author given her expertise in transformative, accessible tourism services—but also a valuable mentor.
"Dr. Zhang sets an excellent example of alumni who maintain strong ties with their academic roots," says Hua. "Her advice has been instrumental in helping me refine my research focus and navigate my career path. Working with her has been both inspiring and educational, demonstrating the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and maintaining academic connections."
Hua further explains that the biggest challenge in helping the general public understand the benefits of travel for PWDs—e.g., people recovering from spinal cord injuries—is the lack of awareness that inaccessible tourism is a public health concern. Factors such as access barriers, insufficient training, and minimal compliance with accessibility standards not only limit those with disabilities from experiencing the full benefits of travel therapy; they also significantly increase health risks such as stress, stigma, and reinforcement of health disparities. By shifting to a societal perspective, the hospitality and tourism industry can begin to incorporate more inclusive service designs that cater to a full spectrum of disabilities, rather than focusing solely on physical accessibility. This approach also allows PWDs to feel more comfortable communicating their individual needs.
Hua adds: "Raising awareness about how inaccessible tourism negatively impacts health outcomes is essential to shifting societal attitudes and encouraging inclusivity as a public health priority."
For more inspiring stories about SPH-B students, faculty, and staff, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.