Today we’d like to introduce you to Liliana Arevalo.
Liliana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a professional tour guide with over 20 years of experience. As the mother of a deaf child, I am aware of how interested the Deaf Community is in experiencing cultural, educational and historical activities, while at the same time acutely aware of how inadequately these places provide for them.
I wanted my daughter to be included in the same way while visiting cultural sites. Doing so made me aware of the large segment of the population that didn’t have the same opportunities. Therefore, the idea of setting up a tourism company was to design activities for the Deaf, their families, and friends.
The idea became a reality seven years ago while living in Spain, launching my first group tours with the Deaf Association of Madrid, Aragon and the Basque Country. What developed out of these activities was the inclusion of the Deaf community to enjoy museums, historical sites, monuments and cultural activities together with hearing members of their families and friends. The reality of these activities far exceeded our expectation. The gratitude from everybody involved was overwhelming.
In 2015, after relocating to the US and getting involved with the Deaf community of Atlanta, I initiated the same concept here, once again with overwhelming success.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We are still struggling with some issues. Official sign language interpreters are expensive. Also, monuments are very expensive in Atlanta and there are no handicapped discounts.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Handmadetrips – what should we know?
There are no other companies giving tours for deaf and hard of hearing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being fully committed to your idea.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.handmadetrips.com
- Facebook: handmadetrips
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Kathryn Abell
March 10, 2018 at 2:02 pm
I know Liliana as a guide, in the US and in Spain, and can say with certainty that she is 100% professional, capable and committed to her work and to her customers. She never does anything by halves, researching and preparing well in advance for any kind of visit or excursion, and takes great pleasure in sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with others. The fact that she has taken positive steps to include people with hearing difficulties in activities that most of us take for granted is testament to her passion for sharing culture and history with people of all backgrounds. I would totally recommend her as a trusted and knowledgeable guide. Well done Liliana!