Shots from a recent handbike cometition in Rio de Janeiro:

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If you're visually challenged, you can certainly play the piano, but you can't get money out of most ATM machines in hi-tech Bangalore.

It is surprising that though ATM facilities are widely available, the visually challenged are unable to make use of them -- all because some banks allegedly refuse to provide ATM cards, while others do not even open accounts.

Anil Kumar, 25, working as a manager and also doing a company secretary course, is among those who have been denied an ATM card. He had approached State Bank of Mysore at JP Nagar and his application was allegedly rejected.

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"It's a complex issue. For disabled people it is incredibly hard to be spontaneous. If you wish to travel by train you have to book 24 or 48 hours in advance. You have to check there are accessible toilets on the train.

"I know too many people, myself included, who find it incredibly difficult just to navigate around the UK. Travelling from London to the north east of England you sometimes have to be put off at York to use facilities."

Press release:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gniNHX-8jKhTKPmJUL_NJv717h0A?docId=N0184981300908556470A

Bill Forrester offers an insight into how progress will be made for travelers with disabilities by drawing from the intriguing story of Imo.

THE PARABLE OF IMO, THE GENIUS MONKEY

Why the Compliance approach to Inclusive Tourism will fail

Every act of imagination is the discovery of likenesses between two things which were thought unlike.

Jacob Bronowski

In Mexico, before the wheel was invented, gangs of slaves had to carry giant stones through the jungle and up the mountains, while their children pulled their toys on tiny rollers. The slaves made the toys, but for centuries failed to make the connection.

Peter Brook

A few years ago I has the pleasure of spending a couple of days with one of the foremost authorities on Corporate Leadership - Alistair Mant. The extract below is from his book Intelligent Leadership. The pursuit of the mainstreaming of Inclusive Tourism has to take a turn and concentrate on teaching organisations the significance of the sector from the top down, not from compliance up...

Imo the monkey has become famous over the years, originally as a result of Robert Ardrey's wonderful work of science popularisation, The Social Contract, first published in 1970.

Source: http://travability.travel/blogs/imo.html

Grand Place, Brussels. Photo by Cherouvim

Brussels, 16 to 17 May 2011. Organised by ENAT, this seminar aims to give added impetus to Tourist Boards and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) that are spearheading the development of accessible tourism, helping them to develop their business, role and reputation as sector leaders, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Seminar will be held at the premises of the host organisation, Tourism Flanders, Grasmarkt, (off Grand Place), Brussels, Belgium.

Facilitated by ENAT Board Members and invited speakers, the seminar will include interactive sessions where all participants may present and discuss experiences and issues which they wish to share. The number of participants will be restricted to no more than 15 persons, in order to ensure satisfactory conditions for dialogue and discussion.

More on the event: http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.events.1124

• 
  
• A recent interview included the following overview of needs in this sector:

What areas still need to be improved?

According to Mr. Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director of ENAT, accessible tourism is about making the whole tourism experience inclusive and accessible to all visitors.

Therefore it is important to address all aspects of the tourism value chain, to meet the needs of the wide range of target groups.

• Information for customers, (on-line, printed and at the venue) should be accessible, e.g. Web sites conforming to Accessibility Guidelines by W3C-WAI.
• Transport and transfers must be accessible for all travellers throughout the journey; this should include the provision of wheelchair accessible transport.
• Infrastructure - all buildings and outdoor environments should be designed and maintained in a way that makes them accessible and usable by all visitors.
• Services - including activities and excursions offered at destinations and venues, should be accessible; e.g. tourist guides, waiter service, cultural tours, festivals and events, also very important - emergency evacuation procedures. 
•  

Travel News reports: "A new report from PhoCusWright (The U.S. Consumer Perspective on Air Travel) finds that while traveler attitudes toward airlines are lukewarm overall, consumers report feeling worse about their airline experiences versus a few years ago."

"Flyers are essentially giving airlines a grade of C+, which is barely above satisfactory," said Carroll Rheem, director of research for PhoCusWright. "But even more concerning for airlines is that their most valuable customers -- business travelers and those with higher annual household incomes -- are even less happy than the average."

"Consumers are inherently reluctant to buy more services from companies they feel are taking advantage of them -- and unfortunately, many feel that way about airlines today," said Rheem. "Airlines have therefore put a ceiling of their own creation on the potential success of optional services. If they focus on repairing relationships with their passengers, airlines have the ability to break that ceiling. Whether or not they have the inclination remains to be seen."

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One man one wheelchair one aim

Due to the extent of my injuries from the helicopter crash, I need to raise financial support to help with the additional expenses that I will have while abroad  completing my Nuffield Scholarship. I couldn't think of a better way to raise money then to take a stroll in my own backyard.  I will drive my wheelchair from the homestead of my family property 'Suplejack', on 23 May 2011. I have estimated my travelling speed at 6 km an hour and I plan on being in the saddle for 6 hours a day averaging 36 km a day .I have allowed 24 days to complete this fundraiser, which will give me a couple of 'down days '.

Suplejack is situated on the Northern reaches of the Tanami Desert.  Approximately 126 wheelchair hours, completing the journey into Alice Springs. My support crew for this journey will be made up of my 3 main carers and family and friends. The invitation is open to anybody wishing to support this fundraiser. We will witness some of Australia's most beautiful sunrises and sunsets and camped by an open fire, enjoying a feed of Suplejack beef. We will rely on solar and generated power and cart our own supply of water and a portable cold room containing food. We'll experience inch by inch the harshness of the Tanami Desert and all its wonders. Our trek will lead us past the Tanami and Granites goldmines, several cattle stations, aboriginal communities and some of the cleanest air Australia has to offer.

The notorious Tanami Track starts just north of Alice Springs.  It cuts its way 1000km along the Western side of the Tanami Desert, ending at Hall's Creek, WA.  My family station is situated 640 km North of Alice Springs on the Tanami Track and then a further 90 km East towards Katherine. Making it Australia's most isolated cattle station.  There are a couple of other reasons behind my 730klm Challenge.  Firstly I want to prove to my sponsors and myself that I have the determination and commitment to this project, secondly to motivate others in similar situations as myself and thirdly to become the first quadriplegic to ever cross the Tanami Desert from the seat of a powered 4 x 4 wheel chair.

Source:  http://robcook.com.au/

This article comes unedited from BraunAbility:

Reposting from US Forest Service:

If you manage a trail that is open to the public this rule applies to your trail.

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Analysis by Janet Zeller, U.S. Forest Service National Accessibility Program Manager

On March 15, 2011 the Department of Justice (DOJ) revised rules go into effect allowing "other power-driven mobility devices" to be used by "individuals with mobility disabilities."Read the full text of the DOJ rule ...

This DOJ ruling applies to any place, indoors or outdoors, that is open to the public.

Under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II this DOJ rule applies to trails on State or local government lands. Also under the ADA Title III it applies to other "public accommodations" that would include trails open to the public on privately or commercially managed lands. Federal agency managed lands are not directly covered under the ADA, however this rule sets legal precedents the Federal agencies must watch. So, the Federal agencies are also reviewing their policies, procedures, and the way in which trails on the land base they manage have been assessed.

What is an "other power-driven mobility device?"

An "other power-driven mobility device" is defined in the rules as: "any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines -- whether or not designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility disabilities -- that is used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion, including golf cars, electronic personal assistance mobility devices (EPAMDs), such as the Segway® PT, or any mobility device designed to operate in areas without defined pedestrian routes, but that is not a wheelchair within the meaning of this section. This definition does not apply to Federal wilderness areas; wheelchairs in such areas are defined in section 508(c)(2) of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. 12207(c)(2).

In short an other power-driven mobility device is anything with a motor that can be driven, regardless of size or horsepower, if it is driven by a person who has a mobility related disability.

What is NOT an "other power-driven mobility device?"

Any device that meets the following DOJ definition of a wheelchair is not an other power-driven mobility device and must be allowed to be used anywhere, with no exceptions.

A wheelchair is: a manually-operated or power-driven device designed primarily for use by an individual with a mobility disability for the main purpose of indoor or of both indoor and outdoor locomotion. This definition does not apply to Federal wilderness areas; wheelchairs in such areas are defined in section 508(c)(2) of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. 12207(c)(2).

Despite the DOJ ADA rules, the U.S. Forest Service wheelchair definition, regulations, and policies remain in place and continue to apply to all persons on the U.S. Forest Service managed lands.

Who is to be allowed to use the other power-driven mobility devices?

The DOJ rules say anyone who has a mobility disability. A person using an other power-driven mobility device may be asked to provide a "credible assurance" that the mobility device is required because of the person's disability. That credible assurance can be showing a valid, State-issued, disability parking placard or card, or other State-issued proof of disability, or if the person doesn't have any of those with them, they may simply say that the other power-driven mobility device is being used for a mobility disability. A person may not be asked if they have a disability or anything about their disability.

Only 8 million people who have mobility limitations use wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc. Close to 20 million people have a mobility related disability but don't use wheelchairs, canes, and so forth. However, they still have mobility disabilities that limit the distance they can walk due to heart or breathing disorders, amputations, joint or muscle related disabilities, and the list goes on. Keep in mind that 85% of all disabilities aren't obvious.

What do you need to do for your trail to be ready for March 15th when the DOJ rules on other power-driven mobility devices go into effect?

The DOJ rules require an entity open to the public to make reasonable modifications in its policies, practices, or procedures to allow the use of other power-driven mobility devices by individuals with mobility disabilities, UNLESS: that entity can document that it has completed an assessment of the facility, trail, route, or area, before the person requesting use of the device arrived onsite, and the entity found that class of other power-driven mobility device could not be used in that location due to one or more of the following DOJ assessment factors:

DOJ Assessment Factors:

(a) "The type, size, weight, dimensions, and speed of the device;

(b) The volume of pedestrian traffic (which may vary at different times of the day, week, month, or year);

(c) The design and operational characteristics (e.g., whether its service, program, or activity is conducted indoors, its square footage, the density and placement of stationary devices, and the availability of storage for the device, if requested by the user);

(d) Whether legitimate safety requirements can be established to permit the safe operation of the other power-driven mobility device in the specific facility; and

(e) Whether the use of the other power-driven mobility device creates a substantial risk of serious harm to the immediate environment or natural or cultural resources, or poses a conflict with Federal land management laws and regulations."

Those are the only factors a public entity or accommodation is to use in determining whether a particular class of other power-driven mobility device may be allowed in a specific location.

If one of those issues prevents the use of a specific class of other power-driven mobility device, that device may be denied use in the section of trail or area where that is an issue.

Post the information:

The information about the devices that may not be used must be posted where the public can easily access it before going to that location. The posted information must include the various classes of devices that may be used, rules related to that use, and who to contact for more information.

The DOJ rules regarding other power-driven mobility devices, are a portion of the revisions to the ADA Title II and Title III finalized by DOJ on 9/15/2010. Both are available in full on the DOJ ADA website at http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm.

We will be adding additional information to the American Trails website to help you understand this new rule, so check back often: American Trails Web page on the power-driven mobility devices rule.

More on accessible trails, outdoor recreation, and the Americans with Disabilities Act

We wish to thank Janet Zeller, U.S. Forest Service National Accessibility Program Manager, for providing this information on the new DOJ rule. Janet has generously offered to field questions for the immediate future. She can be reached via email at jzeller@fs.fed.us or by phone (202) 205-9597.

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Traveling with a service dog is a tricky subject for me to write about since the closest Marlene and I got to working with a service dog was a one-day orientation. We didn't get the dog because Marlene already had a service animal (otherwise known as a husband).  It was particularly unfortunate because Marlene fell in love with the dog, a black lab named Ishmael. For someone like Marlene, who has admitted she can't teach a flea to jump on a dog, it was revelation to see how much Ishmael could do to help.

However, this is an important - and tricky -matter for many disabled travelers. Some countries won't let in any foreign dogs or have long quarantine requirements. Others require special identification tags, vaccinations or health certificates.  Certain airlines won't fly dogs to particular destinations, and some airports in a given country won't allow dogs in while others will!  So, be careful to check on possible restrictions with the embassy or consulate of each country you will visit.  (Note: This and other country information may be found on each country's Country Specific Information at http://travel.state.gov).

Here from Inside Bay Area is another of example of "second wave" mainstream reporting on Universal Design. The first wave began nearly 30 years after the concept was first created during the Disability Rights Movement on the 1970's. Confusion between ADA checklists for accessibility compliance and Universal Design as a design approach was typical of that era of reporting. The current message implicitly grasps that UD is not a style but emphasizing that it is specifically not a sterile lack-of-style or "hospital sterility."

If you plan to live out your retirement years in your own home, adding universal design features will make aging in place safer and more comfortable. And if you should later sell, your buyers will appreciate how these upgrades anticipate their future needs.

Unlike home improvements designed to make an immediate impression, universal design additions with the most sales appeal are discreet.

"The beauty of universal design is when you're able to incorporate something that looks great and doesn't jump out at you," says

Paul Sullivan, a remodeling contractor in Newton, Mass.

In other words, says

Armand Christopher, a Realtor and designated Seniors Real Estate Specialist: "You don't put in hospital-grade grab bars in a bathroom when you are remodeling."

Fortunately, you don't have to settle for the institutional look. From ergonomically designed faucet handles to skid-free flooring, today's universal design products are stylish and subtle.

Bert Morris and Laurianne Krid have published a valuable guide on parking permits and reciprocity ruls for their use between countries.

My name is Bert Morris and I am a disability consultant working in the UK and Brussels. I have recently completed a project on parking cards / permits issued to disabled persons. The 

information for around 130 countries / federal states worldwide is shown in the FIA Guide for the disabled traveller that is on-line atwww.fiadisabledtravellers.com

 

The Guide explains the parking rules for parking card / permit holders, and whether or not the parking card / permit of a visit tor can be used (reciprocity) 

 

 

The project was supported by the FIA Foundation and the FIA European Bureau in Brussels. Along with my colleagues Laurianne Krid and Caroline Ofoegbu at the FIA European Bureau, we are now refining and improving the FIA Guide, and raising awareness that it is freely available on-line.

 

We welcome comments on the Guide, particularly in respect of the accuracy of the information it contains. We can be contacted atfiaguide@fiabrussels.com

 

I would be grateful if you would circulate details of the FIA Guide for the disabled traveller to your readership.

 

Many thanks and best wishes

 

Bert Morris

FIA Disability Consultant

Bert Morris Consultancy Services

bertmconsulting@aol.com

The Federal Communications Commission, a federal agency that has regulated VRS since 2002, states that "Because the conversation between the VRS user and the Communications Assistant (CA) flows much more quickly than with a text-based TRS call, VRS has become an enormously popular form of TRS [Telecommunications Relay Service]."

Continuous Changes In VRS Industry

The advent of video relay services is only a decade old and yet, so much has happened in this short time period. An average of 8 million VRS minutes is now generated per month according to the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), a membership association of U.S. local telephone companies.

There are now 10 certified VRS providers and 32 white label providers according to a recent FCC filing by ConvoVRS.

Source:

http://tinyurl.com/694zyzk

An interview by Sandy Duybvetter of Travel Talk Radio with world traveler Mitch St. Pierre.

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The Recommendation

Draft Recommendation 6.2

That the Department of Planning and Community Development, in consultation with the accommodation industry evaluate the accessibility ratio standards. The evaluation would assess the costs and benefits of this regulation, and examine the utilisation of accessible rooms and the efforts of the accommodation industry to better manage the use of these rooms. This evaluation should inform Victoria's position on the accessibility ratios and a decision to pursue potential changes to the accessibility ratios nationally.

Background

Short-term accommodation

Several participants argued national building standards and their administration in Victoria impede the development of major new hotel accommodation in Melbourne and regional Victoria. In recent years, the supply of serviced apartments in most major cities, including Melbourne, has grown more rapidly than the supply of stand alone hotel rooms. While participants argued federal and state policies supporting residential development may be driving this trend, they also considered the different building standards applying to these two types of short-term accommodation distort investment.

According to participants, building standards for serviced apartments and hotels differ in areas such as disability access and fire safety. These standards exist to deliver benefits such as improved access to accommodation for older people as well as those with a disability and reduced risks and damage resulting from fires. It was argued, however, that the standards also impose a number of costs, including:

•

lost revenue from the hotel floor space required for accessible rooms, which would otherwise have been used for additional non-accessible rooms with higher occupancy rates

•

higher costs of construction and greater lending requirements for hotels compared with serviced apartments

•

lost revenue to hotels competing in the short-term market with lower room rates because they do not have to cover the cost of providing accessible rooms.

A survey by the Tourism and Transport Forum and Australian Hotels Association on the requirements for disability access reported the 'average demand for accessible rooms was 0.47 per cent of rooms per night, per establishment' and 'occupancy for accessible rooms was 30.7 per cent compared to 71.4 per cent for other rooms' (sub. 44, p. 38). A review of the accessibility requirements, however, argued business could address this low use of accessible rooms by more carefully designing accessible rooms, educating staff and better marketing to older people as well as people with a disability.

On balance, the Commission considers the Department of Planning and Community Development, in consultation with the accommodation industry, should conduct an evaluation of the accessibility ratio standards. The evaluation would assess the costs and benefits of this regulation, and examine the utilisation.

Overview of ccessible rooms and the efforts of the accommodation industry to better manage the use of these rooms. This evaluation should inform Victoria's position on the accessibility ratios and a decision to pursue potential changes to the accessibility ratios nationally

Source:

 http://www.vcec.vic.gov.au/CA256EAF001C7B21/WebObj/UnlockingVictorianTourismDraftReport/$File/Unlocking%20Victorian%20Tourism%20Draft%20Report.pdf

Opportunity for further comment:

You are invited to examine this draft report and provide comment on it within 

the Commission's public inquiry process. The Commission will be accepting 

submissions commenting on this report and will be undertaking further 

consultation before delivering a final report to the Government.   

The Commission should receive all submissions by 12 April 2011. 

Submissions may be sent by mail, fax, or email: in electronic, paper or audio 

format.  

By mail: 

Victoria's Tourism Industry inquiry 

Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission 

GPO Box 4379 

MELBOURNE   VICTORIA   3001 

AUSTRALIA 

By facsimile:  (03) 9092 5845      By email:  tourism@vcec.vic.gov.au

From Sify News:

It is not without awareness of the tremendous disaster that has struck Japan that I offer the following story on the "Complete Street." As post -disaster planning eventually occurs the measure of cultural achievement will be the implementation of Universal Design. Fortunately Japan has an experts at their disposal in this regard. Among them is Satoshi Kose of Hamamatsu.

Signage in Braille, tactile exhibits and audio guides are among the few measures the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plans to implement in order to make museums and monuments in the city more friendly towards the visually challenged.

The ASI is in talks with the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, that works under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to introduce several Braille devices and signages at the sites. Officials said following a request from the Ministry, the ASI has been coordinating with the NIVH to develop the system.

"Currently, some sites like Sanchi and Sarnath Museum have Braille signages. We are now planning to take the initiative forward to other prominent sites across the country. The idea is to make the monuments and museums disabled-friendly and to open them up to as many people as possible," BRR Mani, Joint Director General-ASI, told Newsline. "We are in talks with the Institute and have sought their expertise on developing the various Braille devices and signages that will help the visually impaired experience the heritage of our country."

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Everyone in Italy knows about celiac disease.  When you ask restaurant staff about 

gluten-free food, they automatically respond with the question "Do you have celiac 

disease?"  This is because all Italians are tested for celiac disease at an early age.  

The many who test positive receive great services: a monthly stipend from the 

government for gluten-free food PLUS extra vacation time to shop for and prepare 

gluten-free food!!  Also, the Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC), the Italian 

government and a few major Italian companies that sell gluten-free products have all 

worked to promote awareness and understanding of celiac disease.  As a result, 

restaurant owners, managers, chefs, and waiters are well-informed.

I'm a Professor of Italian in New York so I've lived in Italy and I travel to Italy a lot to 

do research and for meetings (our next professional meeting is this summer in 

Taormina, Sicily!). I usually write books and articles on Italian literature or musical 

adaptations of Dante's Commedia, but since my daughter Sara and I have gone 

gluten-free in the past few years (she has celiac and I have gluten neuropathy), I 

have started to write for a gluten-free audience.  Last year I wrote The Gluten-Free 

Guide to New York and this year I decided to write The Gluten-Free Guide to Italy.  

I decided to write the second book in part because while everyone in Italy knows 

about celiac disease, not many gluten-free travelers to Italy realize that! 

Veja Portugal Acessivel. Viaje com Accessible Portugal. Conheca a Program Rampa neste video.

Autism Speaks Seeks Family Services Community Grant Proposals From U.S. Organizations

Autism Speaks, a nonprofit autism science and advocacy organization, is accepting Letters of Intent from community organizations for its sixth round of Family Services Community Grants to promote services that will enrich the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The focus of these grants will be on proposals that serve to build the field of services for individuals with autism and expand the capacity to effectively serve this growing community.

Proposals for family services grants are sought in the areas of Recreation/Community Activities, Education, or Young Adult/Adult Services. Grants may be used to support new programs or the expansion of existing projects. Preference will be given to programs that expand the numbers of individuals served.

Priority will be given to agencies or organizations that address the needs of those who have little access to services. Agencies that provide services to the underserved are encouraged to submit proposals.

Autism Speaks does not award grants to individuals or fund an individual or family for participation in personal programs. Grant awardees are required to wait at least one year before submitting another application.

The amount requested should be in the $5,000 to $25,000 range. Multi-year grants will not be awarded. In the last grant cycle, Autism Speaks awarded over $500,000 in total Family Services Community Grants to twenty-four organizations.

Letters of Intent will be accepted on a rolling basis through April 8, 2011; invited full proposals are due by May 9, 2011.

The complete 2011-12 Family Services Community Grants Request for Applications, online LOI process, and examples of previously funded programs are available at the Autism Speaks Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

O Jornal Nacional apresenta um lugar que permite a pessoas com deficiência física entrar em contato direto com a arte, como mostra a repórter Neide Duarte. O Museu da Pessoa com Deficiência é pequeno e ocupa pouco espaço. 

(Forimmediaterelease.net) While economic growth going forward faces many challenges, the travela nd tourism industry is still expected to be one of the world's fastest-growing sectors, according to new Economic Impact Research for 2011 to 2021. Released today by the World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC), the research reveals the power of travel and tourism to boost economic growth and employment.

"Travel and tourism creates jobs, generates exports, and stimulates investment. At a time of post-crisis global recovery, the industry is in a unique position to power sustainable growth around the globe, whether in mature economies emerging from recession or young emerging markets in the throes of rapid development. But it must have the clear support of governments and policy-makers if that potential is to be realized," said WTTC President and CEO, David Scowsill.

Sustaining last year's recovery, travel and tourism's contribution to GDP is bouncing back and set to grow by 4.5% in 2011, creating around 3 million new jobs this year. Worldwide it will be worth US$1.8 trillion, directly employing just over 99 million people. When the wider impacts of the industry are taken into account the figures rise to a total value of US$6 trillion (9.1% of GDP) and 258 million jobs (8.8% of total employment). 

"Over the next ten years, travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP is forecast to rise by 4.2% pa to US$9.2 trillion, bringing with it 65 million new jobs. By 2021, 1 in 10 workers on the planet will be employed as a result of travel and tourism," continued David Scowsill.

This growth will be largely driven by rising living standards and new consumers - mainly from countries such as China and India - entering the market, boosting international travel, and generating increasingly vibrant domestic tourism sectors. 

Foreign travelers' spending will continue to be vital to many nations' economic fortunes. These visitor exports are expected to grow by 6.6% per annum, reaching US$1.8 trillion in 2021. Industry investment - currently estimated at US$652 billion - is forecast to double in real terms over the next decade to reach US$1.5 trillion, with particularly rapid growth in emerging and developing economies.

However, economic challenges such as fiscal austerity and rising commodity prices mean that governments will need smarter policies to support the industry as it grows and seize its potential to create jobs, increase exports, and stimulate investment.

Geoffrey Kent, Chairman of WTTC and Founder and Executive Chairman of leading luxury tour operator Abercrombie&Kent, commented: "WTTC's annual research proves that the direct contribution of travel and tourism is only a fraction of the industry's true worth. The research can help governments and business better understand the true power and potential of this industry to boost GDP, employment, and exports, helping to drive economic growth. For that growth to be sustainable governments must work together with the industry towards smarter policies and legislation that will help travel and tourism to thrive."

To realize sustainable growth, WTTC is calling for policies that:

- minimize barriers to travel with efficient and transparent visa processes, taxation reflecting the export value of the industry, and rationalized and uniform security measures;

- facilitate investment to maintain and expand capacity in a sustainable way, and also underpin improvements in quality, competitiveness, and productivity;

- support the human capital needs of the industry through appropriate skills development and employment legislation.

Undertaken in partnership with Oxford Economics, the world research report is one of a series for 181 countries and 20 country "groupings." Each also charts the value of business versus leisure, and domestic versus international travel.

All the reports are available free online at www.wttc.org .

Related articles

• WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards (belizebiodiversity.com)

The IDeA Center is now offering the next two courses in its online continuing education program.

1) Core Courses II: Universal Design Principles & Practices

This course introduces universal design as part of the phenomenon of innovation. Universal design is viewed as an evolutionary process that functions within a social ecology that varies by industry. The readings introduce students to the most widely adopted definition of universal design through the construction of seven principles and associated guidelines. Additional readings reformulate the Principles of Universal Design for use in building and urban design and provides extensive best practice guidelines and examples of how those Principles can be applied. Additional articles describe how the process of innovation can be used to understand how to introduce universal design into the marketplace and how that process might play out differently in different industries, as well as provide more detailed case studies of noteworthy universal designs, the companies that produced them and the basis for their success.

2) Special Topic: Home Modifications (NEW)

This course introduces participants to the basic issues of home modification design and provides information and tools for delivering service using universal design guidelines. Common home modification needs and solutions will be presented and discussed through illustrations and several case study examples.

Registration is now open for both courses and will be available until March 23, 2011. Both courses begin March 28, 2011, are entirely online and continue for 4 weeks. Each course contains readings, a quiz, discussion board topics and a brief exercise. If you plan to take both courses, please register for each course individually. AIA members will receive 15 CEUs per course. 

Each course costs US$250.

For more information about the courses offered, please go here.

To register for the courses, please go here.

Please note that international participants can pay via credit card or money order.

If you have any questions, please contact Jordana Maisel (jlmaisel@buffalo.edu or 716.829.5902). 

Artigo de Adriana Lage sobre o incidente ocorrido com a deputada Mara Gabrilli

Stowage for Ground Operations - Train the Trainers
Quarterly live webinar series

Attend this 60-minute live webinar which is aimed for ground ops trainers, supervisors and customer service reps where we do a short presentation then hands-on training

Agenda

Introductions and background information
What is an assistive device
Who uses them

Review of Open Doors Org stowage CD
Discussion Topics
How to read and interpret diagrams and designs
Lifting techniques and stowage techniques
Applicable laws and regulations
Action pictures and videos

Hands on training--What to do if there is damage
Handling, dismantling and general "kick the tires"
Power wheelchairs
3 and 4 wheeled scooters 
Manual chair

Goals of session
1. Feeling more comfortable and educated about handling assistive devices.
2. Understanding those who use these assistive devices.
3. Understanding of where to find the answers if there are any questions

Brought to you by:

www.opendoorsnfp.org
www.themobilityshop.com

Context Travel, the walking tour company for intellectually curious travelers, announces its new Mobility Program. The program combines a selection of a la carte accessible tours with customized trip planning and support services. This program was created through a careful consultation with accessible travel experts, docents and former clients with mobility concerns.

Since its inception, Context Travel has aimed to provide transformative experiences for intellectually curious travelers. However, due to the physical nature of some cities, this often excluded access for travelers with mobility concerns and physical disabilities. With the creation of this program, Context establishes itself as an innovator in the field of accessible travel, being the first urban tour company to offer personalized and informed services for travelers with disabilities.

The services and features of the program include:
- a collection of specifically designed itineraries, considering all physical factors (walking surfaces, walking pace and distance, accessibility of sites visited, availability of accessible bathrooms and dining establishments nearby)
- a team of docents who have been trained in leading mobility-friendly itineraries
- a client resource document for each city, which include: wheelchair rental information, accessible taxi and transfer options, accessible travel resources and trip planning sites
- pre and post-booking assistance for creation of a personalized travel itinerary.

To guarantee the benefits and capabilities of this program, Context Travel will be conducting an annual roundtable discussion with its in-house staff and a panel of accessible travel experts.

"Our mobility program has always existed in a nebulous way - we worked with travelers with a variety of mobility concerns but did not have a formal set of systems and services in place," says program coordinator Megan McDonnell. "I see this program as setting a standard for other like-minded travel companies. This program is an ideological partner of our sustainable travel initiatives - this program supports inclusiveness and is a way to give back to a segment of the population that is not well served by the normal standards of the travel industry."

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and graphic designer Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals - including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes - who organize and lead didactic walking seminars in several world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, New York, Istanbul, Philadelphia, Madrid, Athens, and Boston. Travel + Leisure has named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs.

Image via CrunchBase

FAQ's

Disability Assistance

Call 1-404-209-3434

Customers with hearing or speech disabilities please: Dial 711.

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3. Form fields do not have explicit labeling (violates .22(n) ).  However, they are keyboard accessible. ~ TecAccess

WORKSHOP "ACESSIBILIDADE E INCLUSÃO APLICADAS AO LAZER E TURISMO"

 
Apesar do Workshop utilizar o lazer e turismo como um cenário, os ensinamentos passados podem ser aplicados em qualquer área de nossa sociedade. É um workshop diferenciado, porque além de tratar da parte física e arquitetônica, também mostra o lado do atendimento e hospitalidade, aos diferentes tipos de deficiência, numa abordagem completa e de qualidade. Será fornecido uma apostila para um melhor acompanhamento da aula, além de um livro digital com inúmeros materiais para servirem de apoio para um aprofundamento muito maior nos assuntos abordados.
 
O Workshop irá acontecer na mesma época da Reatech - Tecnologias em Reabilitação, Inclusão e Acessibilidade, a maior feira internacional do segmento na América do Sul. Assim os alunos poderão conhecer as novidades do mercado, tendências além de estar em contato direto com pessoas com deficiência de diversas partes do Brasil. Então este curso vem surgir com uma proposta inédita no Brasil, feito por profissionais gabaritados, com uma abordagem da melhor qualidade. Será uma oportunidade única de realizar troca de contatos e experiências com pessoas e profissionais das mais diversas áreas.  
 
Local do Curso: Top Tower Offices - Rua Vergueiro, 1.421 - 12° andar - Bairro Paraíso - São Paulo/SP (à 50m da estação Paraiso do Metrô)
Data: 15 e 16 de abril de 2011
Horário: 9h00 às 18h00
 
Investimento
Estudantes: R$380,00
Profissionais: R$450,00
Obs.: Pagamento efetuado até dia 15/03 tem R$30,00 de desconto para estudante ou profissional
Itens inclusos: Coffe-break e material didático
Inscrição e informações: curso@ducaacessibilidade.com.br ou tel.: (11)2225-1421
 
Mais informações, clique no link a seguir http://turismoadaptado.wordpress.com/workshop/

From the AIA blog:

Brazilian councilwoman from São Paulo  Mara Gabrilli reports having to wait two hours to deplane at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, late on Wednesday March 2. According to a spokesperson for the congresswoman, upon arriving in Brasilia in a TAM aircraft, at around 21 hours, she was inside the aircraft waiting for a ambulift - a motor vehicle with a lift, which carries passengers with disabilities in transit. 

The originally stigmatized concept of Universal Design is now the "Wow Factor" - as young moms and silver-haired grandfathers catch up with quadriplegic architect Ron Mace (after 30 years.)

Now let's see hotels catch up!

Homes That Help You Take Aging in Stride

Feb. 17, 2011

More homes are being built with "universal design" features that will help boomers stay in their homes as they age. But these features no longer evoke a hospital room -- and they're appealing to a younger demographic, too. Amy Hoak reports.

It is even catching on in Tasmania:

Increased Support for People with Disabilities

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The Human Services Minister, Cassy O'Connor said that Housing Tasmania and Disability Services are working cooperatively to meet the needs of Tasmanians with disability who require appropriate public housing. 

Ms O'Connor said that Housing Tasmania ensured that properties allocated to people with disability were appropriate to their needs. 

 

"Housing Tasmania also ensures that all applicants, including those waiting for a property, are fully aware of relevant support services and how to access these, including Gateway Services," Ms O'Connor said.

 

"The Department of Health and Human Services is committed to ensuring a range of accommodation options are available for Tasmanians.

 

"A focus on universal design options are implemented through any newly constructed accommodation that is built by Housing Tasmania.

 

"All new stock built under ESP 2 has been built to universal design (447 units of accommodation) and approximately 20% has been designed to adaptable standards."

 

Ms O'Connor said that the Opposition's claim that only 4% of public housing stock was suitable for people with disabilities was misleading.

 

"In fact there 6195 properties in the public housing portfolio that incorporate one or more features to improve accessibility such as level access, handrails and walk in showers. 

 

"This is over half of all public housing properties.

 

"Housing Tasmania undertakes modifications to existing properties for people with disabilities or the elderly where feasible and where these are recommended by an Occupational Therapist.

 

"Each year Housing Tasmania works closely with Disability Services and the Community Sector to provide suitable accommodation that meets the specific needs of people with disability.

 

"The capacity to construct to universal design and adaptable standards needs to take into account current demand, recognition of the proportion of people with disabilities who require physical modification, feasibility of sites, available resources and availability of stock in the market place where targets are achieved by spot purchase."

 

"The number of applicants on the public housing waiting list citing disability refers to any people of their household with a disability.  This is not the same as people requiring a physically modified environment.  This is verified if the applicant requests a modified environment or has ill-health requirements."

 

Ms O'Connor said that through the State's new Gateway services, people with a disability had access to a referral to a range of supports.

 

"In the six months to December 2010, 72 Individual Support Packages, 159 respite packages and 3 supported accommodation packages have been approved to further assist people with disability cope with challenge and change."

Source: http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=31686

Related articles:

• Real Estate Weekly: Homes designed for baby boomers are good for all (marketwatch.com)
• Tech & Baby Boomers: Universal Design vs. Universally Dull (advertisingtobabyboomers.blogspot.com)
• Thornhill Universal Design: Your Home Is Your Ketchup Bottle | Richmond Times-Dispatch (timesdispatch.com)
• Interview with Pattie Moore, proponent of Universal Design (core77.com)
• Builders' Show: Universal design that's good for everyone (blogs.consumerreports.org)
• Scott Rains Writes About Access Verses Inclusion (accesstourismnz.org.nz)
• Paul Hummer: Book Report: Universal Design for Web Applications (theironlion.net)
• Build the Home of the Future (everydayhealth.com)
• 7 Housing Trends (chicagonow.com)

Universal Design: The Seven Principles

View more presentations from Scott Rains.

Features Touchscreen Navigation, Speech Recognition, Web and Email Access, and Nuance's Vocalizer® Text-to-Speech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain, March 2nd, 2011

Today, Code Factory is delighted to introduce Mobile Accessibility, a screen-access application that allows people who are blind or have low vision to use an Android phone in an intuitive, easy and simple way. Mobile Accessibility is the first accessible Android application that permits intuitive touchscreen navigation of Android phones, featuring text readback via natural sounding voices powered by Nuance's Vocalizer® text-to-speech technology.

"Mobile phones have proved to be among the fastest-changing consumer technologies in the world - particularly with the advent of the Android platform. So making mobile phones accessible to the blind and visually impaired is therefore challenging, fascinating, thrilling and totally exciting all at the same time," explained Eduard Sánchez, Code Factory's CEO. "There was no doubt that we would target the  Android platform, as we very quickly realized that there was a real need in this specific market for an accessible solution that can provide a user-friendly experience for all blind and low-vision consumers. Mobile Accessibility allows everyone, from beginners to the most tech-savvy, to use an Android phone, no matter if it has physical keys or is touchscreen-only."

Mobile Accessibility is two products in one:

·         A suite of 10 accessible applications (Phone, Contacts, SMS, Alarm, Calendar, Email, Web, Where am I, Apps and Settings) that have been specially designed for the blind and visually impaired. They all have a simplified interface whose textual information is spoken using Nuance Vocalizer® voice synthesis.
·         A screen reader that allows users to get out of the suite and navigate the standard interface of their phone.
"Mobile Accessibility provides both access to the mainstream apps of the phone and access to special apps for blind people. Why? Because our philosophy has always been to allow our users to use the phone the same way as everyone else. However, we also believe that having some special apps for the most common tasks can be extremely useful if it means gaining in productivity," added Eduard Sánchez.

The major features of Mobile Accessibility are the following:

·         Touch navigation: You can use Mobile Accessibility not only with the trackball or the physical keyboard of your phone, but also with its touchscreen! Simply move your finger around the screen and the voice synthesis will read the text located under your finger. Or if you prefer, you can also swipe up/down/right/left and tap on the screen to navigate through the interface. And if you wish you can enable sound and vibration feedback.
·         Easy to input text: In or outside the Mobile Accessibility suite you can use the touch QWERTY keyboard as well as the speech recognition to write text quickly and easily. Imagine writing an SMS or an Email using your voice only.
·         Voice synthesis: Code Factory has been making mobile phones accessible to the blind and visually impaired for many years now, and they know that the voice matters... and a lot! For Mobile Accessibility, Code Factory has partnered with Nuance® to leverage its trusted Vocalizer text-to-speech technology, providing consumers with natural sounding voice readback.
"With around 314 million visually impaired persons around the world, we believe that it's our joint obligation to facilitate access to information and mobile communication to everyone" says Arnd Weil, VP & General Manager Automotive / Consumer Electronics, Nuance Communications. "By offering screen reader functionality for Android phones using Nuance Vocalizer, Code Factory gives blind and visually impaired persons access to one of the most important mobile platforms with the market's most natural sounding and intelligible voices."

Inside the Mobile Accessibility suite of accessible applications you can do the following:

·         Phone: Make calls, answer calls, hear the caller ID and manage your call log.
·         Contacts: Manage your contacts, even those from social networks such as Facebook.
·         SMS: Compose and read short messages. Manage conversations.
·         Alarms: Set your alarms.
·         Web: Full web browser experience, similar to what you can find on your PC. Jump by the control of your choice (links, paragraphs, headings, forms, etc.) to navigate faster to the information of your interest. Bookmark your favourite webpages.
·         Calendar: Create, edit and delete a calendar entry. View all events per day, week or month.
·         Email: Full access to your Gmail account
·         Where am I? : GPS application that gives you updates on your current location.
·         Settings: Change ringtone. Configure feedback and notifications (vibration or audio). Configure keyboard echo, punctuation verbosity, speech pitch and rate, etc.
·         Quick access to date and time, phone status information such as battery level and network coverage, number of missed calls and unread messages, etc.
To hear Mobile Accessibility in action listen to videos and audio demos at http://www.codefactory.es/en/products.asp?id=415#video

Mobile Accessibility supports all Android phones from version 2.1 and above. Please note that voice recognition is only supported with version 2.2 and above. Note also that if you want to use the screen reader functionality of Mobile Accessibility you will need a phone with physical navigational controls such as a trackball or trackpad. You can find more information about Android phones here.

At the time of this release Mobile Accessibility is only available in English, but soon Code Factory will release other versions of Mobile Accessibility for Spanish, Italian, German, French and Portuguese. Note that Mobile Accessibility doesn't support multiple languages at one time. If you buy the English version of Mobile Accessibility you will not be able to use it in another language like French or Spanish. There will be a specific version of Mobile Accessibility for each language and each version will have to be purchased separately.

You can now get a Mobile Accessibility Demo from the Android Market and try the product for free for 30 days:

·         Mobile Accessibility Demo US

·         Mobile Accessibility Demo UK

(From the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)

The round-table on disability-inclusive development is a broad dialogue format to inform and exchange on what the CRPD and inclusive development means for German development actors.

The Round-table convened for the second time on November 2nd 2010. Representatives from more than 30 German organizations (DPOs, NGOs, private companies, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare etc.) followed the invitation of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to the round table on disability-inclusive development. The main focus of the one-day-event was the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), its innovative aspects, and the possible and necessary steps towards the realization of inclusive development, especially with regards to Art. 32 CRPD (International Cooperation).

Presentations by international experts gave "food for thought" on two main issues: human rights expert Marianne Schulze from Austria presented the CRPD in the international human rights framework and its opportunities for development cooperation. Kristen Pratt, director of AusAID's disability-inclusive development team, introduced Australia's disability-inclusive "Development for All" strategy. GIZ, the German implementing agency for international cooperation (formerly GTZ)[1], has a long-standing tradition to cooperate with AusAID in this field. This cooperation will be strengthened further in future at international as well as partner country level, also by GIZ's participation in AusAID's expert Disability Reference Group, which provides strategic guidance in the implementation and monitoring of the "Development for All" strategy.

The results of working group discussions on challenges to inclusive development and possible ways forward were presented to and discussed with Gudrun Kopp, the Parliamentary State Secretary of BMZ. Ms. Kopp underlined the importance of ensuring accessibility and disability inclusion in all relevant efforts of German Development Cooperation. Ms. Kopp underlined her personal commitment to this cause and singled out that the issue of inclusive development must be increasingly addressed in bilateral government negotiations. She also announced that BMZ will develop a strategy on inclusive development in 2011 to make current approaches more systematic and coherent.