Rolling Rains Report:

Cruise Ship Access: Spector v. Norwegian Cruise Line, 03-1388

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider whether foreign cruise lines sailing in U.S. waters must comply with a federal disabilities law requiring better access to passengers in wheelchairs.

The case seeks to determine what Congress intended when it passed the landmark American Disabilities Act in 1990 barring discrimination against the disabled in the enjoyment of services in places of "public accommodation."

For the full article:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&ncid=558&e=7&u=/ap/20040928/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_disabled_cruises_1

NICAN 2004 - The OZ to US Bonus Day

Today is September 29, 2004.

So was yesterday.

Or, from my perspective, "today" was 48 hours long.

So you can forgive me if I don't know what day of the week it is back here across the International Dateline here in San Jose.

Waking up at the north end of the north island in New Zealand we snaked along the ridgetop roadways leading out of Tutukaka, back through Whangarei, and down to Auckland. I am certain that on my next visit to Tutukaka the idyllic little inlet will be unrecognizably developed. Already a set of condos are springing up across from the marina.

Boarding at Auckland was pleasant due to a very accommodating and competent Qantas ticketing agent. Well, pleasant aside from an Australian passenger who loudly announced that "maybe some people deserve to be disabled" when I did not capitulate to her attenmpts to strongarm ahead of me at the the fourth and final security checkpoint. Not surprisingly she fielded the same play at immigration in LAX where she Mau Mau'd a less resolute adversary -- as I imagine she has become accustomed to doing throughout her long and fretful life.

The NICAN Conference was a watershed experience. There is a great deal of quality thought, right intention, and promising infrastructure in place throughout Australia.

Already I have begun to work elements of the material presented there into the invitation that awaited me at home to speak at the Congresso Ibero-Americano de Acessibilidade no Turismo sponsored by the Instituto Pestalozzi da Canoas-Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil this November.

NICAN 2004 - Leaving Western Australia

The alarm clock this morning included White Tailed Black Cockatoos, Grass Parrots , Australian Magpies, invasive Gallahs, and, of course, the immigrant from eastern Australia the Kookaburra.

Being surrounded by Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and sharing a border with the site of the Wardan Aborignal People's Cutural Center it was not surprising to see fifteen kangaroos before we had driven to the end of the road.

Even driving back up the coast through Dunborough, Busselton, and Capel the birding continued with terns fluttering kestrel-like above the marshes while ducks swans and gulls made their way below.

Qantas was the species I hitched a ride back to Sydney with. The flight from Perth was uneventful and topped off with a spectacuar pink sunset. In Sydney there was an extended wait to negotiate the inconveniences caused by a recent Australian Health and Safety regulation that does not allow baggage handlers to carry wheelchairs up from the tarmac to the cabin for passengers.

Back the Sydney Airport Stamford a boistrous young crowd is having a Disco Party. The costumes are outrageous. What is lacking in verisimilitude is more than made up for by the raw energy of pure enjoyment evident throughout the hotel!

NICAN 2004 - A Traditional Welcome

I find it a grounding experience to seek out the "keepers of place" whenever I research or visit somewhere that is unknown to me -- seasoned local characters, monks, or native peoples.

Today began with a trip to Wardan Cultural Center, an educational resource of the Wardani Aboriginal People.

Josh Whiteland led us on a short bush walk. Along the way we learned the traditional uses of several plants. One tree provides a bark that is useful to women and a wood that is the best for spears. Men tradtionally asked women for permission to harvest the wood.

Josh, whose tribal name, Koomal, means Bushy-tailed Possum in his own language, had us try several plants.

I do not remember the aboriginal name for one tree whose sap provides a natural chewing gum. And, fortunately for me, I did not learn the English language name for it until several hours after I chewed some and returned home. The tree is called Snottygobble (Persoonia longifolia). A condiment unlikely to ever compete with Juicy Fruit or Hubba Bubba if I know my marketing.

I learned that the long wooden tubes known as didjireedoos (or didjis for short) are not hollowed out by hand. Traditionally, one end of the pole as inserted into a termite mound. The termite colony did the work of cleaning out the center of the tube making possible the haunting, sometimes humorous, resonance of this musical instrument from northern Australia. The Wardani were originally percussionits and dancers.

John and his partner Clifford gave us an exciting diji and kangaroo-skin drum concert. I would have urchsed the CD but the have all been sold. A new run will be available shortly at:
http://www.wardan.com.au/pages/people.html

for those interestd in the recent cultural history of Aboriginal Peoples of Australia I recommend the movie Rabbit-Proof Fence.

NICAN 2004 - Cape Naturaliste, WA

We found a charming cabin off Caves Road in Yalingup, Western Australia.

Judy and Mark Fisher run the Wyadup Brook Cottages. Judy herself designed the cabin we stayed in. It is spacious with a kitchen (stove, microwave, and fridge), large living/dining area including a fireplace, two bedrooms, and a very large bathroom (with a washer!).

The doorknobs are spherical and the toilet doesn't allow for a side approach but the custom-made queen bed is at a perfect height and the Fishers are a friendly couple who are eager to accommodate guests with disabilities.

I don't think you could go wrong choosing Wyadup Brook Cottages for a "hidey hole" and secluded base camp for day trips through Western Australia's wine country.

The nearby expanse of coastline is networked with trails - although not wheelchair accessible. The Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leuwin route is understandably popular.

Down the road to the south is the majestic Karri Forest. Don't miss it!

(Thank you Jim & Debra Arkoosh for turning me on to another out-of-the-way wonder of the world!)

Peace Through Tourism?

Sometimes you wonder how travel and leisure figures into a world torn with strife. Here is one sign of hope: http://www.travelwirenews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000016/001696.htm

Waking Up to a Changed Travel Market

I have published a new article at Suite 101.com, Waking Up to a New Travel Market.

While Downunder -- and "Under Downunder" in Tasmania -- I have come to know some fine and talented people. Several have accepted my invitation to write about what they know for Suite 101 or teach it at Suite University. I am very much looking forward to working in an ongoing way with the extraordinary people I have met!

From Suite 101.com:

Waking Up to A New Travel Market

Where I come from, there's a perky grey bird that flies up from the southern states each year and sets up summer camp just outside my bedroom window.

Now, if you're like me, you enjoy that woozy half-awake feeling where dreams finish lazily. That fog when the coming day's work is so busy multiplying itself that it hasn't noticed that you�re awake yet and come to bother you.

That's the time of day when this ambitious little bird, in some parts it's called the Catbird - I'll tell you why in a minute - launches into its morning routine.

You see, the Catbird is a great mimic.

I can lay in bed and recognize the calls of a whole brightly-feathered bird symphony beyond the curtain. The serenade is like a mini-vacation since the bird travels the length and breadth of the North America picking up the calls and cadences of species after species of songbird.

Of course, imitation has its limits, doesn't it? I've never heard one bark but the little fellers do have an annoying habit of replaying last night's catfight. Thus the name - "Catbird."

One morning I noticed a new song.

It sounded like "Catbird-sings-Crow" or maybe the screechy beep-beep-beep sound that commercial trucks make in California as they back up.

Then I recognized it.

Here we call Catbirds �Mockingbirds.� I think that name better captures the annoying, almost insulting, feel of their excess exuberance. The bird outside my window was imitating the sound of a crosswalk signal. We use this sound to alert visually impaired pedestrians that the light is about to change.

I wonder how many people have mistaken the Mockingbird�s advertising for the real thing as they stood at a crosswalk.

It was morning. My thinking was hazy. Leftover dreams, impractical goals, and the emerging day's urgencies all mixed together as I gained focus. But I got up that morning with a sense of purpose.

I thought, �Yes, the traffic signal is changing. But are we paying attention?"

Is the travel and hospitality industry following when it should be leading? Leading when it should be listening? Listening to the ones who really have the answers to give travelers with disabilities, seniors, and families?

And are they aware of what their current practices, some of them innocent imitation, are signaling to those around us. Those who might experience the world differently?

You see, travel and hospitality professionals, it's time to move beyond imitation. Take what wisdom you can from what has worked so far. It's a new game. Travelers with disabilities are upping the stakes.

To be excellent at attracting customers with disabilities you must be aware of their travel needs and behaviors - and meet or exceed them.

Simon Darcy, of NSW, has done a great service by publishing his study "Anxiety to Access" and a host of follow-up reports laying the groundwork for excellence in marketing. Bruce Cameron, also an Australian, has aggregated and developed the market of Australian travelers-with-disabilities using Simon's studies to write guidebooks and articles. Just two days ago Ann O'Brien released her study on accessibility in Western Australia - "Guestability." The Perth Convention Bureau is having success with a program called "Beyond Compliance" that financially rewards businesses that include accessibility features.

In the United States, Eric Lipp of the Open Doors Organization has done the first study of the purchasing power of the travelers with disabilities market. Limited as it was to US travelers, many of us are busy encouraging the replication of this type of study in other parts of the world to give us better business planning data.

Bottom line? The market is out there. It is traveling. It is spending. And it has much, much more disposable income in reserve as it waits for the right products.

Additional Reading:

"Anxiety to Access" - Study of Travel Behavior http://tinyurl.com/27ap6

"Market Study" - Open Doors Organization http://tinyurl.com/2t2mw

The Rolling Rains Report http://www.RollingRains.com

NICAN 2004: Day 2 - Morning

This is the pilgrim's hour.

Last night was festive. This morning is expectant. What has been anticipated with long journeys is about to unfold. Perception is slightly sharper and moments pass in slow procession.

Buddhists cultivate mindfulness and the Benedictine tradition teaches the deep listening of "ob - audire" -- the Latin root behind the word "obedience." These take on a new relevance at moments laden with possibility such as this morning.

Even while the Australian Government rolls out its "Tourism White Paper Implementation Plan: Achieving Platinum Australia" the World Bank has begun registration for their conference "Disability and Inclusive Development: Sharing, Learning, and Building Alliances."

There is a change underway and this conference surfing that wave!

Rendevous Hotel: A Venue to Avoid

It is a rare and fortunate occurrence to receive free consultation from my professional colleagues. They are gathered here in Perth to mature the tourism industry's competency regarding travelers with disabilities.

The NICAN conference is in fact the only event in the world devoted entirely to this work. The management of the Rendevous Hotel in Obeservation City (Perth), Western Australia is in a privileged market position - having had a year of unfettered access to the most accomplished thought-leaders in the field. With strategic leadership the available world-renowned expertise of the NICAN network ought to have catapulted this venue to celebrity status as an example of Universal Design.

So it is without regret that I give the establishment a low rating for design and service and recommend that visitors to Perth choose alternate lodging.

The location is inconvenient.

The main entrance is dangerous.

The public accessible restroom is undersized.

The "Formal Attire Required" Lounge is designed to exclude people in wheelchairs.

The accessible room has several barriers ranging from the inconvenient to the life-threatening.

It is not my practice to emphasize the negative at a venue. I certainly appreciate the extra efforts of Concierge staffers Adrian and Richard (who offered to brnig me a power transformer from his own home when one could not be found on site).

I find it unconscionable on the part of management to place line staff in the position of being buffetted by these prevetable complaints. As hundreds of us gather we will report the same problems I have outlined above. Staff will be faced with the unpleasant task of making excuses for incompetence at the level of strategic management.

In the case of the Rendevous Hotel, Perth I have no qualms at being labeled a "knocker."

And when I return next year with my staff and clients you can be certain that we will happily reside with a competitor.

Hotel Rendevous Perth - Recipient of the Masochist's Teapot Award: -
View image

Stay and you'll certainly pay.

NICAN 2004: Day 1 - Evening

We're off!

The buzz began with the cocktail party launching the program last night. (Australia is worth visiting just for the wine!)

My host, Amanda Hunt, called us to order and launched an event that has been months in the making. Mary Guy, president of NICAN welcomed us briefly then sent us off to mingle, taste Aussie wine, and network.

And network we did!

Justin Lunn, an unstoppable outdoorsman and charming rapscallian of mythic proportions regaled me with stories. His work developing tourism using all terrain vehicles is exciting.

Mark Bagshaw of IBM will be one of the keynoters and had loads of stories to tell about traveling in his wheelchair. Poor guy. He can't stay for the whole conference. has to run off to Rome and all.

Ron Cittall pulled out his "Travel Writer and Consultant" card when I began to talk about the opportunities for writers at Suite 101.com. I'd love to see him wrie about his travels with his wife Jenny who has MS.

Tanya Packer of Curtin University of Technology sidled up to touch base with the other academic in the crowd - me. I can see that we have hours more conversation ahead.

There were more projects and plans and yarn spinners per square foot in that party than anywhere I've been in a long time.

Congratulations to the event organizers for creating such a valuable gathering!

Book Review

I am looking forward to the opportunity to review a new book by Michael Kanouff. For a preview of the first chapter see "Born of the Water" at http://www.from-the-edge.net/bornofthewater.htm.

http://www.from-the-edge.net/bornofthewater.htm

NICAN 2004: Day 1 - Morning

Outside my view window the Indian Ocean sparkles in turquoise-to-saphire blues. No wonder this city has the highest per capita boat ownership rate in the world.

I expected palm trees along the beach here-- but by now I've learned to expect the unexpected in foliage here. Instead there is the largest collection of Norfolk Pines I have ever seen gracefully bobbing in the nearly continuous breezes.

I am told that the air blows off the heated desert and out to sea only to reverse itself and blow back inland. It's a sailboard paradise as I remember learning in the extreme sports flick "Upsidedown Downunder."

Soon I will be in information overload shock but as of this morning the excitement is envigorating. (It's also distracting me from adding the finishing touches to my keynote!)

"Hooroo" Tassie: to Perth via Melbourne

Time to leave Tassie for Western Australia. "Hooroo" ("Goodbye") until next time.

Hopping from Launcester to Melbourne and on to Perth one has time to enjoy the vistas and contemplate beauty in its various forms.

Natural beauty and beauty-through-design makes me think of Don Norman's essay, "Emotion and Design: Attractive Things Work Better."

Wash and polish your car: doesn't it drive better?

It also makes me remember the "Coffeepot for masochists" by
French artist Jacques Carelman. I plan to fit that into the Perth presentation.

Further Reading:

The Design of Everyday Things
http://www.jnd.org/books.html#DOET

See the coffee pot on the cover!

Travelogue NICAN: A Family Tie to Tasmania?

Peter Dombrovskis was a renowned photographer of Tasmania.

Photos: http://www.view.com.au/dombrovskis/2-0.htm

More Photos: http://www.view.com.au/dombrovskis/3-0.htm

Peter shares a last name with my paternal grandfather, Alexander Dombrowski. Arguably this is the "Smith" of Polish surnames and talent in photography is not absent in our branch of the Dombrowski clan.

Dr. Dale Dombrowski, of Las vegas, Nevada - my cousin - is an accomplished outdoor photographer and journalist in his own right. I'd like to see his treatments of the Salamanca Market in Hobart, the Henry Jones Art Hotel, or the Western Tasmania coastline.

Travelogue NICAN 2004: South to Hobart in Tasmania

Tonight the Henry Jones Art Hotel along the harbor in Hobart at the mouth of the Derwent River sitting at the foot of Mt Wellington.

Frommer's, aside from the typos in their online entry in the Introduction section, does offer some helpful background and tips under Attractions. I'm disappointed not to be in town for the open-air market is held at Salamanca Place each Saturday.

As luck would have it I am in the hometown of the president of NICAN, Mary Guy, while she is in Perth setting up the conference.

I'm looking forward to m eeting this impresive woman with a reputatioin as big as a continent.

For more in formation on Hobart's stylish new hotel:

The Henry Jones Art Hotel
25 Hunter Street Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000
Ph: 1300 665 581 Int Ph: +61 3 62 316 391
E: info@thehenryjones.com

Defining the Market of Travelers With Disabilities

I have published a new article at Suite 101.com, Defining the Market of Travelers With Disabilities.

Travelogue NICAN 2004: Tasmania Via the Devil's Playground Circuit

A quick glance at Kerry & Jane Winberg's web site for The Devil's Playground tips you off that they have big plans!

Not only have they created a concept that is unique -- a circuit of fully accessible lodgings that entirely encompass a desireable tourisim region -- they are developing side tours accessible to those of varying abilities.

Consider the circuit:

What they need is a "signature event" -- something that makes full use of their facilities, knowledge of Tasmania, and transportation assets.

How about an outdoor sports event at their Tullah site in November 2005?

There is a lake for kayaking, sailing, canoeing, swimming and a fishing derby. There is a gym for indoor sports, trails for horseback riding and proximity to the trails on Cradle Mountain for trekking.

Where do I sign up?

Exploring Tasmania by Wheelchair

People choose their travel destinations for a complicated set of reasons -- some pragmatic and some highly personal.

The existence of The Devil's Playground and Tourism Tasmania's the sponsorship of me as a participant in their Visiting Journalist Programme were two of my pragmatic reasons.

The kind assistance of some competent Tasmanians moved them from the "pragmatic" to the "personal" category.

As I got to know travel educator, Sally Wise, and her two students, Olivia Dewhurst and Kate Peters, I learned more and more about the beauty and ammenities available in Tasmania for travelers with disabilities. They have done their homework!

Martin Buggy, publicist for The Devil's Playground, seems to have sensed my weakness from the beginning. He opened up so any more opportunities in Tassie than I could possibly follow through on during this short visit. He has succeeded in selling me on a return visit -- maybe more than one!

Kerry, Jane, and Cherie at The Devil's Playground have also been most accommodating and gone out of their way with hospitality.

But, as someone raised in the Pacific Northwest, I know a special eco-system when I come across one. And in Tasmania there exist certain microclimates where native lily species from Washington and Oregon thrive. I've traveled halfway around the world to find a little bit of home. A personal reason for the trip.

It's a bit deceptive seeing nativized daffodils along the road, tulip farms, bare apple and pear trees -- and the Spotting black Swans, Native Hens, or Playpus We spent about an hour watching four near Beauty Point on the Tamar River yesterday.

Tomorrow we'll move into Tasmanian Devil country as we travel up to Cradle Mountain. As insruance that we'll actually see some of these noctural critters we will be stopping in on a captive collection along the way.

Tonight we'll stay in Tullah. This is a largely depopulated company town formed to serve a hydroelectric project in rainy (rainforested) Western Tasmania.

Travelogue: NICAN 2004

September 13 caught up with me (or I with it?) somewhere mid-Pacific while Fiji slept below.

The Qantas trans-Pacific flight sailed on though the darkness uneventfully.

But at LAX beforehand? Well, that was a little touch and go.

I travel with an aircraft aluminum, semi-rigid, Invacare Spyder wheelchair. The breakdown ritual as I transfer from it to one of the narrow aisle chairs to get into the cabin of an airliner is always amusing.

Keep in mind that, when fully broken down, I am left with an additional eight items of luggage -- foot pedals, solid back, seat cushion, etc. It would be ten items if this was a wheelchair with armrests.

All these are stowed in the cabin while the crew brings the wheelchair frame down into the belly of the aircraft. Riding with the rest of the luggage, the frame gets unoaded and brought to me at the cabin door anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes after the very last passenger has disembarked.

I used to be easygoing about the process. I even allowed the removable parts to be stored below in luggage. That was until I found how easy it was for those parts to go to, say Cleveland, while I was at my destination - O'Hare.

So, I was in no mood to have my appendages arrive in Malaysia while my body sat waiting for them in Sydney. And the "expert" the airport sent to assist me in the boarding process was all thumbs and attitude -- although admirably sure of himself for someone so incompetent.

I must have made an impression on the Qantas flight concierge - a personable, well-built, roustabout-looking fellow -- the kind I've come to dread in these situations. I feared a repeat of the LAX boarding spectacle.

As we disembarked in Sydney he commented with some respect on having seen the process back in LAX and joined in the reassembly with a healthy reserve. Reassembly went smooth as silk and we all had some good laughs in the process!

I didn't tell him and the rest of the crew until the whole process was successfully completed and we were making our way down the jetway together that I am here sponsored by Tourism Australia.

All-in-all, my first international flight with Qantas has been positive. Thanks crew of of Qantas Flight 12!

Now, on to a new experience -- arriving in a major city without hotel reservations and booking an accessibe room on the spot (or finding a homeless shelter?)

Post From a Day That Doesn't Exist

My aversion to plagarism has been defeated by my love of a good conundrum.

I am posting this entry on a day that will never exist for me (although I did have to log it against my vacation time at work!)

Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean September 11 became September 13.

But I won't even try to explain it since the definitive explanation was already written by Bill Bryson in the book "In a Sunburned County."

Each time you fly from North America to Australia, and without anyone asking how you feel about it, a day is taken away from you when you cross the international date line. I left Los Angeles on January 3 and arrived in Sydney fourteen hours later on January 5. For me there was no January 4. None at all. Where it went exactly I couldn’t tell you. All I know is that for one twenty-four-hour period in the history of earth, it appears I had no being.

I find it a little uncanny, to say the least. I mean to say, if you were browsing through your ticket folder and you saw a notice that said, “Passengers are advised that on some crossings twenty-four-hour loss of existence may occur” (which is, of course, how they would phrase it, as if it happened from time to time), you would probably get up and make inquiries, grab a sleeve, and say, “Excuse me.” There is, it must be said, a certain metaphysical comfort in knowing that you can cease to have material form and it doesn’t hurt at all, and, to be fair, they do give you back the day on the return journey when you cross the date line in the opposite direction and thereby manage somehow to arrive in Los Angeles before you left Sydney, which in its way, of course, is an even neater trick.

From In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson

I seem to be in good company in my confusion. Read Time Traveling at Stop Design.

See you in Sydney, mate!

Travelogue: NICAN 2004

September 11 seems like an auspicious day to fly - lightning in the same place twice and all that. Although, it would be nice to celebrate Ethiopian New Year somewhere a bit more spacious than an airplane! (I hope the injira that Qantas serves on he flight tonight won't taste like it's been on Walkabout.)

Preparations have been smooth. Qantas has called twice -- on their own intitiative -- to be certain their Special Services office has aisle chairs, seating assignments, and connection assistance arranged. (Thank you, Heather!)

The travel time from San Jose to Sydney is 14 hours. (If you have access to Bill Bryson's book "In a Sunburned Country," you might want to read his hilarious musings on crossing the international date line!)

I took a look at Rasha's petition again before I left to see if we had won the Electoral College -- or at least simple majority in this closely watched contest for aerial equality.

Apparently not. Those last 12 hours of the flight are going to pass pretty slowly waiting for the accessible bathroom on the ground! (Hey, go sign it and save me from kidney failure on the flight back to the States!)

The theme of NICAN is "Valuing the Traveler with a Disability."

The very fact that an organization like NICAN exists only in Australia and is holding its fifth conference on disability and travel ought to alert the rest of the English-speaking world that they are operating from a seriously deficient paradigm.

What might leverage a shift in paradigm? The familiar themes of the Rolling Rains Report:

PBS Primer on Universal Design

This is a resource that anyone interested in Universal Design really ought not miss -- The Principles of Universal Design at Freedom Machines, PBS

The Photo Gallery of top products selected by Bruce Hannah is a real treat:

Rick Steve's New Book is Out and Making News

Rick Steve's Easy Access Europe is finally out and making a splash. Read this story form Inclusion Daily News.

"Wheeling and Dealing With Europe"
September 9, 2004

EUROPE--The following three paragraphs are excerpts from an article by European travel expert Rick Steves published recently on ABCNews.com:

The creaky, cobblestoned Old World has long had a reputation for poor accessibility.

But in recent years, Europe has been making impressive strides towards opening its doors to everybody — including travelers with limited mobility, whether they are slow walkers or wheelchair users.

My latest book, Rick Steves' Easy Access Europe , was written for just those travelers, with a focus on London, Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam, and the Rhine (co-authored with Dr. Ken Plattner and available in travel bookstores now). Here are some tips we've gathered for folks with limited mobility and adventurous spirits.

Entire article:
"Wheeling and Dealing With Europe; Getting Around if Your Disabled" by Rick Steves (ABCNews.com)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/04/red/0909a.htm
"Easy Access Europe" by Rick Steves and Dr. Ken Plattner
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/04/red/0909d.htm

Inclusive Cities Canada

The Inclusive Cities Canada project offers a model for analysis and collaboration that can be applied to inclusive destination development.

http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/Inclusive%20Cities/Project%20Overview.htm

Project Description

The strategic direction for the cross-Canada work comes from a national committee with members drawn from the partners. The federal government’s Social Development ministry provides multi-year core funding, with supplementary start-up funds from the Laidlaw Foundation.

The first phase of the project involves research, analysis and reporting. The national committee has developed a common framework and methodology for the local research, including identifying the common dimensions of inclusion. Each city has established a Civic Panel to provide leadership and direction to the initiative locally. Civic Panels are made up of municipal and community leaders, to oversee local civic audits on social inclusion.

Local partners have already conducted community focus groups to explore the level of inclusion in a number of areas such as: public education, recreation, transportation, policing, local government, early childhood development, and community safety (See table at the end).

Civic Panels will produce civic audit reports early in 2005 with policy and practice recommendations and a description of what works and what doesn’t. A cross-Canada report will be the focus of a national symposium in April 2005 to develop and promote policies to strengthen social infrastructure and build inclusive cities nationwide.

The second phase will build on results achieved in the first. This will include strengthening and expanding the cross-Canada civic alliance, as well as developing local areas as civic centres of social inclusion.

The Dimensions of Social Inclusion

Community focus groups examined people’s perceptions of the ‘inclusivity’ of their city and communities along the following five dimensions:

Diversity - How well do public institutions, such as local government, the police and justice system, and public education, provide valued recognition and respond to diverse groups in the population?

Human Development - What opportunities exist for children and youth to develop their talents, skills and capacities to contribute to the community?

Civic Engagement - What are cities and communities doing to promote active participation in local government, community organizations and civic life?

Living Conditions - Are there significant differences in levels of income, decent jobs, safe neighbourhoods, and the availability of affordable housing among city residents?

Community Services – How well is your city served by important public services such as health care, crisis, and transportation services?

Community Focus Groups

Local partners have conducted 10 to 12 community focus groups of about 8 to12 participants to provide valuable qualitative information for the civic audit, as well as to identify areas that require further research.

Focus group participants acted as key informants who reflect the social and cultural diversities of the partner cities and communities. They provided strong insights from a wide range of experiences and perspectives, which will be explored more fully through a series of local soundings.

A trained facilitator employed a structured process that provided an opportunity for both individual and collective input. Participants were asked to identify what positive changes were needed at the policy and practice levels. The local civic audit reports will integrate the contributions of the community focus groups, local soundings, relevant statistical research, and key informant information.

Local Soundings

In addition to the community focus groups, informal local soundings are being held in all the partner cities to provide greater focus and understanding of issues facing diverse populations. The proposed questions for local soundings are below:

Describing the realities of exclusion

How do people in this group or community feel left out? Or, that they do not belong or are not part of the community? How do they experience exclusion or being “put at a distance” from others in the community?

Identifying the sources of exclusion

Why do people feel left out? What do they say is the cause of their exclusion? What do they point to as the problems?

Framing indicators or benchmarks of inclusion

How could the people affected feel that they were part of the community? What would give them a sense of belonging and recognition? What would have to change in the way that they experience life in the community and larger society?

Suggesting action to create inclusion

Where change should happen to make inclusion real in people’s lives? What kinds of action are needed? Who is responsible for making these changes? (e.g. leaders, organizations, governments, institutions – propose examples that tie back to their explanations of the causes of exclusion).

Furthr Reading:

"The missing voices in our cities" (Toronto Star)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/04/red/0907a.htm

Inclusive Cities Canada Project (Community Social Planning Council of Toronto)
http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/Inclusive%20Cities/Introduction.htm

Special thanks to Inclusion Daily Express for this news item

Sneaking Universal Design into Hotels: Bringing It From Home

The North County Times out of San Diego reports on the trend that is forcing the travel and hospitality industry to redesign its accommodations.

Guests, expecting the comforts of home -- homes increasingly built around the principles of Universal Design -- are demanding the same level of comfort while on the road.

See Universal Design Coming to a Home Near You.

Young, Old Benefit from Home Features Aimed at Baby Boomers

From an article on Universal Design in Real Estate News by By Sharon Stangenes

The idea is that residential spaces should work for people not only when they are young and healthy, but as they age and circumstances change as with pregnancy or a broken leg.

"It's the equity-of-use principle. What works well for a 4-year old works well for a 90-year old," says architect Rick Jolson, director of architecture and design for Barrington Venture, owner of The Garlands of Barrington, which won a 2004 American Institute of Architects design award.

"The overall concept is not new nor are many of the features, but it is becoming market-driven," says Jolson, describing the retirement complex.

Full story:

Young, Old Benefit from Home Features Aimed at Baby Boomers

http://rismedia.com/index.php/article/articleview/7558/1/1/

Online Bibliography on Universal Design

This is a very useful resource on Universal Design.

From the Introduction:

This bibliography was compiled to promote the concept of universal design and to provide information on accessibility. We hope that this bibliography will aid researchers, designers, builders and public library users in finding information to meet the changing needs of our aging population, as we work to create more accessible and inclusive communities.

This project was undertaken by Frances Dodd, the Principle Researcher, and Co-managed by Jeff Vasey of the Accessibility Program and Dawn Stoppard of the Library Services Branch. Our sincere thanks go out to Frances, without whose diligent research and resourcefulness this project could not have been so successfully completed.

Further Reading:
http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/housing/access/bibliography/bibtofc.html

Getting the Story Right: Adventure Travel Without the Pity Factor

I applaud Jeremy Schmidt, Universal Press Syndicate, and the Houston Chronicle.

This story told in Dangling Wheelchair is interesting in itself. It contains useful information. But it could have simply been another piece in what I've called the "Disabled Hero's Welcome" genre.

It wasn't.

It surpasses that limitation an succeeds as a good human interest story with these lines:

"Families and friends like to travel together," says Sarah Milligan-Toffler, of Wilderness Inquiry.

Yes, just as Simon Darcy showed in his groudbreaking study, "From Anxiety to Access."

"People think, how great for the people with disabilities, they get to do things with everyone else. In fact, it's the people without disabilities who are having the revelations."

As I tell my travel writer colleagues. The story is that:

And, most importantly:

Life is tough. Roll with it!

This is what overcoming disability is about - removing those socially constructed handicaps that equate difference in ability with exclusion from social participation.

That is what Disability Pride is all about -- personal excellence.

Read this article. Then come join me in two weeks with Justin Lunn out in Western Australia. We'll climb a rock, mate!

Or, if you can't get the time off for the whole trip. Follow along with the travelogue at Rolling Rains Report and do some background reading at Suite 101.com - "Defining the Market of Travelers with Disabilities"

Serving on a New Front: Universal Design Comes Home

From Contractor magazine:

John Gonsalves is president and founder of Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that plans to build and adapt homes to meet the physical needs of severely injured soldiers. He had been watching news reports of soldiers injured in Iraq, and one story focused on a soldier who lost both of his legs in an attack.

"I asked myself what I could do," he told CONTRACTOR. "Since I'm a licensed construction supervisor and have been in the trade for 20 years, I felt the best thing I could contribute would relate to housing needs, to build adapted homes or to help adapt existing homes."

Gonsalves assumed that an organization for this purpose already existed.He did an Internet search to find one, so he could donate his time. When he found that nothing existed, he decided to create one

Source:
http://www.contractormag.com/articles/newsarticle.cfm?newsid=478

See also:
Homes for our Troops
Homes for Our Troops; Inc.
29 Samoset St. (Rt.44)
Plymouth, MA 02360
Founder
John Gonsalves
john@homesforourtroops.org

A Bit Over-Engineered, Don't You Think??

Uncensored News for Real People
From Free Internet Press:

Giuseppe Cannella had a big surprise for his mother-in-law when he put a jet engine on the back of her wheelchair.

Mr Cannella says the chair can now do top speeds of more than 60mph and has proved the star of a model plane championship during the Bank Holiday.

A model plane enthusiast himself, Mr Cannella has been putting on shows at Barkston Heath near Grantham, Lincs.

"It is just the wheelchair with the engine bolted on the back and steering on the front," he said.

Further Reading:

Mother-In-Law's Jet Powered Wheelchair
http://freeinternetpress.com/article.pl?sid=04/09/01/0152245&mode=thread

Jet-Powered Wheelchair Wows Brits
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/31/jet_powered_wheelchair/

Report: Access Groups in England and Wales

In Autumn 2003, the Distability Rights Commission in the UK commissioned research to explore the work of local access groups in England and Wales. The research was carried out by SURFACE at the University of Salford and will be published as ‘Towards Access Standards: The Work of Local Access Groups in England and Wales.' The full report, including an executive summary is available to download from the DRC web-site www.drc-gb.org.

Towards Access Standards: The Work of Local Access Groups in England and Wales

A summary report by the Disability Rights Commission, including recommendations

1. Introduction

This summary paper has been written to accompany research commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) on the work of local access groups in England and Wales. It summarises the key findings of the research and identifies recommendations.

In Autumn 2003, the DRC commissioned research to explore the work of local access groups in England and Wales. The research was carried out by SURFACE at the University of Salford and will be published as ‘Towards Access Standards: The Work of Local Access Groups in England and Wales.' The full report, including an executive summary is available to download from the DRC web-site www.drc-gb.org.

The aims of the research were

§ To identify the role of local access groups in providing access advice and to explore constraints and challenges in doing this work
§ To establish the range of statutory and local consultation processes to which groups are expected to respond
§ To establish the range and types of activities outside local and statutory consultation processes in which they become involved
§ To identify any support that groups are receiving
§ To compile the views of groups about what their roles should be and what resources are necessary to sustain their work.

The research consisted of
§ A scoping exercise to map the number and range of local access groups in England and Wales
§ A questionnaire survey sent to all groups identified through the scoping exercise
§ Telephone interviews with a sample of 30 groups
§ Telephone interviews with a sample of 10 national and umbrella organisations
§ Three focus group meetings with groups in England and Wales
§ Post focus group telephone interviews with 25 groups unable to attend the meetings.

A postal questionnaire was sent to all local access groups on a database compiled by the DRC in September 2003. The original database comprised 660 groups (30 returns identified themselves as groups disbanded or no longer contactable) and 229 groups returned completed questionnaires, representing a response rate of 35%. All respondents were assured of the confidentiality of the survey and hence none are named in the research report.

Key findings from the research:

2. The Composition of Groups - Structure and Membership

§ The majority (80%) of local access groups in England and Wales comprise only a small number of members (less than 30 members). Most people participating in groups do so in a voluntary capacity and two thirds of groups are managed entirely by volunteers.

§ The majority of groups include disabled and non-disabled members, and only one fifth of groups (18%) had a membership consisting of disabled people only. Of disabled members, people with mobility impairments had the greatest representation in groups, with other impairment groups also represented but in lower numbers.

§ Involving more people in local access groups, in particular disabled people, was mentioned by the majority of participants as an issue of concern. This issue was seen to relate to the two other recurring themes; that more widespread and positive publicity would encourage new members and that the participation of new members would also be made easier by being able to offer expenses and administrative support.

§ Local access groups typically have an older age profile, with the majority of members aged over 50 years. Only 7 per cent of participating groups had members aged under 25 and membership from black and minority ethnic communities is disproportionately low.

§ The majority of groups (82%) are constituted bodies which have office bearers, usually a chair and a secretary. The involvement of a local access officer is perceived as highly beneficial to groups, particularly in facilitating communication with local authorities and as a source of up to date information. There was some suggestion that involvement should be limited to working with groups, rather than fuller involvement as a member of the group.

3. Scope - Activities and achievements

§ Local access groups have a strong reputation of trying to promote and facilitate an inclusive environment for local communities. This was recognised by the majority of study participants, including national and umbrella organisations, who gave a clear consensus on the benefits of working with local access groups, whilst also valuing their independent nature.

§ The key function of the majority of groups is to provide informal access advice to improve disabled people’s access to the built environment. Groups are also involved in a range of other activities and can therefore be broadly defined as providing consumer representation in campaigning, awareness raising, responding to public consultations, and providing direct advice to local authorities and organisations on specific local issues and projects.

§ A substantial number of groups (over two-thirds) have strong links with other disability /voluntary organisations and local authorities. However approximately half of participants surveyed felt that the relationship with local authorities could be improved and that a formal link could be useful in achieving this. The majority of groups were also keen to be involved in work undertaken by access auditors/consultants either in an evaluation role or in a general consultation capacity.

§ The advice provided by groups is underpinned by users experience in providing direct experience of access issues, but there is a growing trend towards the provision of more technical advice, such as referring clients towards best practice solutions e.g. BS8300, without directly taking responsibility for the application of best practice in a particular situation. In doing this, groups remain within their consumer experience base. A few groups had consolidated their experiences into their own best practice guidance available for professional use and this has received take up in one instance at an international level.

4. Capacity and sustainability of groups

§ Many groups believe they have a diminishing capacity due to the limited amount of time and commitment voluntary members can give to the group, often with a few active members doing the bulk of the work. This is also linked to groups operating in an environment of finite resources, which impacts on opportunities for development.

§ Capacity is linked to recruitment. The older age profile of groups, deteriorating health of some members and problems with transport to attend meetings all contribute to a problem with shrinking membership and the sustainability of groups. Recruitment of new members, especially younger members, was a major concern for many groups, especially for groups whose members were all aged over 60.

§ Capacity is also linked to advertising. Many groups found it difficult to advertise who they are and what they do, with advertising often limited to leaflets and poster campaigns. Groups are often not well known within their local area and with some volunteers operating from their place of residence, there is often no contactable person publicly available. Where groups did have a contact point and/or office space, it was either through the local authority or some other organisational structure such as Shopmobility scheme. Groups emphasize that they would like to be more proactive in campaigning and effecting change, but are limited in what they can do due to capacity.

§ Suggestions on how to build capacity (all of which require additional resources to be successful) included:
§ recruitment of younger members through establishing closer links with educational establishments/community organisations which involve younger people
§ to deal with issues which directly appeal to younger people
§ to improve opportunities for training across groups

5. Funding

§ Securing sustainable funding is a major concern for all access groups; none of the groups in this study had core funding. Instead, groups typically fell into one of two categories; those groups who survive on minimal funding, typically received through donations, membership subscriptions and small grants; and groups which have secured specific project funding and employed some paid staff.

§ Lack of core funding has meant that fundraising has become a full- time activity for many groups, taking up disproportionate amount of their time. This further impacts on the groups capacity to deliver its core consumer representation function.

§ The majority of groups indicate that they would benefit from additional funding resources, which would cover expenses of members adequately, extend their current remit and provide additional training for members. However there was consensus among groups that they wanted to remain in control of their agenda and not driven by that of their funding source.

7. Conclusions

Hundreds of local access groups throughout England and Wales provide an ongoing commitment to promoting better access to the built environment through giving their time voluntarily to provide high quality consumer representation on access issues.

The value of local access groups is in their independent role in consulting, monitoring and advising on access to the built environment . This role, relevant to all public services, has become increasingly significant in the light of legislative changes impacting both on the rules governing the planning of the built environment and transport.

Despite being valued in this way, local access groups are currently caught up in trying to establish levels of sustainable funding and support mechanisms.

8. Recommendations

The demands on local access groups are likely to increase significantly over the next few years, particularly in the light of:
§ the introduction of Community Involvement Strategies through the Planning and Compulsory Purchases Bill and
§ the new Public Sector Duty on local authorities to promote equality for disabled people proposed in the Disability Bill.

In the light of the problems identified in this research, the importance of the work undertaken by access groups, and the increasing role they are likely to play in the future, it is recommended that government recognises the importance of access groups and the invaluable role that they undertake, and makes interventions to redress their diminishing capacity.

The DRC therefore recommends that government should identify a mechanism to underpin the core consumer representation function of local access groups in the following ways:

1. That the government should take immediate steps to halt the diminishing capacity of local access groups

2. That appropriate funding should be allocated to support the ongoing work of existing groups and the establishment of new groups to represent the access needs of local communities

3. That government should resource national networks in England and Wales through which the development of local groups can be co-ordinated and new guidance and information can be disseminated on an ongoing basis

4. That regional and local authorities should ensure the involvement of local access groups in the development of their spatial strategies and development plans as part of their community involvement strategies

5. That local authorities should seek to develop ongoing formal relationships with local access groups and where groups are agreeable to develop formal links and structures with local authorities

6. That government should coordinate a role for local access groups in relation to local authority performance in areas such as Best Value, Local Transport Plans and the forthcoming Public Sector Duty.

7. That further research be conducted into the reasons for the under representation of black and minority ethnic groups and younger people in local access groups.

The full report, including an executive summary is available to download from the DRC web-site www.drc-gb.org.

Michael Chenail @ Compliance Alliance

A noble work is afoot at The Compliance Alliance

It has the potential to evolve a Universal Design approach as it matures to articulate a "spirit of the law" philosophy that looks beyond the mandate/compliance mindset and draws inspiration from solutions outside the US.

From their Mission Statement:

Our Mission

Catering to people with a wide range of "dis-abilities" is easier than you may think. Providing services that work for people with a wide range of 'abilities', improving access to business, educating employees, and using marketing strategies and messages that tout the inclusion of persons with disabilities are some of the savvy methods that many businesses are using to increase their market share.

Our mission at Compliance Alliance is to network and expand upon opportunities which enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Through awareness and education we further promote the independence, productivity, complete citizenship, and total integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of mainstream society.

We are here to help businesses with the answers, but being willing to honor the intent and the spirit of the law is a neccesary first step. We contribute a practical understanding of the basic social needs of persons with disabilities to "mainstream" business. We believe increased awareness in the heart of consumer commerce can dissolve unconscious, social discrimination, while promoting independence and oportunity to a long overlooked and important segment of the American population.

Contact:

Michael Chenail
President
Compliance Alliance
804-389-2479
www.adahospitality.com

Universal Design Survey: Single Family Dwellings

Dr. Sandra C. Hartje is Associate Professor of Interior Design and Housing, Seattle Pacific University. Her survey on Universal Design criteria for single family homes is open for your participation at Zoomerang. URL: http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey.zgi?p=WEB2NPPH7K3

She may be contacted at: shartje@spu.edu or 206-281-2204

Edward Steinfeld on the Concept of Universal Design

An excellent introduction to Universal Design -- one that distinguishes it from Accessible Design -- is excerpted below. Written by professor Edward Steinfeld of the IDEA Center, the full text of The Concept of Universal Design can be found at: http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/publications/free_pubs/pubs_cud.htm

The Concept of Universal Design

Universal Design is different than accessible design. Accessible design means products and buildings that are accessible and usable by people with disabilities. Universal design means products and buildings that are accessible and usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Although these different definitions appear to be simply semantic, they actually have significant differences in meaning. Accessible design has a tendency to lead to separate facilities for people with disabilities, for example, a ramp set off to the side of a stairway at an entrance or a wheelchair accessible toilet stall. Universal design, on the other hand, provides one solution that can accommodate people with disabilities as well as the rest of the population. Moreover, universal design means giving attention to the needs of older people as well as young, women as well as men, left handed persons as well as right handed persons.

For the complete article see:
http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/publications/free_pubs/pubs_cud.htm