Rolling Rains Report:

2nd International OSSATE Workshop on Accessible Tourism

This spring the first OSSATE International OSSATE "Workshop on Accessible
Tourism" was held in London. The second workshop is to be held in Athens, Greece on Thursday, September 8th and Friday, September 9th, 2005.

Taken together with the work of the group of Rolling Rains Report readers pursuing iconography for information and wayfinding and the UDid work of the IDEA Center at SUNY-Buffalo, it appears that serious progress is underway to create appropriate responses to the need for travel information.

The preliminary schedule is available at:

http://www.ossate.org/events_workshops_002.jsp

From OSSATE (via Topong Kulkhanchit, Regional Development Officer, Disabled Peoples' International - Asia Pacific Region)

The Hellenic Ministry of Tourism and the OSSATE Team are pleased to invite you to take part in the 2nd International OSSATE Workshop on "Accessible
Tourism", to be held in Athens, Greece on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th September 2005.

The Workshop is organised as part of the OSSATE initiative, which is supported by the European Commission's eContent Programme. This initiative will create a pan-European digital information service which informs customers about the accessibility of tourist destinations and venues.

50 million disabled people in the European Union, and a great many other citizens, need to know about the accessibility of individual destinations in order to participate in tourism. And without doubt, the tourism industry needs these customers!

At this event, representatives from public sector bodies, the tourism industry and NGOs will present their experiences and plans for delivering
Accessible Tourism Information, both in Greece and across the European
Union, focusing especially on the role of information services and new media.

The OSSATE Team will present its analysis of the "state-of-the-art" in Accessible Tourism Information Schemes. In break-out sessions, delegates will identify and discuss "best practices" for organising and delivering
access information, leading to recommendations for the planned OSSATE service network.

The Preliminary Programme can be downloaded from the OSSATE website at:
http://www.ossate.org/events_workshops_002.jsp

The final programme will published on the OSSATE Website and notified to
registered participants in advance of the workshop.

Participation is open to organisations and individuals who are interested in
accessible tourism in Europe. The Workshop languages will be Greek and English.

Registration for the workshop, is FREE OF CHARGE, and includes Workshop
documentation, refreshments, lunches and a cocktail reception. Registrations must be received by Friday 26 August. Places are limited, so early registration is advised!

Please register by using the Online Registration Form at:
http://www.ossate.org/events_workshops_002_registration.jsp

Venue: We have negotiated special reduced rates for participants at the 5-star "Divani Caravel Hotel", Athens, where the workshop will take place. Bookings should be made directly with the hotel, mentioning "OSSATE Workshop". Bookings may be extended (between 5/09 and 10/09) at the same reduced rate (single €100, double € 110 per night, including breakfast).

Please use the Hotel Booking Form to secure your room booking before 8th August. The form can be downloaded from:

http://www.ossate.org/events_workshops_002.jsp

NOTE: Participants must cover their own travel and accommodation costs.

Poster Exhibition and Publicity: We are making plans for a Poster Exhibition in connection with the Workshop. Participants wishing to exhibit a poster should notify the organisers in advance by email. Posters, which may be commercial or non-commercial, must be related to the theme of the Workshop.

Participants may distribute publicity items such as leaflets and publications, related to the theme of the workshop. Please notify the organisers in advance by email, stating the type and number of items you wish to distribute.

We look forward to meeting you in Greece for a fruitful workshop!

Best regards,

Ivor Ambrose

Estate Concordia and Sustainable Inclusive Development in Tourism

Last November I was privileged to participate in the early stages of this project to develop an Eco-Resort on St John in the US Virgin Islands. Below is further information on progress at Estate Concordia.

RESORT ISLAND DEVELOPS A TRAVEL DESTINATION FOR ALL
ECO-RESORT GEARS-UP FOR WHEELCHAIRS

St. John is the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands but it has big ideas. Long known as an idyllic spot for an active vacation, this mountainous island will soon become one of the first Caribbean destinations to offer extensive facilities for persons with disabilities.

From July 24 to 30, a small group of volunteers with a range of mobility disabilities, some wheelchair-users, will test newly designed accommodations at Estate Concordia, an eco-resort on the south side of the island. Walkways have been built for convenient access. Recently constructed living quarters offer wide doorways, large bathrooms with spacious shower stalls and utilities within easy reach. For some of the volunteers with disabilities the chance to swim, snorkel, kayak, sail and even scuba dive with assistive/adaptive recreational equipment and to explore the island�s nature trails will be the fulfillment of a life-long dream.

The weeklong event will conclude with a conference during which participants will critique the facilities and offer suggestions for improving them. Attending will be inclusive design consultants, USVI officials and hotel representatives.

The initiative, known as �Building a Destination for All 2005�, was conceived by Stanley Selengut, owner of Estate Concordia, in collaboration with Multi, Design for People, LLC, based in Connecticut and Rhode Island, members of St. John�s government, local businesses, and the National Park and its supporters.

The need for the project is underscored by market studies that estimate there are 54 million Americans with disabilities. The tally incorporates the nation�s rapidly growing senior population. Says Kat Darula, one of Multi, Design for People�s consultants: �Because one American turns 50 every seven seconds, it is critical to recognize the need to apply an �inclusive� design approach that accommodates people of all ages and abilities for all scales of the built environment.�

The first steps to �Building a Destination for All 2005� were taken last year when Multi�s inclusive design consultants and acting professors for 15 interdisciplinary design students from the Rhode Island School of Design�s Industrial Design Department visited St. John. Their recommendations led directly to the innovations at Estate Concordia and the coordinated effort by the island�s government and business community.

Endorsing the undertaking, Lorraine L. Berry, President of the USVI Senate, noted that "One does not see children and adults with disabilities enjoying our magnificent sun, sea and surf to the extent they should. The simple fact is that their needs aren't being met." Selengut, who also owns Maho Bay, a 30-year-old eco-resort on the island, acknowledges the economic potential of attracting visitors with special needs. But he echoes Senate President Berry when he says; "It's also the right thing to do.

Contact: Roseanne Ramos Melody Smith
Inclusion by Design Maho Bay Camps, Inc
info@designforpeople.us melody@maho.org
T: 401.427.6965 T: 340.693.5722 x233.

Estate Concordia, St John, USVI 00830
Reservations/brochures: (800) 392-9004 Front Desk: (340) 693-5855 Fax: 340-693-5960
Email: melody@maho.org Website: www.maho.org

See the Estate Concoodia coverage in the New York Times:

St. John's Looks at Accessibilityhttp://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/travel/17advstjohns.html?ex=1122696000&en=3d1416ae70f49e94&ei=5070

Report: Analysis of the Needs in the Field of Tourism for All

While the Rolling Rains Report uses the term "Inclusive Tourism" there is also a tradition of refering to the field as "Tourism for All". "Analysis of the needs in the field of Tourism for All" ("Formazione turistica per un’utenza ampliata") is a document prepared this year by the European Union using the latter terminology. This link will take you to the 96 pages of appendices reporting on focus groups with youth and with tour operators. For an ambitious project moving this agenda forward see Eu.For.Me.net:

http://www.euforme.net/css/uk/analysis_needs_annexes.pdf

University at Buffalo Continues to Lead in Universal Design with New Research on Access Iconography

The Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center) at SUNY - Buffalo is moving forward an important element of Inclusive Destination Development with a grant from National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

I am increasingly perplexed, while negotiating inaccessible public spaces plastered with wheelchair icons, what purpose they serve when the door they are on has no automatic opener or the aisles and fitting rooms inside are too narrow for a wheelchair." ApparentlyBeth Tauke, UB associate professor of architecture, and Alex Bitterman, assistant professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology have been wondering the same thing.

Have you ever wondered what the wheelchair symbol that you see on parking spaces and public bathroom doors actually means?", is a question behind their research into disability access iconography..

An identity program usually consists of a logo and accompanying typeface, a slogan, soundmark or jingle, and rules for the use of those elements," says Tauke. "Creating a nontraditional identity program that can be used by everyone, regardless of culture, language, and physical, cognitive and perceptual ability, however, is quite a challenge." She points out that a hearing-impaired person often cannot hear a jingle, for instance, and a visually impaired person cannot see a logo.

We also must consider the 'meaning' that a particular visual symbol or tune imparts to individuals of particular ethnic, racial, social, age or ability groups so we don't send conflicting or offensive messages."

Bitterman says the team's first step has been to investigate the public attitudes of a broad group of people in many countries toward accessibility symbols and toward universal design itself.

"Our research needs to reflect real-world opinions of a very large section of the population," Bitterman says, "and by the end of the summer we expect to have surveyed more than 2,500 people in 115 countries who speak more than 75 languages and range from children to adults over the age of 100."

"We will use their input to produce a universal-design identity program that features variety of new techniques," Tauke says.

Further Reading:

Developing an accessibility identity program
http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol36/vol36n44/articles/TaukesUDid.html

What is the UDid Project?
http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea/UDid/index.asp

Happy Birthday ADA by Justin Dart

Yesterday was the anniversary of the ADA. Below I have reprinted a message from deceased disability activist Justin Dart that was written for the tenth anniversary of the ADA in 2000.

July 26, 2000

Dear Colleagues:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADA!

Congratulations to all the magnificent patriots who have fought to pass
and to implement the worlds first comprehensive civil rights law for
people with disabilities.

This is the tenth anniversary of the ADA. Has it been a success?

Yes. Relative to civil rights laws of the past considering the
millennia- deep roots of prejudice against people with disabilities, the
viciousness of the opposition by interest groups and that compliance
sometimes requires actual physical changes I believe that the ADA has
been more successful than anyone had a right to expect.

Presidents Bush and Clinton have supported the ADA publicly and through
reasonable enforcement by their (understaffed) Justice Departments. Many
state and local governments followed suit. The disability rights
movement has celebrated, advocated and enforced the law in most communities.

Uncountable millions of substantial accommodations ramps, lifts on
buses, parking places, Braille signs, wide and automatic doors, modified
working places and bathrooms, assistive technology, listening devices,
captions, telephone relays, interpreters have been provided, mostly
voluntarily. More importantly, millions of decision makers have been
forced to recognize people with disabilities as full members of the human
race, as citizens with the power to advocate and to sue for their
rights. In spite of initial business association opposition to the law,
a Harris Poll of a few years ago revealed that 83% of business CEOs
favored the ADA. All this has been accomplished without the avalanche of
lawsuits predicted by early opponents of the Act.

It is often stated that the ADA has not been successful because there are
still 70% of people with disabilities unemployed. This criticism does
not impress me. Employment is determined by numerous physical,
psychological, educational and economic factors, many of which are not
directly regulated by the ADA.

Furthermore, I sense that the measured population of job seekers with
disabilities is changing. Far more people with severe disabilities are
training for, applying for, getting and not getting jobs. This is a slow
process, because we are just now beginning to stop paying people not to
work (WIIA, welfare reform, etc), and to lead them down the long road
from the attitudes of dependency to the attitudes and skills of
competitive work. But progress is being made, and a solid foundation for
more progress is being laid, even though superficial percentages have not
changed much.

Finally, it is totally irrational to judge the ADA in isolation from
history. Our democracy was founded more than 200 years ago and we still
have a monstrous poverty gap. The Ten Commandments were written more
than 3000 years ago and none of them are totally obeyed. Should we judge
democracy and the Ten Commandments unsuccessful?

It may take centuries for ADA to reach all of its goals. On its tenth
anniversary, it is a substantial success. This is not to say that long
term success is assured. Democracy is a fragile thing. The forces of
retreat are powerful, massively funded and dogmatically determined. They
may prevail. We must remain vigilant, passionate and unified in our
advocacy for a just society.

Solidarity forever. Together, we shall overcome.

Justin Dart

Universal Design: A Sustained Travel Industry Response to the Asian Tsunami

"A Sustained Travel Industry Response to the Asian Tsunami" is the topic of the Wednesday, October 5, 2005 Plenary Session of the Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism. The session "Making Tourism Accessible to All" will follow the plenary.

The UN-sponsored, World Bank-facilitated conference on Universal Design in Rio de Janeiro in November 2004 established that the principles of Universal Design constitute a framework for sustainable, inclusive development.

The Rolling Rains post from February 13, 2005 "The Dialogue on Sustainable Inclusive Development" offers some starting points for presenters preparing for the Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism.

For those wishing more in-depth information, we have formed the Working Group on Inclusive Destination Development (WG - IDD) to bring Universal Design resources to those in the field who are rebuilding the tsunami-stricken region.

An Accessible Tourism Television Show

Today, on the anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). People With disabilities Broadcast Network (PWdBC) made its formal launch. For thep ast several months I have been in communication with PWdBC founder, Howard Renensland about the channel. Planned programs range from a news show - drawing on the skills and experience of Inclusion Daily Express' Dave Reynolds - sitcoms, a fitness and a cooking show. The possibility that has caught my imagination is a travel show that takes a front-and-center look at inclusive travel options.

See the PWdBC web site at: http://pwdbc.org/
Follow the PWdBC blog at: http://pwdbc.blogspot.com/

Disability Broadcasting Company Launches on Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act

Los Angeles, CA -- July 26, 2005 -- On the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the People With disabilities Broadcasting Corporation (PWdBC) is pleased to announce the formal launch of its website and the initial stage of creating and maintaining a powerful new disability media presence.

Central to PWdBC's mission is the creation of the first 24-hour TV channel "of, by and for people with disabilities . . . and everyone else," which will include comedies, dramas, reality, sports, and information and news programs. PWdBC is in exploratory conversations with a number of media companies to make this channel a reality.

PWdBC is also in discussions with a number of entertainment unions and guilds, universities, disability groups, philanthropic organizations and advertisers to generate support, to develop partnerships and alliances, and to create a pool of talented actors, writers, producers and other support professionals.

"It is important for us in the disability community to advocate and legislate, but it's time for us to create and celebrate both our historical and future contributions to American popular culture," said Howard Renensland, PWdBC Founder and President.

Renensland, an accomplished actor, writer, director, and teacher, has an adult daughter who was born with disabilities.

An estimated 54 million Americans identify themselves as having a disability, while the worldwide population of people with disabilities is estimated at over 600 million. The unique perspectives of this powerful, creative minority are largely missing from the mainstream media, and therefore society as a whole.

Few characters with disabilities appear in television and film. Actors with disabilities portray just a handful of these. Perhaps more importantly, people with disabilities are not represented in the creative processes behind the camera, making accurate portrayals of people with disabilities rare.

PWdBC will work toward correcting this imbalance by becoming the first mainstream media entity to design all programs to be accessible and available to everyone, to give a voice to this growing population, and to foster the employment and training of a large number of talented people with disabilities in the entertainment and information industries.

"We feel strongly that the global concerns of people with disabilities will be most rapidly advanced through the successful inclusion of persons who have disabilities within the structure of mass media itself," Renensland explained.

For more information, or to submit resumes and demos, contact:
Howard Renensland, Founder & President
PWdBC, People With disabilities Broadcasting Corporation
Post Office Box 685, Wilton, CT 06897
203-216-1300
howard@pwdbc.org
www.pwdbc.org

# # #

See Also:

It's high time people with disabilities were represented on TVhttp://www.abqtrib.com/albq/op_columnists/article/0,2565,ALBQ_19865_3971979,00.html

New Television Show on Travel and Disability Planned
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18423/117206

(USA Today) Study: Disabled actors not represented in films, TV shows
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-07-27-disabled-actors_x.htm?POE=click-refer

(Screen Actors Guild) SAG RELEASES GROUNDBREAKING REPORT ON PERFORMERS WITH DISABILITIES TO MARK15th ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
http://www.sag.org/sagWebApp/application?origin=page1.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=Hidden&contentUrl=/NewsAndAnnouncements/announcementLander.jsp&cp=null&announcementPage=/Content/Public/pwd_pressrelease-7-25-05.htm

(Screen Actors Guild) Executive Summary: The Employment of Performers with Disabilities in the Entertainment Industry
http://www.sag.org/Content/Public/exec-sum-pwd.pdf

HUD Painstakingly Documents the Well-Known

The built environment teaches.

Design decisions reflect values - more to the point, valuations of human beings. What is learned by those who own or are responsible for managing structures that discriminate by design, rather than apply Universal Design, has been meticulously documented in the study, Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step.:

I arrived at the property at 11:15.

I was looking for the 701 buzzer to ring as I had been instructed in my appointment call. A woman who I assume I spoke to yesterday to make an appointment opened the doorway halfway. She asked me if I was the one who had an appointment. I told her yes. She very abruptly stated, "No wheelchairs here. You can't come in!" I attempted to ask if there was another entrance that I could use to enter the building. She muttered "you should have said something on the phone." She asked twice, "Can you walk?" I told her no. She repeated, "No wheelchairs here, no way!" She said, "Apartment's too small." I looked at her dumbfounded and replied, "OK!"

Later that day, the nondisabled tester visited the same property. She was buzzed into the lobby of the building, which had an elevator, shown three available apartments and provided information about rents, security deposits, and fees.

The blatant behavior quoted above is not an everyday occurrence. More frequently property owners are content to let their property's inaccessible design silently argue, and enforce, discrimination ideology.

Having lived with Baby Boomers all my life, observing their impatience with injustice - or simply poor customer service - and noting that they are rapidly swelling the ranks of those with disabilities, I would advise the observant to recalculate the cost/benefit and seriously examine the risk factors of continuing a laissez faire exclusionary policy in housing and hospitality. The purpose of this study is to strengthen enforcement of the Fair Housing Act which will in turn stimulate demand for visitable, "guestable," universally designed accommodations.

HUD Study Shows People With Disabilities Discriminated Against More Than Any Other Group When Seeking Rentals

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is
releasing a groundbreaking, Chicago-based study, Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step, that shows people with disabilities are often discriminated against when trying to rent
apartments. The agency plans to use the comprehensive study to provide
fair housing advocates nationwide with a standardized tool that will
allow them to investigate and detect discrimination against people with
disabilities.

WHO: HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson
Representatives of Urban Institute and Access Living

WHAT: Results from Chicago-based disability study
Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step

WHERE: Marriott at Metro Center
775 12th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Salons C and D

WHEN: July 25, 2005 @ 2:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Antoinette P. Banks # 202-708-0685 Ext. 4294

or

Mark S. Quigley
Director of Communications
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
202-272-2008
202-272-2074 TTY
202-272-2022 fax
mquigley@ncd.gov
www.ncd.gov

Further Reading:

Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities: Barriers at Every Step
http://www.antibiaslaw.com/biblio/BarriersAtEveryStep.pdf

Accessible Cruises, Fair Housing, and the Americans With Disabilities Act
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18423/116434

Inclusive Tourism: Some Definitions
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18423/114773

Getting the Design Right - Inclusive Destination Development
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18423/115176

Mar Sin Barreras: Un sueño tropical hecho realidad

Puerto Rico is making real the dream of a young Puerto Rican woman, Rosimar Hernández. Rosimar's dream to see accessible beach access became a reality thanks to the work of the Governor of Pueto Rico and a special interagency committee created to make this unique resource serving residents and tourists alike.

Further Reading:

Mar Sin Barreras - Luquillo
http://www.dtop.gov.pr/dtop/proyrecre/MarSin/MarInfo.htm

Mar Sin Barreras - Boquerón
http://www.dtop.gov.pr/dtop/proyrecre/MarSin/BoqueronInfo.htm

From the web site:

"El concepto, que se desarrolló por primera vez en el Balneario de Luquillo, ahora se construye en el Balneario de Boquerón, en Cabo Rojo, por $2.8 millones. Incluirá una rampa de acceso al mar, bohíos, duchas, área de juegos y un edificio de administración. Seis cabañas del complejo recreativo se adaptarán para las personas con impedimentos y se entrelazarán al proyecto mediante un camino libre de obstáculos, entre palmas y jardines."

Networking

"They don't build 'em like they used to."

"And thankfully so," writes Christiana Nelson in the Coloradan:

Homes have changed because home-building practices have changed. These days, buyers are driving a move to encourage builders to construct housing that's more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and adapts with them as they age and change.

"There's a trend to make homes more accessible from the get-go," said Steve Spanjer, president of Spanjer Homes. "You never know what could happen in life. It is easy to do from the get-go, and it can make someone's life better in the future."

For the full article see:

Accessible homes ready for anything
Builders equip houses for aging, the unexpected
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050717/BUSINESS/507170317/1046

Homes for Humans Point the Way for Hotel Design

As the July 26 anniversary of the ADA approaches various encouraging news items are being circulated.

Here is one from Business Week counseling Universal Design as the standard when remodeling your home in an article titles, "Remodeling for the Future."

Here is an announcement on a collaboration between Easter Seals and Century 21 regarding Universal Design for homes.

There are Architectural Access Scholarships available from Evan Terry Associates, P.C.

And here is an account of the lack of affordable well-design housing a Cape Cod http://rismedia.com/index.php/article/articleview/11013/1/1/

GimpyGirl @ Blogger.com

Recently I had the privilege of meeting the author of a travel blog with some wheelchair-eye-views of the tourist experience in China, Wendy Bell, "Wyndee," publishes the GimpyGirl blog and loves to travel.

Betty Dion Will Speak on International Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities

International Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities is the title of a presentation to be given by Betty Dion, Chair of the International Commission on Technology and Accessibility for Rehabilitation International. Betty is the author of Best Practices in Universal Design: A Comparative Study. Her presentation will be in Washington, DC Wednesday July 27, 2005 in World Bank Building "G."

From the Press Release:

Sponsored by the World Bank Disability & Development Team and USAID

International Accessibility Standards for Persons with Disabilities

Who: Betty Dion, Chair
International Commission on Technology and Accessibility A
Commission of Rehabilitation International
When: Wednesday July 27, 2005 12:30 - 2:00 PM
Where: World Bank, G Building, Room G7-161
Chair: Mr. Rob Horvath, USAID, Program Development Advisor

RSVP: sdell@worldbank.org

Abstract:

Betty Dion will provide an historical overview of the development of
international accessibility standards from around the world. The author of Best Practices in Universal Design: A Comparative Study, Betty will provide a global analysis of the similarities and differences in accessibility standards and codes will highlight diverse technical and cultural approaches. She will provide information on international access standards and standards that have been used in the re-building and re-construction of both post-disaster and post-war situations. The presentation will include an example of the costs of
including accessibility into the initial design and construction of buildings and the long term benefits to society, demonstrated by a cost benefit analysis for building an accessible school in Galle, Indonesia.

Presenter:

Betty Dion is the Chair of ICTA Global, the International Commission on
Technology and Accessibility, a Commission of Rehabilitation International (RI), an organization with members from over 100 countries.

She chaired the Canadian Standards Association CAN CSA B651 M-04 Accessibility of the Built Environment for ten years and represents Canada on the ISO TC59/SC16 Committee, responsible for the Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment Standard.

Betty has worked extensively in Canada and Internationally on accessibility issues relating to human rights and accessibility in the areas of transportation, large public facilities, homes and has conducted accessibilityaudits for human rights commissions in Canada.

Disability Accommodations:

American Sign Language will be provided. For other accommodation needs, please contact us at sdell@worldbank.org.

Location:

The venue is the World Bank G Building at 1776 G Street, North West. The
entrance is on G Street, between 17th and 18th Streets. (Please see Map below)
The room is on the 7th Floor. The closest Metros are Farragut West and Farragut
North.

(Embedded image moved to file: pic17398.jpg)

Security:
After your RSVP is received, visitors? Passes will be available for registered
guests at the G Building front desk. Please bring your photo ID with you.

For more information, please visit our website at:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTSOCIALPROTECTION/EXTDISABILITY/0,,contentMDK:20209051~menuPK:472435~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282699,00.html

The New Revolution in Berkeley: Universal Design in Affordable Housing

Affordable housing in the US has not been not known for innovation in Universal Design. That has just changed.

For the past several years I have been tracking the progress of University Neighborhood Apartments in Berkeley, California. This Saturday, July 23, they will celebrate their grand opening.

Builders, policy makers, architects, and city planners know that barrier-free construction is "readily achievable" -- the trigger phrase for the Americans with Disabilities Act. University Neighborhood Apartments is just the first in a wave of new, barrier-free affordable housing being discussed in alifornia and beyond.

Further Reading:

Livable, lovable and affordable
Nation's first low-income apartments accessible to those with disabilities open in Berkeley
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/16/HOG4UDNI0H1.DTL

Inclusive Affordable Housing in California
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000549.html

National Center for Accessible Transportation

What: National Center for Accessible Transportation exhibit at da Vinci Days
When: Today and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Wireless Village, OSU Lower Campus
Go for a spin: Visitors can propel themselves in manual wheelchairs through an obstacle course, or wheel crash dummy "Ted" across various surfaces and slopes

Da Vinci Days exhibit sheds light on disabilities

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/07/16/news/community/satloc02.txt

The narrow aisles and cramped lavatories in airplanes, steps onto buses and the jolts and jerks that accompany train rides — they can make comfortable, dignified public transportation a challenge for anyone.

But for people with disabilities, these inconveniences can pose insurmountable obstacles that hinder their ability to travel.

"Transportation is the key to independence," said Katharine Hunter-Zaworski, director of the National Center for Accessible Transportation and an associate professor of civil engineering at Oregon State University.

To help the general public better understand the hurdles people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments face, Hunter-Zaworski and others from the center have created a wheelchair obstacle course for da Vinci Days.

Attendees can propel themselves across grass, concrete, side-slopes and various other surfaces. Or if they'd prefer, guests can push "Ted" through the maze.

Ted is a 170-pound anthropomorphic dummy engineer at the accessible transportation center use for biomechanical research projects.

The National Center for Accessible Transportation was founded in October 2003. It combines the efforts of OSU's College of Engineering and College of Health and Human Sciences, as well as Oregon Health & Science University.

The center is supported by research and development funds. It recently received a five year, $4.97 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the nation's first rehabilitation engineering research center on accessible public transportation.

The center just moved this week from the basement of Graf Hall to a new lab in Rogers Hall. Surrounded by a lavatory from a Boeing 767 aircraft, manuel and power wheelchairs and lifting devices, researchers help design more accessible features for trains, buses and airplanes.

This week, representatives from Boeing visited OSU to discuss plans for the bathrooms in its new 787 aircraft.

"By making airports and transportation systems accessible, you open up the world," Hunter-Zaworski said.

Mike Pavol, assistant professor of exercise and sport science, uses motion capture technology to determine the safest ways to transfer a person from wheelchair.

He measures the amount of force lifting Ted from his wheelchair into an airplane or toilet seat exerts on the transferrers' backs.

Wheelchair transfers are dangerous for the lifters and the people being lifted, Pavol explained, so he looks at ways to reduce the risk. The height of seat backs, the spacing between rows and whether armrests are movable can all affect transfer feasibility.

The center also considers boarding technology and open-caption communication systems. An example of their improved signage designs is a visual paging system for airports — something necessary for people with hearing impairments, but enjoyed by everyone.

"Universal design" is a priority for the center, said Joe Zaworski, co-investigator and husband of Hunter-Zaworski.

"When you do things for people with disabilities, many, many times it's better for everyone," he said.

St John US Virgin Islands

If you are going to vacation in a warm climate why not stay somewhere close to nature? If you use a wheelchair, there were few opportunities -- until now.

St John in the US Virgin Islands wants to be a destination of choice for people with disabilities.

Multi: Design for People is helping them reach that goal with a series of meticulously planned projects. The Estate Concordia project opens new horizons for the practice of Inclusive Destination Development worldwide. Multi, Design For People, LLC and the island of St. John invites you to a special inside look at the future of sustainable, inclusive vacation hospitality.

Multi, Design For People, LLC and the island of St. John cordially invite you
to be a part of the Building A Destination for All 2005 Panel Discussion

Come hear four travelers with disabilities share their St. John vacation experiences and learn about the St. John island-wide initiative to Build A Destination for All

Friday July 29th
10:00am - 4:00pm
Maho Bay Camps (Dining Pavilion)
St. John, VI 00830
Tel. 340-715-0501
www.maho.org

Transportation is provided by Maho Bay Camps from Cruz Bay, St. John. Please take a 9:00am ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas arriving at 9:20am at Cruz Bay, St. John. A shuttle will transport you to Maho Bay Camps at 9:20am.

Please RSVP by July 20th to Victor Nunnally at 340.693.5347

Panel Discussion Program

Welcome:

10:00a-10:15a Julien A. Harley, St. John Administrator

10:15a-10:30a Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, U.S. House of Representatives

Speakers:

10:30-10:45a Stanley Selengut, President, Maho Bay Camps / Concordia Campgrounds St. John, USVI

10:45a-11:00a Kat Darula & Rosanne Ramos, Inclusive Consultants & Designers Multi, Design for People, LLC Providence, RI / Greenwich, CT

11:00a-11:30a Tom Muxie, Ileana Rodriguez, Herman Sanchez, Eric Lipp , Travelers Vacation Experience

11:30-11:45a Eric Lipp, Executive Director, Open Doors Organization Chicago, IL

11:45a-12:00p Meredith Bass, Recreation Expert for Persons with Disabilities, Shake-A-Leg Miami, FL

12:00p-12:15p Art Frederick, Superintendent, Virgin Islands National Park

Joe Kessler, President, Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park

12:15p-12:30p Joe Aubain, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce, St. John/St. Thomas

12:30p-12:45p Pamela C. Richards, Commissioner, USVI Department of Tourism, St. John/St.Thomas /St. Croix

12:45p-1:00p Beverly Nicholson, Executive Director, USVI Hotel & Tourism Association, St. John/St.Thomas /St. Croix

1:00p-1:45p Lunch Break

1:45p-2:00p Winston Parker, President, USVI Taxi Association

2:00p-2:45p General Questions + Answers

2:45p-3:30p Next Steps/Action Plan Strategy

Closing Remarks

3:30p-3:45p The Honorable Charles W. Turnbull, Governor USVI

3:45p-4:00p Lorraine L. Berry, Senate President USVI

For a copy of the press release or questions about Building A Destination for All 2005, please contact:

Kat Darula, Principal, Multi, Design for People, LLC via email:
kat@designforpeole.org or phone 401-935-2976

Cutting Corners in the Construction of New Housing Does Not Pay

As Universal Design philosophy, including such approaches as Visitibality, meet up with proper enforcement of the US Fair Housing Act and the well-know propensity of the Baby Boomer generation not to suffer fools gladly, the pressure on those who discriminate in private housing and public lodging will mount and result in more decisions such as the following in Nevada.

The alternative to legal action is for developers to take a clear look at market demands and the potential for profit and realize that incorporating Universal Design is in their business interest - quite aside from legal mandates - before their competitors steal their market share by doing so first:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with three firms in Reno, Nevada, resolving a lawsuit that alleged disability related housing discrimination. The suit is the Department's first enforcement action in Reno concerning the accessibility requirements of the federal Fair Housing Act.

"Cutting corners in the construction of new housing does not pay," said
Bradley J. Schlozman, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil
Rights Division. "The design and construction requirements of the Fair
Housing Act are clear and readily achievable in new construction. The
Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who have a
legal obligation to provide accessible housing."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice
VOICE: (202) 514-2008
TTY: (202) 514-1888
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT
AGAINST NEVADA DEVELOPERS, ARCHITECTS, AND ENGINEERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced a settlement
agreement with three firms in Reno, Nevada, resolving a lawsuit that
alleged disability related housing discrimination. The suit is the
Department's first enforcement action in Reno concerning the
accessibility requirements of the federal Fair Housing Act.

"Cutting corners in the construction of new housing does not pay," said
Bradley J. Schlozman, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil
Rights Division. "The design and construction requirements of the Fair
Housing Act are clear and readily achievable in new construction. The
Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who have a
legal obligation to provide accessible housing."

According to the government's complaint, ERGS, Inc.; civil engineering
firm CFA, Inc.; and an individual architect violated the Fair Housing Act
by designing and constructing housing complexes in a manner that left
them inaccessible to people with disabilities. The properties are Silver
Lake Apartments and Sierra Sage Apartments on the outskirts of Reno. The
Reno-based Silver State Fair Housing Council (SSFHC) brought suit first,
after filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, with which the United States' lawsuit was consolidated.
The agreement requires accessibility improvements to the apartment units
and the complexes' common areas at an estimated cost of $1.67 million.
The agreement also provides $27,500 in damages for the SSFHC and $250,000
to reimburse its attorney's fees and litigation expenses; establishes a
$150,000 fund to compensate individuals injured by the inaccessible
housing; and requires the payment of a $30,000 civil penalty.

"Today's action is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the
United States joins forces with a local housing group that shares the
same passion for equal housing access. The Silver State Fair Housing
Council has been advocating and educating for fair housing rights in
northern Nevada since 1989. We are pleased to have partnered with them
in this case to create more housing options for persons with disabilities
to live where they want," said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. Attorney for the
District of Nevada.

Persons with disabilities who believe they may be aggrieved by the
accessibility violations at Silver Lake or Sierra Sage should call
1-800-896-7743 to determine how they can file a claim for monetary
damages.

A copy of the consent decree can be obtained on the Justice Department's
website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/housing/caselist.htm. Information on
the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act may be found on
the website of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at
http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/disabilities/accessibilityR.cfm. Since
January 21, 2001, the Civil Rights Division has filed 161 lawsuits
alleging discrimination in housing, including 73 based on disability
discrimination and 34 based specifically on the Fair Housing Act's design
and construction provisions that formed the basis of this lawsuit.

Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Esq.
Special Assistant to the Acting Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 5529Washington, DC 20530
Voice: (202) 616-7920
TDD: (202) 514-0617
Fax: (202) 307-2839
Email: Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov

Tourism in California Benefits Thanks to Disability Rights Advocates

Inclusive Tourism in California took a major step forward on July 12,2005 with the resolution of a class-action two lawsuits over discriminatory access to California state parks.

California, with 270 state parks -- the largest number of any sate in the US -- will enhance its tourism potential for slow walkers and others with mobility impairments through this agreeement. The settlement, which will be implemented over 11 years, is not limited to those with ambulatory disabilities but takes a fully inclusive approach. The full story can be obtained through Diablity Rights Advocates of Oakland, CA who woin the settlement:

http://www.dralegal.org/

Further Reading:

Settlement Announcement at DRA
http://www.dralegal.org/cases/tucker/

State parks to improve access for disabled:
Decision resolves 2 class-action suitshttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/13/MNGLIDN85H1.DTL&type=printable

Settlement to affect state parks in Marin:
California to improve disabled accesshttp://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_2855740

Local state parks will be among first renovatedhttp://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/local/12121869.htm

Disabled to Get Better Access to Parkshttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/state/la-me-parks13jul13,1,25467.story?coll=la-news-state

California to remodel state parks to ensure disabled accesshttp://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/12115687.htm

The full Fact Sheet from Disability Rights Advocates is reprinbted below:

Federal Class Action
Case name: Tucker, et al. v. State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, et al.

Case number: C 98-04935 CRB (PJH)

Court: U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California

Judge: The Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Court Judge

Date Filed: December 29, 1998

Named Plaintiffs: Bonnie Tucker, Peter Mendoza, California Council of the Blind and Californians for Disability Rights

State Class Action
Case name: Tucker, et al. v. State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, et al.

Case number: 99-302586

Court: San Francisco Superior Court

Date Filed: April 6, 1999

Named Plaintiffs: Bonnie Tucker, Peter Mendoza, California Council of the Blind and Californians for Disability Rights

The California Council of the Blind (“CCB”) is a nonprofit tax exempt organization composed of blind, visually impaired and sighted Californians with a broad diversity of interests and professions. CCB provides blind student scholarships, advocates for rehabilitation reform and works to improve public access and transportation, education and technology.

Californians for Disability Rights (“CDR”) is the oldest and largest membership organization of persons with disabilities in California. Originally organized in 1970 as the California Association of the Physically Handicapped—CAPH—with five members, CDR has grown to become an effective and widely respected cross-disability advocacy force. CDR represents all persons with disabilities in California. Guided by this trans-disability principle, CDR and its members fight for the independence, dignity and equality of all disabled persons.

Plaintiffs’ Counsel: Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”). DRA is a nonprofit public interest law center that specializes in high-impact civil rights litigation on behalf of persons with disabilities throughout California and the United States. Based in Oakland California, DRA strives to protect the civil and human rights of people with disabilities in the United States and worldwide. DRA works to end discrimination in areas such as access to employment, transportation, education, housing and public accommodations and services.

Defendants: State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Ruth Coleman in her official capacity as Director, and the State of California

Defense Counsel: Office of the California Attorney General. The Attorney General serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions.

California Department of Parks and Recreation: manages more than 270 park units, which contain the finest and most diverse collection of natural, cultural, and recreational resources to be found within California. Responsible for almost one-third of California’s scenic coastline, California State Parks manages the state’s finest coastal wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and dune systems. State Park units include underwater preserves, reserves, and parks; redwood, rhododendron, and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and reservoirs; state historic parks, historic homes, Spanish-era adobe buildings, including museums, visitor centers, cultural reserves, and preserves; as well as lighthouses, ghost towns, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. The State Parks system includes nearly 1.4 million acres, with over 280 miles of coastline, 625 miles of lake and river frontage, nearly 15,000 campsites, and 3,000 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

Summary of Barrier Removal Plan Agreed to in the Class Settlement Agreement:

a) Implementation of Accessibility Transition Plan: Pursuant to the settlement negotiations, the Department of Parks and Recreation has conducted a comprehensive self-evaluation and has formulated a transition plan that sets forth a schedule to provide programmatic accessibility. The Parties jointly selected and the Department has hired Moore Iacofano Goltsman Inc. (“MIG”), a firm with substantial experience in evaluating the accessibility of programs, services, activities and facilities, to monitor the Department’s implementation of the transition plan. This monitor will provide periodic compliance reports to the Parties.

b) Accessibility Guidelines: The Department has an internal guide, called the “California State Parks Accessibility Guidelines”, which sets forth standards for providing access to facilities and activities at California State Parks. As part of the settlement, the Guidelines have been extensively revised to incorporate improved access standards. The Guidelines will be used as the standard for implementing access improvements pursuant to the Consent Decree. All of the accessibility modifications and accommodations provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation will comply with federal and state standards of accessibility, whichever applies and provides the higher level of access. All new parks acquired and/or new construction undertaken by the Department will conform to the applicable access standards.

c) Park Activities: The Department will make park activities (including bicycling, boating, exhibits/interpretive programs, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, off highway vehicle use, picnicking, visitor center/museum and water access) programmatically accessible. The Department will make supporting facilities, such as park entrances, parking, paths of travel, restrooms, telephones, drinking fountains and signage, programmatically accessible. The Department’s Transition Plan prioritizes park units into “levels” for program activity accessibility improvements based upon a number of factors, including usage, the number of activities offered, the uniqueness of the programs offered, and geographic distribution:

(1) Level 1 parks receive the highest volume of visitors. The Department will complete access improvements at Level 1 units by June 30, 2009. Access work at Level 2 parks will be completed by June 30, 2012, and work at Level 3 parks will be finished by June 30, 2014. The Department will complete access improvements at Level 4 parks, which account for only 4% of all California State Park visitations, by June 30, 2016.

(2) Under the Consent Decree, every park activity at Level 1 parks will be accessible. “Major Activities” at Level 2 and Level 3 parks will be accessible, and select activities at Level 4 parks will be accessible.

d) Trails: Each Level 1 park with three or more trails will have at least three accessible trails totaling at least 2.5 miles of accessible pathways. Level 2 parks with two or more trails will have at least one mile-long accessible trail and one half-mile accessible trail, while Level 3 parks with at least one trail will have at least one accessible half-mile trail. Level 4 parks with one trail will have at least one trail that is .25 miles long. The Department will make its reasonable best efforts to maximize the variety and quality of the outdoor experience offered to trail users with disabilities. The Department will provide information on its website that describes the accessible trails and the location of the nearest accessible restroom.

e) Locally Operated Parks: There are currently 27 park units statewide that are owned by the State of California but which are operated entirely by local entities. These “locally operated parks” shall receive a letter offering the opportunity to participate in the Consent Decree. In exchange for completing a comprehensive transition plan and committing to all of the access and monitoring obligations described in the Consent Decree, the locally operated park will obtain the benefit of the class wide release of liability for injunctive relief. The class and individual class members will retain their right to seek injunctive relief against that locally operated park if a locally operated park (1) declines to voluntarily participate in the Consent Decree or (2) agrees to participate but does not meet its obligations.

f) Accessible Concessions: The Department contracts with third parties to operate concession facilities on state parkland, ranging from a large conference center to individual food and beverage stands. The Department will oversee accessibility for concessionaires, including making reasonable good faith efforts to ensure that existing concessions meet the access standards of the Consent Decree with all deliberate speed. The Department will additionally ensure that new concessions comply with the Consent Decree by the time they begin operation.

g) Monitoring: The Consent Decree provides for extensive monitoring and reporting on the Department’s implementation of its transition plan and trail plan. Accessibility expert MIG shall monitor the Department’s compliance throughout the settlement period, ending June 30, 2016. The Department will provide MIG and Class Counsel with semi-annual written reports on the disability access work conducted pursuant to the Consent Decree, as well as Yearly Work Lists detailing efforts to identify and remove access barriers to participation in Department programs. MIG shall conduct spot inspections of 5% of the access improvement projects reported in the semi-annual reports.

h) Enforcement: The Court will retain jurisdiction to enforce the Consent Decree, and the Parties will address any dispute regarding compliance with the Consent Decree through a dispute resolution process set forth in the Decree. The steps available to the Parties to address disputes include the opportunity to meet and confer to attempt to resolve the dispute.

General Concepts, Universal Design Principles and Guidelines

The Trace Center has published a collection of quality articles on Universal Design under the general heading, "General Concepts, Universal Design Principles and Guidelines" at http://trace.wisc.edu/world/gen_ud.html

disability studies

Activists Call 'New Urbanism' to Account Over Lack of Visitability

Eleanor Smith, founder of Concrete Change, reports on the shortcomings of the New Urbanism movement in this article at Ragged Edge magazine:

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/focus/esmithnewurbanism0705.html

Cabo Verde: Room for Tourists with Disabilities?

"Morabeza" is the word in Cabo Verde that most closely matches the Hawai'ian spirit of "Aloha" -- laid back, genuine welcome and hospitality.

Dave Player has a hunch that morabeza and inclusive tourism make an attracive combination -- together with the beaches, trekking, and social life of Cabo Verde -- because, as Lonely Planet says,

The islands of the Cape Verde archipelago are windy, hilly and dry - almost lunar - and beyond that they're fairly sleepy. But there's beauty in them thar parched hills. And some of the islands are actually lush. There's good diving and hiking, lively nightlife and plenty of quiet corners to hide away in. Islanders mix up African, Portuguese, Mediterranean and Latin influences and come out with a flavour that's distinctly 'Cabo.' Package tourism has gained a foothold, but Cape Verde is still independent and unspoiled.

Dave pecializes in accessible tourism & real estate in Portugal and is in conversation with partners in the former Portguese colony of Cabo Verde about inclusive destination development projects there.

Dave is interested in corresponding about this project with others who are working in Universal Design, turismo para todos (tourism for all), and the various aspects of Inclusive Tourism Development.

He provides the following information about his current invlovements:

TOTAL ACCESS PROPERTIES Lda
www.totalaccessproperties.com
This is my Real Estate company where we provide wheelchair users with
services to find properties to purchase, construction services to adapt
or renovate properties and other property related services - project
management, property management, re-sale, etc.

WHEELING AROUND THE ALGARVE
www.player.pt
This sector of my business is for "accessible tourism", where we provide
holiday facilities for clients in wheelchairs. The normal scenario is a
family looking to rent an apartment/villa and one of them is in a
wheelchair.

PARASPORT
www.parasport.org
This is an organization I'm involved with that sets up international
sporting events - sailing championships, scuba diving, fishing,
etc.

You may contact him at:

David Player
Wheeling Around The Algarve
Rua Casa do Povo 1
Apartado 3421
8135-905 Almancil
Algarve - Portugal

Tel: 00 351 289 393636
Fax: 00 351 289 397448
Web: www.player.pt
www.totalaccessproperties.com
Email: dave@player.pt

Further Information on Cabo Verde (Note that Cabo Verde is the only African nation on the Freedom House list of nations ranked "free."):

"Since 1978, Freedom House has published Freedom in the World, an annual comparative assessment of the state of political rights and civil liberties around the world," writes Infoplease.com as they summarize the findings of "Freedom in the World, 2005."

Source:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0930918.html

Bangladesh: National Seminar on Universal Design Development

Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) in collaboration with the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) organized a National Seminar on 'Universal Design Development Considering Disability' on June 02, 2005 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka.

The aim of the seminar was to sensitize architects, designers, planners, engineers and others on the the adoption accessible design in infrastructure development and the adaptation in the existing infrastructure, by forming a committee of the representatives from all concerned departments to make enforcement effective.

About 100 representatives from IAB, Department of Architecture, Government of Bangladesh, RAJUK(Capital Improvement authority), (LOcal Government Engineering Department)LGED and Disabled Peoples" Organizations (DPO) participated in the seminar. Two thematic keynote papers were presented in the seminar. One paper was presented by Abdus Sattar Dulal, Founder & Executive Director of BPKS. Another keynote was presented by Ar. Sayeda Sultana Anne, Member of Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB).

The Honorable Minister, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentarian Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh was present as Chief Guest, and Dr. Quazi Mesbahuddin Ahmed Member, General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning Bangladesh were present as Special Guests on this occasion. Mr. Abdus Salam, Chief Architect-Department of Architecture, Government of Bangladesh and Md. Emdadul Islam, Chief Engineer of RAJUK were present as Guests of Honor.

There was an open discussion session for experience sharing among the participants. In this session participants expressed and exchanged their own experience, further gave suggestions, comments and recommendations in favor of accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities in the house. The recommendations emphasized taking immediate action steps. Mr. Md. Saiful Islam, Chairman of BPKS presided over the function. The seminar was coordinated by Delower Hossain Assistant Director and Ms. Ashrafun Nahar Misti, Coodinator ,Women net work, BPKS

Source:

Topong Kulkhanchit
Regional Development Officer
Disabled Peoples' International Asia Pacific Region

Further Reading:

Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) http://www.dpiap.org/html/about_us/profiles_bangladesh.htm

Good Information Design - Essential for Tourism

Good information design about transport is essential for those who need to travel. Good information design about place is essential for thse who find themselves in new surroundings. Good information design is an item that travelers with disabilities repeatedly cite as essential to their ability to enjoy tourism.

Responding to the need, UNESCO is sponsoring an international three-day symposium 'Vision Plus 11: Needs, Trends and Themes for Information Design. Developing Information Design Subject Areas' in Vienna, Austria.

See:

http://www.iiid-visionplus.net./

2006 Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion and Disability Conference

The Pfahl Executive Education & Conference Center on the Ohio State University Campus, Columbus Ohio will be the site for 2006 Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion and Disability Conference on April 17 and 18, 2006. Below is the Call for Papers.

The organizing theme for the sixth annual conference will be "Personal
Perspectives & Social Impact: The Stories We Tell".

The goal is to encourage presenters and participants to reflect on how personal
experiences create and transform social, cultural, and legal realities.

A look into what the e psychologist Theodore Sarbin referred to as "the
storied nature of human conduct"

Consider submitting a presentation; you could present:

* an oral history of a local disability organization or the
disability rights movement in Ohio.
* case studies that explore best practices in business, employment
or education.
* how narrative and testimony are reflected in significant court
cases and legislation.
* telling your story effectively as an advocate, when filing a
complaint or in legal testimony.
* the use of memoir in teaching self advocacy.

For presentation guidelines, to be on the mailing list or to suggest a
presenter send an e-mail to ADA-OSU@osu.edu.

Proposals are due October 1, 2005

Conference information and updates will be posted to:
http://ada.osu.edu/conferences.htm

"Identity is formed by social processes. Once crystallized, it is maintained, modified, or even reshaped by social relations...Conversely, the identities produced by the interplay of individual consciousness and social structure react upon the given social structure, maintaining it, modifying it, or even reshaping it" Berger and Luckman, 1963)

Andrea Boudeguer @ Universidad Diego Portales

Andrea Boudeguer of Proyecto Accesible, Chile spoke on the topic "Sociedad civil y accesibilidad al espacio físico" (Civil Socitety and Accessibility to Phystical Space) theat the Universidad Diego Portales seminar, "Accesibilidad al espacio físco: Un derecho de las personas con discapacidad". Andrea, as mentioned previously at the Rolling Rains Report, was responsbible for the book, Manual de Turismo Accesible para Personas con Movilidad Reducida y Discapacitados, which is a resource directed toward those responsible for implementing inclusive travel.

Further Reading:

Universidad Diego Portales realiza seminario de Accesibilidad al Espacio Público
http://www.universia.cl/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=80269

More on Inclusive Affordable Housing in California

With a nod to those who will be chuckling over the oxymoron, "affordable housing in California", here is a link providing further information on Berkeley's University Neighborhood Apartments:

Universal Homes See No Boundaries
http://insidebayarea.com/businessnews/ci_2844305

Related Reading:

Inclusive Affordable Housing in California
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000549.html

House designed to permit "aging in place"
http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol36/vol36n41/articles/LevineHouse.html

Accessible Cruises, Fair Housing, and the Americans With Disabilities Act

The article, "Accessible Cruises, Fair Housing, and the Americans With Disabilities Act", was published in the "Travel & Disability" section of Suite101.com

See it at:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/18423/116434

inclusive destination development

Marcelo de Arrechea, de Turismo Accesible en Argentina

Acabo de recibir notica de un nuevo recurso sobre el Urguai -- y la Argentina -- de Marcelo de Arrechea, Director, Turismo Accesible en Argentina:

http://www.decthird.com/

A new rsource on inclusive tourism in Agentina. Check it out! Or write: info@decthird.com

Uruguai, Donde Estas?

Quisiera conocer al Uruguai. Un colega, padre Jesuita, me cuenta de la gente cariñosa y de la beleza de la natureza. Me dicen que mi antepasado, el escritor Martin Kukucin (Matej Bencur) de la Eslovaquia, lo conocio en su viaje para Punta Arenas, Chile.

Puede ser que el Uruguai es un paraiso para usario de silla de ruedos; un destino celestial para los de capacidades restringidos.

O pude ser que no.

Quien sabe? No se encuentra casi nada en el Internet de turismo acessible, diseño universal, o turismo para todos en Urugai. Porque?

Sabemos que el turismo crecio 28 % en 2004. Sabemos que participan del I CONGRESO VIRTUAL IBEROAMERICANO SOBRE TURISMO ACCESIBLE: "TURISMO PARA TODOS. Sabemos que tinene el codigo COPANT ISO-IEC 71:2004 – Directrices para que el desarrollo de las normas tenga en cuenta las necesidades de las personas mayores y las personas con discapacidad.

Que necesitan para unirse con sus vecinos y criar destinos inclusivos? La areo linea brasilero, GOL Lines Areas Inteligentes, va comencar vuelos desde Brasil -- un pais que teine un mercado viajero de personas de necesidades especiales.

Va ultrapasar la oportunidade de atrair turismo?

Accessible Travel in Germany

Thinking of exploring Germany? The German government has a small portal on barrier free travel:

http://www.deutschland.de/rubrik.php?lang=2&category1=16&category2=97

Guia de Turismo Accesible: An International Multilingual Inclusive Tourism Portal

Choose from Spanish, German, French, Italian, or English versions as you use the Portal Internacional de Turismo Accesible / International Portal of Accessible Tourism at:

http://www.portalturismoaccesible.org/us/index.htm

Universal Design Identity Program

Rolling Rains readers - especially the "Iconographers Study Group" - ought to consider taking part in the Universal Design Identity Program at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=77543840862.

The Universal Design Identity program (UDid for short) is a research project that is being conducted by Alex Bitterman and Beth Tauke at the Center for Inclusive Design at the University at Buffalo.

As you may know, universal design is sometimes called "design for all," or "inclusive design." In this survey, we will use "universal design" to refer to "design for all" or "inclusive design."

The goal of this project is to develop an identity program that consists of a logo, a color palete, tactile elements, and a sound mark for universal design. The identity program will be used to identify universally designed places, products, and systems.

The final identity program (logo, color palate, tactile elements, and sound mark) will clearly identify places, products or systems that can be accessed and used by EVERYONE, regardless of physical, psychological, or cultural ability.

From the researchers:

We're about ready to launch our phase 2 survey, and could use your help
publicizing it within your respective professional networks. With your
help, we received over 600 responses on the first survey -- and
statistically, the samples were impressive -- we've reached each
continent, 110 different countries, a broad and diverse population of
users in every sense of the word. With this survey, we would like to
reach the 1000 mark, and could use your help to attain this goal.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=77543840862

Walking as Knowing as Making: A Peripatetic Investigation of Place

Over the past academic year the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign has been engaged in a unique experiement in learning. They have held a series of workshops entitled, "Walking as Knowing as Making: A Peripatetic Investigation of Place."

http://www.walkinginplace.org/converge/index.htm

This quote by Gary Snyder i remeniscent of what I was trying to say in my address to the XXXXx

“We learn a place and how to visualize spatial relationships, as children, on foot and with imagination.Place and the scale of space must be measured against our bodies and their capabilities.”

Gary Snyder (“Blue Mountains Constantly Walking”, in The Practice of the Wild)

Further Reading;

Bibliography
http://www.walkinginplace.org/converge/bibliography.htm