Rolling Rains Report:

“Factors of Success and Actions to Increase Quality in Accessible Tourism

"“Factors of Success and Actions to Increase Quality in Accessible Tourism for All in Germany" is the name of a breakout session” at ITB 2008 in Berlin. The German Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism, Ernst Hinsken, MdB, extends his invitation to a German speaking conference „Accessible Tourism for All“. The conference will be held in conjunction with ITB in Berlin on March 6th, from 14:00 – 16:00 in the ICC, Room 43.

During this conference the initial results of the fundamental study „Analysis of factors of success and development of actions to increase the quality of Accessible Tourism for All in Germany“ will be presented and, as a first result, a Germany-wide Working Group “Accessible Destinations of Germany” established.

Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology, the new study will be developed by the Department of Geography at the University of Münster and PROJECT M GmbH from Berlin.

With the new study the work on the study „Economic Impulses for Accessible Tourism for All in Germany“ will be continued (which was commissioned by the Ministry of Economics in 2003).

Further details regarding agenda and content of the conference will be provided by Peter Neumann: peter.neumann@uni-muenster.de

The conference flyer may be downloaded here

Changemakers - Open Source Social Solutions

From the "Fun with Widgets File" comes this little gizmo that can be added to an email, dropped onto your desktop, or plopped into your blog so you can keep up with what is being said about the Inclusive Tourism Centers of Excellence Proposal under consideration at the Ashoka Changemaker Geotourism Challenge:

Scroll down to see all the comments. You will find the Inclusive Tourism centers of Excellence Proposal here:

http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/5951

Por Dentro do Turismo Adaptado - Ricardo Shimosakai (Portuguese)

Desenho universal completa o desenho verde. Os dois falam da sustentabilitdade - o verde do meio ambiente o universal da sustentabilitdade social da inclusão.

Hoje o pioneiro Brasileiro de turismo adaptado, Ricardo Shimosakai, mostra a conexão e lança nova coluna no sitio Turismo Responsavel aqui.

Parabems Ricardo!

Até pouco tempo atrás, pouco se falava sobre turismo para pessoas com necessidades especiais. Porém hoje em dia, as pessoas vem prestando mais atenção em questões sociais, onde entra as pessoas com deficiência. Hoje em dia o tema está bastante em alta, mas a falta de informações ainda é grande por parte da sociedade, então muitas vezes se cria um conceito errado de como devemos lidar com esse tipo de pessoa.

Então esta coluna pretende abordar a adaptação do turismo a pessoas com deficiência, tendo bases principais a acessibilidade e a inclusão. Serão abordados temas relacionados a esses assuntos base e ao turismo de forma esclarecedora, e também publicar atualidades daquilo que acontece, envolvendo o Turismo Adaptado, no país e no mundo.

Apesar das pessoas com deficiência estarem mais diretamente ligadas à acessibilidade, essa questão serve a outros tipos de público, como terceira idade, obesos, ou mesmo pessoas com alguma dificuldade temporária.
Como todos possuem diferenças, deficiente não é a

Fonte:
http://www.ecoviagem.com.br/fique-por-dentro/colunistas/acessibilidade-no-turismo/turismo-adaptado/por-dentro-do-turismo-adaptado-7779.asp

Aventura Especial e o Turismo de Aventura (Portuguese)

A ONG Aventura Especial (www.aventuraespecial.org.br ) trabalha para a inclusão de mais de 24,5 milhões de pessoas com algum tipo de deficiência, só no Brasil, no fascinante mundo do ecoturismo e do turismo de aventura.

O grande passo foi dado graças à realização do projeto Aventureiros Especiais, em convênio com o Ministério do Turismo, quando foram feitos vários testes de campo reunindo pessoas com deficiências física, sensorial, mental e múltipla. Entre eles, um amputado, um paraplégico, um tetraplégico, um visual, um surdocego, um com paralisia cerebral, um atáxico e um com Síndrome de Down. Todos praticaram modalidades de atividades de aventura, como rapel, rafting, tirolesa, bóia-cross, acqua-ride e off-road, com o intuito de apurar as necessidades de adaptações e condutas a serem seguidas pelos profissionais do turismo.

Fonte: Revista Hotelaria - 19-02-08

Acompanhados por uma equipe multidisciplinar de treze profissionais, entre integrantes da ONG Aventura Especial, fisioterapeutas, médicos e voluntários, foram levantadas as adaptações necessárias para viabilizar a prática das atividades por esse imenso público até então abandonado.

Além das adaptações físicas, como o desenvolvimento de uma cadeirinha para técnicas verticais e um colete e uma cadeira para o bote de rafting (específicos para pessoas sem mobilidade no tronco), também foram criados condutas e procedimentos de comunicação alternativa para interagir com as pessoas com deficiências sensoriais, antes e durante as atividades.

A formatação desse novo produto turístico adaptado representa um estudo de campo inédito, que fará do Brasil referência internacional de turismo de aventura adaptado, acredita o jornalista e fotógrafo Dadá Moreira, fundador e presidente da ONG.

Os testes foram realizados na cidade de Socorro, a 130 km da capital paulista, que será o primeiro destino totalmente adaptado do país, servindo de modelo para que outros municípios se adaptem. Além das atividades e pontos turísticos, a estância também está adaptando sua infra-estrutura de produtos e serviços.

Com o objetivo de disseminar os conhecimentos adquiridos com todas essas experiências e implantar as adaptações em outros destinos, a Aventura Especial oferece às operadoras que queiram atender esse nicho de mercado palestras e cursos de capacitação para ensinar os procedimentos adequados para um receptivo que possa atender esse público com qualificação. Para solicitar basta enviar um e-mail para contato@aventuraespecial.org.br

Constança Carvalho
Diretora
C&M Congresses and Meetings
Rua Marques 3/101 - Humaitá
22260-240 Rio de Janeiro
tel(21) 2539-1214
constanca.carvalho@cmeventos.com.br
www.cmeventos.com.br

ENAT: The European Network for Accessible Tourism

The European Network for Accessible Tourism, ENAT, is maturing organizationally. It has gained status as the European Union's non-profit organization promoting inclusion in tourism. The press release below illustrates how organizations promoting travel with a sensitivity to disability share a similar agenda worldwide that converges around standards informed by the participation of people with disabilities and disabled peoples organizations.

PRESS RELEASE

* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *

Athens, 25.2.2008
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Network for Accessible Tourism begins new phase

The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) has registered this week as a non-profit organisation in Belgium. This marks an exciting new phase in its European and international operations.

The ENAT network started two years ago as a pilot project, co-funded by the European Commission and nine sponsoring organisations from six EU countries. Over 400 members from 50 countries have joined up.

The network's principal aim is to help tourism businesses meet the access needs of the growing market of seniors and disabled visitors, as well as families with small children. Good access is seen as a key part of quality that benefits everyone, rather than as an 'extra'.

"What makes ENAT so attractive is that our network contains a good mix of tourism businesses, policy-makers, educators and consumer groups all sharing their expertise and ideas” says ENAT’s newly-elected Swedish President, Lilian Müller. ”By networking, we help to create the optimum conditions for business innovation and improvement."

"ENAT’s on-line Resource Centre plays a key part in delivering knowledge to where it is needed. Those who can respond quickly and effectively with improved access are already seeing the positive effect on the company’s bottom-line,” says Lilian Müller.

Ongoing and future concerns include:

* Introducing an 'Accessible Tourism Compliance Label' as part of a quality assurance scheme for tourism providers.
* Introducing a 'Code of Good Conduct' and ’Good Practice Guidelines’ for members who wish to use this label.
* Encouraging members to create partnerships and share good practices, both through e-networking and at regular conferences and workshops.

ENAT national coordinators are signed up in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, and others are expected to follow soon. ENAT’s coordination offices will give information and support to the tourism sector at the national and local levels, working in their respective languages.

For further information or to join the network or become a sponsor, please visit www.accessibletourism.org

You can also send an email to Monica Guy at press@accessibletourism.org or contact ENAT’s Managing Director, Ivor Ambrose at enat@accessibletourism.org (telephone 0030 210 6148380).

- This Press Release was published today on the ENAT website at: http://www.accessibletourism.org/?i=enat.en.press.373

--
European Network for Accessible Tourism
Press Office
c/o EWORX S.A.,
Jean Moreas St., 66
GR-15231, Halandri, Athens
Greece.
Tel. 0030 210 614 8380
Fax. 0030 210 614 8381
E-mail: press@accessibletourism.org
Web: http://www.accessibletourism.org

Press Officer: Monica Guy, Paris, France. Call direct: +33 1 4209 5614

ENAT: The European Network for Accessible Tourism asbl
is a non-profit association of organisations and individuals
from the private, public and NGO sectors. Our mission is
to make European tourism destinations, products and
services accessible to all visitors and to help promote
Accessible Tourism around the world.

Advertising to Baby Bomers Blog - Chuck Nyren on Boomeropia

Over at Advertising to Baby Boomers Chuck Nyren included a flattering profile of the Rolling Rains blog and this sage advice on Boomeropia:

The name Boomeropia is abominable. In my book I warn against calling Boomers Boomers and naming anything “Boomer-whatever”. But they’ll find out soon enough. When I see “Boomeropia” I think of those neologism contests, mostly blends. Boomeropia sounds to me like a blend of boomer and myopia - a term boomer-bashers (a neoligism! as is 'baby boomers') might come up with:

Boomeropia: A psychological disorder prevalent in Baby Boomers who have convinced themselves that they are the only generation of any importance. In advanced stages of the disease, patients believe that there is only one generation - Baby Boomers. All other generations are merely cohorts and wannabes. Also known as “The Me Generation”.)

Source: http://advertisingtobabyboomers.blogspot.com/2008/02/boomertopia.html

They don't call these guys "creatives" for nothing!

Chuck, I'll be up next month. I'm looking forward to being regaled by your wit through another cup of coffee -- or two or three -- at Starbucks in Crossroads if you're free.

Travel Sector Websites Fail Disabled Travellers

It would be very helpful to see other nations replicate this study for their tourism industry web sites.

New research commissioned by Travolution magazine has found that major UK travel firms are failing to make their online services accessible to disabled people.

The research was carried out by digital design agency Fortune Cookie (www.fortunecookie.co.uk) which tested a number of UK travel websites for accessibility to the UK’s 10 million disabled people.

Fortune Cookie’s Accessibility Expert Rune Leth Andersen said: “There are a number of ways of testing the accessibility of a website. Run it through an automated accessibility checking tool (www.w3.org/WAI/ER/tools/complete). But beware, automated tools detect only some accessibility problems and can produce false positives. Another approach is to commission a web accessibility expert to audit the site and provide recommendations. And you can undertake user testing involving disabled people.”

Source: Press Release - 25 February 2008

Fortune Cookie analysed eight popular travel websites but found that none met basic accessibility criteria and all would be difficult for a person with a disability such as blindness to use.

Examples of sites that failed accessibility tests included Malmaison (www.malmaison.com): “a number of the images have no ‘alternative text’ description’; Travel Supermarket (www.travelsupermarket.co.uk): “relies solely on JavaScript for navigation”; Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk): “poor colour contrast that would make the text illegible to some people”; and Trip Advisor (www.expedia.co.uk): “inconsistent and confusing navigation”.

Fortune Cookie’s Director of Accessibility Julie Howell, said: “The sites we tested are all popular travel sites that disabled people would reasonably expect to be able to use. Our findings highlight typical problems across the industry.”

The full article is available on the Travolution website (www.travolution.co.uk/Articles/2008/02/12/1270/Accessibility+-+gaining+access+to+an+online+world.html).

About Fortune Cookie
Founded in 1997, Fortune Cookie is one of the UK’s top digital design agencies. Clients include Legal & General, Kuoni, Voyages Jules Verne, Arsenal FC and Amnesty International. In 2006, Fortune Cookie client projects were short-listed for major design awards a total of 11 times, and the company became fully independent when it bought back internet incubator Brainspark’s 29.4% holding in the agency in a deal that will delivered an excellent return to the investor.

Further information about Fortune Cookie is available at www.fortunecookie.co.uk or contact Julie Howell at Julie.Howell@fortunecookie.co.uk

About Travolution
Travolution is the UK's leading business magazine, website, blog and events provider for the online travel market. Covering the traditional travel market plus the new breed of online players, Travolution provides essential information and analysis for anyone in, or running an online travel business.

Further information about Travolution is available at www.travolution.co.uk

Air Passenger Rights in Pretoria?

As a frequent speaker and flier the following article probably would have never caught my attention had I been in Pretoria reading the newspaper yesterday. I may have paused for a moment wondering why an editor would think such an everyday occurrence as being left behind on an airplane without bathroom access or having your wheelchair lost or destroyed was newsworthy. It is helpful to have non-disabled friends who remind me that such things are not their experience:

A disabled Pretoria man was left on a South African Airways aircraft for more than an hour at OR Tambo International Airport while he waited for Swissport to provide a passenger aid unit (PAU) so he could disembark.

In that time the man, who does not want to be named, needed the toilet, had to insert a catheter to relieve himself and, after disembarking he and airport officials searched for a further two hours to find his wheelchair.

Why Wireless is an Inclusive Travel Issue

Wireless technology and its impact on people with disabilities is the focus of study for the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC). Below is a press release explaining results from a new survey they have done. For the purposes of the Rolling Rains' central topic -- travel, disability, & Universal Design -- this finding seemed key:

* Explaining why wireless devices are important to them, survey participants cited convenience and a sense of security - much like the general population. But they also noted that wireless devices often serve as assistive technologies. For example, one respondent noted, “The camera helps me remember things.” Another participant reported that with the texting feature, “I can communicate with hearing people, like hearing people use cell phones.”

Mirroring a trend among the general public, an increasing number of people with disabilities regularly use wireless technologies, including cell phones - and find them easier to use.

But a number of people with disabilities cite a need for improved functionality of wireless devices, such as a feature to enable service dogs to call for help in an emergency, according to the initial results of a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

Wireless device ownership increased 13 percent - from 72 to 85 percent - among people with disabilities from the first generation of the survey of user needs - conducted from 2001 to 2007 - and the current survey, which began in April 2007. Also, more than three-fourths of respondents last year reported that their wireless devices are easy or very easy to use, compared to only half of those who responded to the earlier survey. Still, 73 percent said they likely would change wireless service providers, if necessary, to get additional features that enhance accessibility.

“The data these consumers share through our research helps our wireless industry partners meet customers’ needs and also helps identify applications useful to people without disabilities,” said survey project director Jim Mueller of the Wireless Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC), a collaboration between Atlanta-based Shepherd Center and the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We are not encouraging the wireless companies to make special products. We want products that will work for everyone.”

The RERC, which received its second, multi-year grant from NIDRR in 2007, promotes equitable access to wireless technologies and encourages adoption of universal design -design that benefits users of all ages and abilities - in future generations of wireless devices and applications.

The 1,208 people who completed the RERC survey in 2007 are representative of a large portion of the estimated 40 million Americans with disabilities, researchers noted. They compared the demographics of survey respondents to the U.S. Census and noted that 77 percent of respondents are 25-61 years of age; 5 percent are younger; 18 percent are older.

Researchers are comparing and contrasting the initial results from the current survey to the RERC’s previous user-needs survey of 1,200 people. Also, they are tracking trends among 165 people who have participated in both studies. In addition, researchers are comparing their results to findings reported by other wireless industry groups in 2007.

Here are some highlights from the analysis:

* Comparing the earlier survey results to the current responses, researchers found that respondents who use their wireless devices every day increased from 40 to 65 percent. Those who consider their wireless devices “very important” increased from 60 to 77 percent.
* Explaining why wireless devices are important to them, survey participants cited convenience and a sense of security - much like the general population. But they also noted that wireless devices often serve as assistive technologies. For example, one respondent noted, “The camera helps me remember things.” Another participant reported that with the texting feature, “I can communicate with hearing people, like hearing people use cell phones.”
* Among respondents to the survey last year, 77 percent said they are satisfied, very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their current wireless provider.
* About 68 percent of 2007 survey respondents said they are satisfied, very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their present wireless devices.
* The most important wireless functions cited by survey participants are: voice communication, 78 percent; Enhanced 911, 45 percent; text messaging, 43 percent; e-mail, 41 percent; and Internet access, 35 percent.
* The most important handset features to these users are: long battery life, 63 percent; durability and toughness, 61 percent; low cost, 57 percent; and simple operation, 56 percent.
* Survey respondents suggested some additional features they would like to have in a wireless device: “feature to enable service dog to call for help in emergency”; “ability to switch to voice carry-over during call (in case voice becomes unintelligible or environmental noise is too great)”; and “[ability to] scan and speak medication labels.”
* Survey respondents also commented on ways to make wireless devices easier to use. Their comments related to: incompatibility with assistive technologies, especially hearing aids or cochlear implants, design of the handset, including their difficulties holding it, seeing the display, and manipulating the controls.

People with disabilities may participate through 2011 in the RERC survey, which is available online at http://www.wirelessrerc.org. The survey is also available by phone and in print. For more information, call 800-582-6360, send email to rerc@wirelessrerc.org or send correspondence via regular mail to:

Wireless RERC Research Coordinator
Crawford Research Institute
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30309.

About Shepherd Center
Shepherd Center is a private, not-for-profit hospital devoted to the medical care and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular problems. Each year Shepherd Center admits more than 750 patients and conducts thousands of outpatient clinic visits. For more information, visit Shepherd Center online at http://www.shepherd.org.

http://www.shepherd.org

Conde Nast: "Renting a Different Kind of Wheels in France"

The Perrin Post blog brings Inclusive Tourism incrementally closer to mainstream with this entry called Renting a Different Kind of Wheels in France.

Is Tourism Accessible in Sri Lanka?

I have been working with Dr Ajith Perera of Idiraya in Sri Lanka to create educational materials on Inclusive Tourism. Needs are still great there for accessible infrastructure rebuilding following the tsunami. Progress toward accessibility seems quite slow from reports received. So, maybe the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry would like to hear of positive experiences by travelers with disabilities who have visited the beautiful island:

Please note that a major web upgrading initiative of Sri Lanka Tourism is also underway. We call on all tourism industry stakeholders to keep sending us snippets of news so we could include them in the weekly newsletters, we will bring to you on an improved format.

Sri Lanka Tourism wishes to thank all stakeholders for their wonderful support and assistance and wishes to invite them to get involved with 'Sri Lanka calling'. Please send your articles to stories@srilanka.travel

Travel, Disability, and Universal Design at the Geotourism Challenge

A big "Thank you!" to those who heeded the call to nominate projects for the Geotourism Challenge. The Rolling Rains Report was also nominated. I used the opportunity to recount some successes and draw attention to the project proposal being evaluated by Echoing Green.

Those who want to read the Geotourism Challenge entry can find it here:

http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/5951

Comments are encouraged in the section below the project description. Keep nominating good Inclusive Tourism projects!

The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism Launches Socorro Acessível as a Project of Aventura Segura

The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism has invested $R1.3 million (Reis) in projects of the initiative Aventura Segura (safe Adventure). One portion will go to the town of Socorro top make it a destination of choice for tourists with disabilities. Minister Marta Suplicy participated in the official launch of that project known as “Socorro Acessível” (Accessible Socorro). She explained:

"The Ministry of Tourism is investing $R 447,000 in Socorro Acessível, a project which aims to make the city the first tourist destination in the country adapted to people with disabilities. Our actions aimed at mapping and diagnosis of accessibility in the municipality of Socorro, the mobilization of civil society organisations, monitoring and supervision of works, creation of accessible routes of tourism, the certification of service providers and creation of technical material. We a making here a big leap in the quality of care for people with disabilities."

Aventura Segura was created as a partnership of the Ministry of Tourism with the Brazilian Association of Business Travel Adventure and Ecotourism (Abeta) and Sebrae. Other cities participating in Aventuera Segura include: Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Bonito, Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Veadeiros, Florianópolis, Vale Alto Ribeira, Serra do Cipó, Foz do Iguaçu, Serra Gaúcha, Brotas, Serra dos Órgãos, Manaus, Recife e Lençóis Maranhenses.

Ministra Marta Suplicy libera 1,3 milhões para o projeto Socorro Acessivel (Portuguese)

O Ministério do Turismo investe R$ 1,3 milhão em ações do projeto Socorro Acessível, do programa Aventura Segura e em obras de adaptação em passeios e edifícios públicos, visando oferecer acessibilidade às pessoas com deficiência, e ainda na implantação de sinalização turística. Nesta quarta-feira (20) a ministra Marta Suplicy participou do lançamento oficial das ações do projeto. Ela também assinou repasses de recursos para a Prefeitura realizar as obras e fazer a sinalização turística.

Fonte:
http://www.jornalomunicipio.com.br/

“O Ministério do Turismo investe R$ 447 mil no Socorro Acessível, um projeto que visa adequar a cidade para que se torne o primeiro destino turístico do país adaptado às pessoas com deficiência. Nossas ações visam o mapeamento e diagnóstico da acessibilidade no município de Socorro, além da mobilização da sociedade civil organizada, o acompanhamento e a supervisão de obras, a estruturação de roteiro turístico adaptado, a qualificação dos prestadores de serviços e desenvolvimento e produção de material técnico. Queremos muito dar aqui um salto de qualidade no atendimento às pessoas com deficiência”, afirmou a ministra.

O prefeito de Socorro, José Mário de Faria, elogiou a iniciativa do MTur: “A partir dessas adaptações, a natureza exuberante de Socorro poderá ser usufruída de maneira igual por todos os turistas. Nosso trabalho na Prefeitura vai continuar para atender a esse público, porque o Ministério do Turismo demonstrou confiança no que já vem sendo executado”.

Já o programa Aventura Segura tem a qualificação como principal estratégia. É desenvolvido pelo Ministério do Turismo em parceria com a Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Turismo de Aventura e Ecoturismo (Abeta) e o Sebrae, em 16 cidades do país, contando Socorro. Busca o aprimoramento do produto turístico de aventura, além do aumento da competitividade e do profissionalismo no segmento. Para este ano, a proposta é o Brasil contar com as primeiras empresas de Turismo de Aventura operando com um Certificado de Segurança, emitido por organismos certificadores acreditados pelo Inmetro (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalização e Qualidade Industrial).

“O Aventura Segura é uma ação que envolve diretamente mais de três mil pessoas nas diversas atividades que estamos promovendo nos 16 destinos, como oficinas, cursos, seminários e eventos. Até agora, mais de 260 empresas participaram das ações do programa, e 115 aderiram à implementação da gestão de segurança em suas operações. Nosso propósito é disseminar conhecimento, qualificar pessoas e serviços e certificar as empresas com Selo de Qualidade e Segurança que seja reconhecido pelo consumidor e pelo mercado”, acrescentou Marta Suplicy.

Antes da cerimônia na Prefeitura, a ministra visitou o Parque dos Sonhos e elogiou as adaptações realizadas para os turistas portadores de deficiência. “Tudo isso aqui é muito importante, porque demonstra que o setor privado está envolvido nessa missão de receber bem o turista com essas características”, ressaltou a ministra, afirmando ter ficado “muito contente” ao saber que até mesmo uma sorveteria na cidade ficará 40 dias fechada para as obras de acessibilidade.

Além de Socorro, os demais destinos trabalhados pelo Aventura Segura são: Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Bonito, Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Veadeiros, Florianópolis, Vale Alto Ribeira, Serra do Cipó, Foz do Iguaçu, Serra Gaúcha, Brotas, Serra dos Órgãos, Manaus, Recife e Lençóis Maranhenses.

Dança em Cadeira de Rodas (Portuguese)

Importante ferramenta de reabilitação física e social de pessoas com
deficiência através da arte.
A exploração dos movimentos que mostram a eficiência da pessoa e não
somente a limitação, já que esta é óbvia.
"O grande barato, cara, é a gente além de se mostrar, conquistar!".

Changemaker's Geotourism Competition

Changemakers, a project of Ashoka, launched their Geotourism Challenge on January 31, 2008. There are many Rolling Rains Report readers who will know of and may even run projects that would be excellent nominees for this project.

Head over to their nomination form and let them know about Inclusive Tourism by adding your nomination:

http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/geotourismchallenge/nominate/2104

"Nominate your favorite example of geotourism -- defined by National Geographic as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place: its environment, heritage, culture, aesthetics, and the well-being of its residents."

In the Changemaker Library you will find such helpful documents as, "The Tourism Industry and Poverty Reduction:
A Business Primer" a Pro-poor tourism briefing

Try to Catch Johnny Jet!

Doing some travel planning and have access to the Internet but maybe not all the time you need? See if Johnny Jet's list of Online Travel Resources has what you need:

http://johnnyjet.com/LATimes2008.html

Trends: UD, Housing, and Gerontechnology

One of the theses of this site is that as Universal Design moves into the mainstream it will have wider social impact than ever imagined when it was invented as part of the civil rights era in the US.

As a philosophy of liberation at its core that should not be surprising but the actual interplay of historical factors shaping the development and spread of his approach to building for humans-as-they-are is fascinating. I have written an article, Culture and the Future of Universal Design, for Design for All India on the need to study how various cultures accept, reject, or transform Universal Design. The following entry from the AGIS site entitled Housing and Technology illustrates one example of Universal Design become situated in broader historical trends. Here UD is placed in a discussion of aging, smart homes, and gerontechnology:

Each generation or cohort of aging individuals reaching older adulthood will also bring their experience, education, lifestyle, human associations and connections, and their needs and desires with them as they age. Computerphobia, and technophobia in general, will eventually evaporate, even if it remains in the post–World War II generation. Indeed, discretionary income among older adults is generally high, and housing purchases of single-family dwellings at the upper end of the price spectrum is, and will remain, a purchase made mainly by older adults. With those housing purchases come all of the opportunities for technology; both that which is part of the original purchase and that acquired after purchase. Technology and affluence go hand-in-hand. The acquisition of goods and services, however, is made by older adults only if they meet certain lifestyle requirements.

Have the product development professions, technology innovators, and the homebuilders begun to anticipate new markets for houses, consumer products, and technologies? Those who generate technology have begun, albeit late in the game, to see the demographic changes that are coming, and they have established a variety of approaches to make their product development efforts inclusive. Universal design is an approach that recognizes the diversity of the world population. This philosophy of designing encompasses the diversity brought about by recognizing aging, the expansion of the racial and ethnic base, and the increasing prevalence of individuals with both moderate and severe disabilities, in the population (Covington and Hannah). Another philosophy of design is referred to as transgenerational design (Pirkl). Transgenerational design extends the human factors associated with product development to include characteristics of normal age related change. Theoretically, inclusiveness of this kind offsets disability. In both philosophic approaches, disability can be measured as the difference between a person's ability to cope with his or her environment with and without the support of technology. For many older adults, technology can be the difference between continuous participation in all forms of activity or exclusion from the spectrum of activities that give meaning and enhance and invigorate all people throughout life.

Further reading:

http://www.agis.com/Document/211/housing-and-technology.aspx

India: Disability Research & Design Foundation (DRDF)

Meet Nilesh Singit and Abhisek Ray co-founders of Disability Research and Design Foundation (DRDF). DRDF qualifies as the sort of "Knockout Idea" that Ashoka Foundation looks for in selecting social entrepreneurs:

The Knockout Test: A New Idea

Ashoka cannot elect someone to the Fellowship unless he or she is possessed by a new idea—a new solution or approach to a social problem—that will change the pattern in a field, be it human rights, the environment, or any other. We evaluate the idea historically and against its contemporaries in the field, looking for innovation and real change potential.

The also select on creativity, social impact, ethical fiber, and entrepreneurial quality:

Perhaps our most important criterion, entrepreneurial quality is the defining characteristic of first class entrepreneurs. It defines leaders who see opportunities for change and innovation and devote themselves entirely to making that change happen. These leaders often have little interest in anything beyond their mission, and they are willing to spend the next ten to fifteen years making a historical development take place. This total absorption is critical to transforming a new idea into reality, and it is for this reason that Ashoka insists that candidates commit themselves full-time to their ideas during the launch phase.

Ashoka is looking for the Andrew Carnegies, Henry Fords, and Steve Jobses of the citizen sector.

If you know someone pursuing a project that fits these criteria nominate them here: http://ashoka.org/support/nominate

DRDF has been started by two individuals with diverse backgrounds who have
contributed towards making an inclusive society in Mumbai. DRDF seeks to
exercise influence well beyond the economics, helping to shape political,
social, environmental and cultural arenas. DRDF’s endeavor is to bridge the
technological divide and to liaison with various government, non-government
and private and corporate organizations and create the resources for market
feasibility by providing cost-effective assistive technologies, adhering to
universal design standards, legislative/policy changes through lobbying and
advocacy, new skills and competency to users and manufacturers taking into
consideration the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Design and technology are increasingly becoming the means wherein a person
with disability can achieve independence and lead a life of self sufficiency.
However a large percentage of people with disabilities in developing
countries like India do not have access to these fundamental resources.
Barrier free environments are the first step towards inclusion in Indian
cities where individuals with disabilities remain excluded from the public
realm. Accessibility is thus a vital tool towards promoting education,
employment and social amalgamation of the individual.

As a growing liberalised world we need to endorse an attitudinal change which
is deemed vital in the formation of an all inclusive society. In a society
where disability is considered as a curse by religion and tradition, it is a
challenge to institute such a change.

Our Services

Planning and execution of Barrier Free Environments/ Accessible and Universal
Design.
Design of Assistive devices for individuals with disability.
Access audits and consultancy/recommendations of public and private realms.
Advocacy and rights awareness on issues pertaining to disability and access.

Our Experience

Access Audits

1)Domestic Airport, Victoria Terminus, Mahalaxmi, Kharghar, Kopar Khairane,
Turbhe Rlwy Stns, Mumbai
2)In Orbit Shopping Mall, Imax Adlabs, Fame Adlabs , Fun Republic, Mumbai
3)Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai
4)Taj Malabar, Cochin
5)Welingkar School of Management

Assistive Devices

1)Electrically operated wheelchair lift for Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.
2) Hydraulically operated wheelchair lift for the High Court, Mumbai.
Barrier Free Design
1)Design of barrier free weekend Bungalow, Neral
2)Design of ramp for High Court, Mumbai
3)Design of accessible toilets for Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai
4)Residential interiors for a person with Polio myletis.
5)Design for Weligkar Institute of Management, Mumbai.
6)Development of driving and passenger aids for people with disabilities.

Advocacy

1)Presentation on Barrier free design for Indian Institute of Architects, Pune
Chapter.
2)Presentation on Barrier free design for Indian Institute of Architects,
Cochin Chapter.
3)‘Katha- Stories from the Desert’ Film on post earthquake rehabilitation in
Kutchh, Gujarat.
4)Presentation on Access and disability rights for India Centre for Human
Rights and Law, Kerala.
5)Presentation and film premiere at the Universal Design Conference, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
6)Presentation on Barrier free design at the People Building Better Cities,
UIA, 2005, Istanbul, Turkey.
7)Presentation on Barrier Free Design for Sukriti Social Foundation, Chennai,
2007
8) UNRCPD : Presentation at the sixth adhoc session August 2005 on
Accessibility at NY UNCRPD with emphasis on accessibility in India

Segway & Disability in San Francisco

I could no longer stand the constant confrontations, and reluctantly taped a bright blue handicapped logo squarely on the front of my Segway. I thought that people would see the logo and understand that I was not just some lazy rich guy. But I was wrong.

Sometimes, people come up to me just to say that the Segway is cool. Others are curious about how it works. I hope that more people, able-bodied and disabled, adopt and accept the Segway as an alternative mobility device. Until then, I have a simple plea: Please don't push me off my Segway.

Read Peter D. Poulos' article "Segway helps disabled man more than wheelchair"

Seminário Técnicos de Turismo de Aventura (Portuguese)

From February 21 to 22 there will be a seminar on adventure tourism security and certification. Inclusive Tourism will be represented at a session on February 21 entitled "Our Future Client" (Nosso futuro cliente!).

Seminário Técnicos de Turismo de Aventura AVENTURA SEGURA Qualificação e Certificação em Turismo de Aventura

O Seminário Técnico de Turismo de Aventura é a ação inicial do
Programa Aventura Segura no destino Foz do Iguaçu, iniciativa do
Ministério do Turismo, com parceria do SEBRAE e executado pela
ABETA.

Os objetivos do Seminário são:
• inspirar lideranças, empresários e profissionais no seu trabalho
com o turismo de aventura;
• envolver as empresas e os profissionais nas iniciativas do
programa;
• esclarecer o trabalho de organização do turismo de aventura no
Brasil;
• mostrar uma nova realidade de profissionalismo e competência.

O Seminário ocorrera nos dias 21 e 22 de fevereiro em Socorro, de
08hs ás 19hs, na Prefeitura Municipal da Estância de Socorro - Av.
José Maria de Faria, 71 – Bruna Maria

Com foco na agregação de valor e conhecimento para empresários,
profissionais e lideranças, o evento não perde tempo, tem um
formato dinâmico de interação, produtividade, trazendo informações e
desafios aos participantes de maneira instigante e objetiva.

O primeiro dia do evento é composto por palestras, apresentações
de casos de sucesso, estudos, estratégias e projetos. Informação
qualificada e precisa. Os destaques são os casos de sucesso,
inspiradores e estimulantes, os estudos e planos que apontam
caminhos a seguir e a apresentação do Programa Aventura Segura, que trás
oportunidades e desafios.

No segundo dia do seminário, nada de palestras. O evento é
organizado em oficinas de trabalho, no qual serão abordados os 3 grandes
temas do Programa Aventura Segura, fazendo com que todos os
participantes comecem os trabalhos para o desenvolvimento do turismo de
aventura.

1. Oficina Associativismo
2. Oficina Formação de Grupos Voluntários de Busca e Salvamento
3. Oficina de Assistência Técnica para Gestão da Segurança

O Seminário é destinado para todos os envolvidos com o turismo no
destino, principalmente lideranças locais, empresários,
profissionais, guias e condutores que trabalham com o turismo de
aventura, ecoturismo e turismo de natureza.

PROGRAMAÇÃO

1º Dia - 21/02 – Quinta Feira - Abrindo os olhos!

8h Boas vindas e inscrições
Recepção dos participantes e entrega de material de apoio

9h Abertura do Seminário
Lideranças locais, autoridades e representantes da ABETA iniciam
as discussões do dia.

9h30 A Nova Zelândia é aqui? – apresentação caso de sucesso
Resultado do Projeto Destinos de Excelência, um vídeo mostra a
receita de bolo para o desenvolvimento do turismo de aventura.
Será que podemos fazer no Brasil?

10h Turismo de Aventura no Brasil: passado, presente e futuro
Entenda qual é o passado e o presente do turismo de aventura no
Brasil, com a apresentação do Diagnóstico do segmento no país.
Conheça estratégias, recomendações e ações práticas que podem
mudar o futuro das empresas e profissionais do turismo de aventura no
país.
Tempo para perguntas e discussões de 30 minutos
Palestrante: Marianne Costa - ABETA

12h Almoço livre

13:30h Projeto Destinos Referência: Socorro – SP
Palestrante: Rodrigo Lopes - ICBC

14h Ação para a mudança – Programa Aventura Segura
Associativismo, Busca e Salvamento, Gestão da Segurança, Normas
Técnicas, Certificação de empresas e condutores – entenda todas as
oportunidades e desafios que o programa oferece e apresenta.
Tempo para perguntas e discussões de 30 minutos
Palestrante: Raquel Muller e Alvaro Barros - ABETA

16h Coffee Break

16h30 Nosso futuro cliente!, "A pessoa com deficiência, realmente
um turista especial", potencial, recursos, turismo adaptado em outros
paises.

Um setor em amplo crescimento a nível nacional. O resultado de
ações em locais que a acessibilidade foi implantada como prioridade, e
hoje são destaque no mercado.

Tempo para perguntas e discussões de 30 minutos
Palestrante: Alexis Muñoz - AVAPE

18h Colocando as mãos na massa
Breve apresentação das oficinas de trabalho do segundo dia do
seminário.

18h30 Encerramento

2º Dia - 22/02 – Sexta Feira - Colocando as mãos na massa!
O segundo dia do seminário é dedicado a realização de oficinas de
trabalho das grandes temas do Programa Aventura Segura. É um dia
de trabalho prático, com foco nas pessoas interessadas em se
envolver de maneira prática e objetiva com as ações propostas.
Entenda o teor de cada oficina em detalhe e decida a sua
participação.

08hs Oficina Formação de Grupo Voluntário de Busca e Salvamento

Objetivo: Iniciar a discussão sobre a necessidade de formação de
um grupo voluntário de busca e salvamento.

Público alvo: Todos os envolvidos com o turismo no destino,
principalmente lideranças locais, empresários, profissionais,
guias e condutores que trabalham com o turismo de aventura, ecoturismo e
turismo de natureza.

Conteúdo da oficina: A oficina tem o objetivo de responder a duas
perguntas: existe a necessidade de se formar um grupo de busca e
salvamento na região? e existe interesse e mobilização para a
formação deste grupo entre as pessoas presentes na oficina?

11h Oficina de Apoio para a implementação das normas de
acessibilidade

Objetivo: Iniciar os trabalhos de acessibilidade em comércios e
empreendimentos, esclarecendo duvidas e criando um sistema de
apoio local.

Publico alvo: Empresários e gestores de empresas que oferecem
turismo de aventura.

Conteúdo da Oficina: Em esta oficina, será abordado como dar
início aos projetos de acessibilidade em um empreendimento ou comercio
para o atendimento da pessoa com deficiência, normas, formas de
atendimento, atividades.

12h30 Almoço Livre

14hs Oficina de Associativismo

Objetivo: Iniciar o trabalho de fortalecimento de uma instância de
representação dos interesses do turismo de aventura

Público alvo: Empresários e gestores de empresas que oferecem
atividades de turismo de aventura.

Conteúdo da oficina: Um trabalho inicial de diagnosticar os
interesses de fortalecer uma associação que represente os
interesses
do Turismo de Aventura no estado.

16hs Oficina de Assistência Técnica Sistema de Gestão da Segurança
Objetivo: Iniciar o processo de assistência técnica com as
empresas que decidirem aderir ao programa.

Público alvo: Empresários e gestores de empresas que oferecem
atividades de turismo de aventura.

Conteúdo da oficina: Apresentação da norma ABNT NBR 15331 Turismo
de Aventura – Sistema de Gestão da Segurança – Requisitos e de todos
os passos da assistência técnica para implementação da norma nas
empresas que oferecem atividades de turismo de aventura

Turismo Polibea On Inclusive Tourism in Spaiin and Portugal

The current issue of Turismo Polibea includes several interesting articles available in either English or Spanish:

Accessible Ibiza
Badajoz & Alentejo Accessible Route
Valencia
Accessible Trails: Huesca
The Walls of Avila

Also an essay on air transport:

http://www.polibea.com/turismo/noticia6_en.htm

Gordon Rattray on Disability Culture -- and Touring Africa

Gordon Rattray is an expert on travel in Africa. He also uses a wheelchair. As he explains here the wheelchair isn't always the most efficient way to get somewhere but, as he writes a guide on accessible travel in Africa, his experience reinforces one of the key values of disability culture -- interdependency:

There are distinct advantages to being disabled too; apart from the fact that enthusiastic and able help is often easier to find away from home, being reliant on people can even help bridge the usual gulf between us, the tourists, and them, the locals. I'm often forced to ask for assistance; and people, in turn, are interested to know what caused my disability and why western medicine can't cure me. This means there is a greater chance of more meaningful encounters and conversations, instead of the usual bartering with a market trader where both parties' motives are financial. Information I compile for Bradt guides is aimed mainly at people with physical disabilities, but some books also contain notes for those with sensory deficits, and it's not just disabled people who are seeking new trails; many older travellers worry about having to climb too many steps, availability of bathrooms or simply being able to regularly take a rest and sit down.

Gordon Rattray is Bradt's expert on travel for the disabled. Gordon worked as an overland driver in Africa before a diving accident left him C5/6 (complete) quadriplegic. Despite that, his wanderlust remains undiminished; he continues to travel frequently, and his experiences inform the tailored advice for disabled travellers that he contributes to many of our guides. A writer himself, he recently reached the final of the Bradt/Independent on Sunday Travel-Writing Competition, and is currently researching a Bradt Guide to African safaris for those with limited mobility (due for publication in June 2009).

Entrevista com Eduardo Camara e Bianca Marotta do Blog Mão na Roda

Meet Brazilians Eduardo Camara and Bianca Marotta in this interview from Programa Especial on TVE Brasil. You will find the blog here - http://www.oglobo.com.br/blogs/maonaroda

Disability in Indonesia

Bunga Sirait offers an insider's look at accessibility in Jakarta:

Back in 2000, former president Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) announced the start of a National Public Accessibility Movement, a government-backed drive to provide more access for people with disabilities. At the time, Gus Dur had personal experience of the difficulties faced by Jakarta’s disabled. He himself suffered impaired vision, while his wife, Sinta Nuriyah, had for some years been confined to a wheelchair following a serious traffic accident.

As a pilot project, Gambir train station was equipped with 21 standard facilities for disabled people. Ramps were installed, along with talking elevators, a ‘special help bell’, train schedules in Braille and lowered phone booths (for the wheelchair-bound). Toilets and parking spaces were reserved for people with disabilities.

Eight years on, and this is what you’ll find at Gambir: the elevators don’t even look like they’re working, let alone talking. Same thing with the dusty ‘special help bell’ hung on one of the entrance gates. An officer standing nearby points to a dark booth with the big sign ‘Customer Service’ written on it. ‘There,’ he says. ‘When this button is pushed, someone from the office is supposed to come and help. But I don’t think they’ve been doing that, not for a while.’ And if you’re looking for the schedules in Braille and the phones, good luck!

For the full article:
http://insideindonesia.org/content/view/1046/47/

Cursos de Formación sobre Turismo Accesible (Spanish)

La Cátedra Ocio y Discapacidad, del Instituto de Estudios de Ocio de la Universidad de Deusto, organiza e imparte 28 Cursos de Formación sobre Turismo Accesible para profesionales, en 25 ciudades. Patrocinados por la Secretaría General de Turismo y el Fondo Social Europeo, los cursos son de carácter gratuito para los profesionales del sector turístico.

Desde Turismo Polibea:

El Instituto de Estudios de Ocio de la Universidad de Deusto nace como proyecto en 1988. Su objetivo es estudiar la incidencia y creciente relevancia que adquiere el ocio en la sociedad actual. Desde el inicio se caracteriza por su naturaleza interdisciplinar, conectado a los planteamientos académicos internacionales, así como por la defensa de un ocio humanista, es decir, un ocio impulsor de desarrollo personal y social. Su cometido es la investigación, documentación y formación en los temas relacionados con los múltiples contextos en los que se realiza el ocio: Cultura, Turismo, Deporte, y Recreación.

El proyecto Cátedra Ocio y Discapacidad es la expresión de uno de los objetivos del Instituto, la defensa del Derecho al ocio de todo ciudadano. Su realización fue posible gracias al convenio de colaboración firmado por primera vez en 1994 y renovado trienalmente hasta el 2004, entre la Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España (O.N.C.E.), la Fundación ONCE y la Universidad de Deusto. La Cátedra es un foro de encuentro desde el que se pretende dar a conocer nuevas propuestas relacionadas con el libre ejercicio y disfrute del ocio de las personas con discapacidad. Su finalidad es el impulso de actividades docentes, investigadoras, documentales y de difusión de los estudios relacionados con su área de interés. Para ello, la Cátedra colabora con los agentes sociales implicados en estos temas, apoyando la labor que realizan y generando nuevas iniciativas. En octubre de 2000 el Proyecto se denomina Cátedra ONCE Ocio y Discapacidad (antes Cátedra Ocio y Minusvalías). En el año 2004 el proyecto pasa a llamarse Cátedra Ocio y Discapacidad, del Instituto de Estudios de Ocio de la Universidad de Deusto . La línea de trabajo Ocio y Discapacidad está consolidada y reconocida en el ámbito universitario, el equipo de la Cátedra continua desarrollando su labor centrada fundamentalmente en la Investigación, Formación y Consultoría. Centra todos sus esfuerzos en el conocimiento exhaustivo y el desarrollo de herramientas que garanticen el ejercicio del derecho al ocio en todas las personas con discapacidad.

Logo Ministerio Industria Comercio. Pulsar para ampliar imagenPatrocinado por el Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio( Secretaría General de Turismo) y por el Fondo Social Europeo, el Programa Formativo para el fomento de la accesibilidad en los destinos y empresas turísticas consta de 28 cursos impartidos en 25 ciudades del estado español y está dirigido a profesionales y empresarios/as del sector turístico que quieran mejorar la calidad de los servicios, establecimientos y destinos turísticos y ahondar en la accesibilidad como factor de calidad de la oferta turística.

Cada sesión contará con un máximo de 20 participantes, y los/las alumnos/as tendrán acceso, además de a las sesiones presenciales, a la herramienta del Campus Virtual a través de la cual podrán profundizar en los materiales propuestos, realizar tutorías personalizadas con el equipo docente y acceder en los foros de discusión habilitados para los participantes.

La inscripción deberá realizarse a través de la página www.turismoaccesible.deusto.es en el apartado de inscripción (columna izquierda). Esta página web será el sitio de referencia actualizado para el alumno e incluirá cualquier cambio o información relevante sobre el programa y sus cursos. Asimismo se puede solicitar información en ocio@ocio.deusto.es

Cursos previstos en el mes de Febrero.

Oviedo
Tarde y mañana, días 12 y 13

Tarragona
Tarde y mañana, días 27 y 28

Girona
Tarde y mañana, días 27 y 28

Barcelona 1
Día entero, 29-02-2008

Barcelona 2
Día entero 29-02-2008

Universidad de Deusto
Avenida de las Universidades, 24
48007 Bilbao
Tel. 94 413 90 00
e-mail ocio@ocio.deusto.es

Instituto de Estudios de Ocio
ocio@ocio.deusto.es
Tel: 94 413 90 75 (Xabier Landabidea)
www.ocio.deusto.es

Brian Sterner on CNN Yesterday & the Today Show Tomorrow

A quadriplegic in Florida is abused on videotape -- at the police station. (Note response received from Commissioner Al Higginbotham below.)

Follow- up:

Dear Scott,

Thank you for sharing with me your concerns regarding the incident at Orient Road Jail. As you may or may not know, I myself am a paraplegic. The actions of the guards and other employees involved were deplorable, unacceptable, and not typical of most employees of Hillsborough County or of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. I have urged Sheriff David Gee to investigate and respond seriously to the actions of his deputies. We look forward to hearing Sheriff Gee’s findings.

Sincerely,

Al Higginbotham
HigginbothamA@HillsboroughCounty.ORG
[Commissioner Hillsborough County District 4 ]

“Working together we will make a difference.”

Tampa Bay
http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/02/deputies-suspen.html

MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23131766/

Live Leak:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0d7_1202840119

The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/12/florida-police-dump-quadr_n_86290.html

(Note: CNN has placed an ad for Valentines Day pajamas before the news clip. There does not appear to be an "opt out" function for the ad.):

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/02/12/deeson.fl.disabled.man.dumped.wtsp

Rolling Rains Report on SlideShare.net

SlideShare.net began as an archive for posting and sharing digital slide shows. It quickly expanded into a social network with the capability to add sound to slide shows as SlideCasts. SlideShare is a valuable tool for virtualizing participation in conferences before, during, and after the event.

For example, I upload a slide show that I will use in a conference presentation so that I can either play it from the server or download it at the other end. I also extend the discussion from an event by forming a group such as the one to the right entitled "Universal Design."

| View | Upload your own

Rolling Rains Report readers with slide shows invited to share them and join the group.

Anthropometry - Humans in Space/Humans in the Divesity of Their Functinal Abilities

Anthropometry and biomechanics lie behind the advances that Universal Design has offered society in general and that Inclusive Tourism has offered travelers in particular. For a handbook overview of the two fields this NASA site is helpful: http://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section03.htm

Survey on Media and People With Disabilities

We received the following request for participants in a research project conducted by Anna Pakman entitled, Media Consumption & People with Disabilities.

My name is Anna Pakman and I am a first year MBA student at Columbia Business School. I am conducting a survey as primary research for my paper on Media Consumption & People with Disabilities for my Consumer Behavior class. I would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes of your time to answer some questions about your consumption of television, film, Internet, and radio programming. As you probably know, the Nielsen ratings track media consumption for just about every population EXCEPT our community so the only way I can get this data is through your assistance. All individual survey responses are anonymous and will be kept strictly confidential.

You may access the survey at:

http://withtv.typepad.com/weblog/2008/02/survey-media-co.html

The deadline for filling this out is March 31, 2008. Please feel free to forward this on to any and all individuals and organizations that may have an interest in completing the survey or getting their constituents to do so.

Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact me at apakman09@gsb.columbia.edu If the survey presents any problems for those using screen reading software please let me know and I can figure out another way to get it to you. Unfortunately, I need to use Qualtrics as it is the only surveying software provided by Columbia University and I have no control as to how accessible/unaccessible it is. If you have a lot of trouble, please record your problems and e-mail them to me so I can forward it on to our IT people who can then relay this feedback to the vendor.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Regards,

Anna Pakman
MBA Class of 2009

Turismo Inclusivo em Socorro (Portuguese)

O EPTV.com promove o trabalho pioneiro de Dada Moreira em Socorro:

http://eptv.globo.com/emc/live/default.asp?video=33618

News on the Beijing Paralympics Games

This report on the Beijing Olympics from Daniel Schearf atVoice of America. Note that "for the first time in Paralympics history, the city will pay all travel expenses for disabled athletes and team officials."

China is preparing to hold its first Olympic Games this year, and along with it, the Paralympics Games for disabled athletes. Chinese officials acknowledge that they are far behind in providing equal access for the country's disabled citizens, and they hope the games will help improve the situation.

Beijing wants to host a festive Olympics this year and officials say the Paralympics should be equal in splendor.

Beijing has built new facilities for the games and for training China's disabled athletes.

Chinese officials say there are 83 million people with disabilities in China and two million of them play sports.

Cao Qiuping hopes to play basketball for the Chinese team. She says the Paralympic Games will help reduce prejudice in China against the disabled. "A lot of people take [disabled people] to be obedient and docile. In fact, it's not like this. Their understanding is wrong. We want to use this opportunity to show them the real appearance of handicapped people."

An estimated 4,000 athletes from 150 countries are expected in Beijing for the Paralympics.

Officials say they will provide them with the same quality services as Olympic athletes and should have no problem meeting their needs.

Beijing plans to provide accessible buses and subway cars for getting disabled athletes and spectators to the Paralympic events.

But most public transport still lacks access facilities, cutting disabled athletes off from most of the city when they visit for the games. Officials say they will make the city more accessible, but they warn that Beijing will likely lag behind cities in more developed nations.

"We hope through the work of preparing for the Paralympics we can in Beijing reach national standards. But quickly reaching common, but rather high, international standards is difficult for all places," says Tang Xiaoquan, who is a director with the China Disabled People's Federation.

Beijing says, for the first time in Paralympics history, the city will pay all travel expenses for disabled athletes and team officials.

Source:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-08-voa25.cfm

Airline Loyalty Or Just A "Hostage" Situation?

Airline loyalty programs are an emotional issue for some people as they gather large sums of redeemable miles. Airline satisfaction levels seem to be at an all-time low. Here is an essay from ETN subtitled, "Airline Loyalty Or Just A "Hostage" Situation?":

James T. Kane, a corporate consultant on customer loyalty, has a news flash for his airline.

“I hate you, and I tell everybody I hate you,” he says. “You could not pay me to get on your airline if I didn’t have to. The reason you think I’m a happy customer is I flew 178,000 miles on you last year — but that’s because I didn’t have a choice.” Like many other frequent business travelers, he finds that there is only one airline whose flight schedule fits his needs.

“I’m not loyal,” he adds. “I’m just a hostage.”

For the full article:
http://www.eturbonews.com/820/million-miles-vs-few-more-smiles

Go Abroad with Mobility International USA: June 27 - July 12, 2008

One of the most important experiences of my teen years was as an exchange student in Guatemala. Later, in college in Brazil, I returned home leaving unused more than a year's scholarship at the University of Sao Paulo due to inaccessibility of the campus.

If you know anyone who is eligible for this wonderful opportunity to study in Central America pass it along:

Go Abroad with Mobility International USA June 27 to July 12, 2008

Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2008

Generous Scholarships Available!

Applications available online now

First time travelers with disabilities who are between 18-24 years old, from cultural minority and low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply

For more information:
apply@miusa.org
or
541-343-1284 (tel/tty)

Access to the Golden Gate National Recreational Area

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a California-based non-profit law firm, filed a class action complaint today in federal court challenging the Golden Gate National Recreational Area (GGNRA) on behalf of visitors with disabilities. The complaint may be downloaded here.
The press release follows.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Golden Gate National Recreational Area (GGNRA) and the National Park Service (NPS) are discriminating against individuals with disabilities by denying them access to GGNRA parks. In order to end this discrimination, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a California-based non-profit law firm, filed a class action complaint today in federal court on behalf of all people with mobility and vision disabilities who have been denied access to GGNRA parks. GGNRA has been obliged to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, since the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Spanning over 75,000 acres of land and water from San Mateo to Marin County, GGNRA is the country’s largest national park in an urban area and attracts more than 13 million visitors a year. The park includes such national landmarks as Alcatraz, the Presidio, the Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, Crissy Field, and Forts Point and Mason. It contains 1,273 plant and animal species, encompasses 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline, and has military fortifications that span centuries of California history from the Spanish conquistadors to Cold War-era Nike missile sites.

“What makes this case especially frustrating,” said Laurence Paradis, executive director of DRA, “is that we have been working in good faith with the GGNRA for over a year in an effort to achieve a plan to bring this agency into compliance with federal law. In the end, all we obtained was another year of delayed access for people with disabilities.” DRA attorney Julia Pinover echoed the sentiment, “This is not rocket science. We’re not seeking accessibility in the most remote part of the Amazon, we’re talking about long overdue accessible restrooms, visitors’ centers, parking, exhibits, trails and programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. This case is really about how our national parks systematically exclude people with disabilities and, in doing so, fail to fulfill our local and national policy of inclusion.” Although access requirements took effect in 1973, now, in 2008, GGNRA still does not provide basic accommodations to allow access.

Plaintiff Laurie Gray, a wheelchair user with a visual impairment, organizes and leads outdoors trips for groups of people with various disabilities to facilitate outdoor experiences and the enjoyment of the natural wonders of the Bay Area. Gray stated, “It’s astonishing that decades after the Rehabilitation Act was passed, the GGNRA still won’t make the most basic accommodations, never mind considering the possibility that groups of people with disabilities might occasionally travel together and need group accommodations.” Co-plaintiff Ann Sieck, like many Bay Area residents, has a life long love of the outdoors and is frustrated that she cannot enjoy what GGRNA has to offer. “The pervasive access barriers discourage people with disabilities and their families from visiting the parks. I think many people have just given up.”

DRA previously reached a settlement agreement with the State of California in 2005 to improve accessibility at parks statewide.

Bangladesh: Assistive Technology for the PWDs

The article below was forwarded to me by Disabled People's International. It provides a useful introduction to the basics of Adaptive or "Assistive" Technology.

Disablement, needless to say, significantly reduces the life quality of a person as it substantially diminishes their work ability. Assistive or adaptive technology, however, can bring back the individual's employability at an acceptable level.

Unfortunately, most people, even the disabled themselves, in the third world countries are not aware that assistive technology may become their real friend in assisting them in everyday life. I would like to highlight in this article some assistive technologies for different types of disabilities; before that it is worth mentioning what an assistive technology means.

There is no specific definition of Assistive Technology (AT). It simply denotes any item, piece of equipment, or system that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

The definition does not necessarily imply that AT must include computers, or that it must be expensive, or that certain medical professionals can only prescribe it. This definition permits AT to be restricted by your own creativity and imagination.

The followings represent samples of the many types of AT, grouped by the nature of a user's disability, that are available.

AT for visual impairments
Visually impaired users face a great challenge when interacting with graphical user interfaces. Typically, they use software applications known as screen readers that turn the texts, events, and elements in applications and websites into synthesised speech. For example, when a user opens a new window in Microsoft Internet Explorer, a screen reader such as JAWS (Job Access with Speech) or Home Page Reader might say "new browser window".

A physically challenged person, I took part in a specialised training program last year, where 19 other physically challenged people also participated. Of them, 12 were visually challenged. I observed with sheer astonishment how my visually impaired friends worked smoothly on computer using screen reader software like JAWS or FSB reader. They used special key combinations to move around screen in order to direct the screen what to read. By listening to this speech, they were able to understand a screen's content.

Another AT for the visually challenged is refreshable Braille display, which may be used as an alternative to screen reader. These devices convert screen text into Braille and display the Braille on a number of cells comprised of independently controlled pins. When editing and reviewing text, refreshable Braille displays can be much better to work with because a vision-impaired user can easily reread characters on the same line and check spelling. Screen readers are capable of reading words character by character, but the process of moving backwards in text to review and then moving forwards can be cumbersome. Despite their potential advantage, refreshable Braille displays are less common due to their higher cost.

In addition, a Braille embosser converts computer-generated text into embossed Braille output. Braille translation programs convert text scanned in or generated via standard word processing programs into Braille, which can be printed on the embosser. The results on thick paper are the individual dots that constitute Braille characters.

However, choice of appropriate hardware and software will depend on the user's level of functional vision. Put another way, it relies on the intensity of impairment. For example, low-vision users can use hardware such as large monitors, adjustable task lamp, Copyholder, closed circuit television, modified cassette recorder, and scanner to improve visibility. Moreover, this can be helpful to people who have difficulty reading or seeing self-voicing applications such as talking web browsers.

AT for the hearing challenged
Although hearing impaired individuals encounter less accessibility than the visually challenged do, they face tremendous difficulty in terms of learning, job access and social inclusion. These are due to the traditional way of learning.

However, computer technology has emerged as blessing to the hearing impaired. As computer prompts such as spoken messages and beeps can be misunderstood or go unnoticed by hearing impaired individuals, this problem is solved through the use of tools that produce visual warning when the system plays a sound and/or display captions in place of a spoken message. Light signaller alerts the computer with light signals. This is useful when a computer user cannot hear computer sounds. As an example, a light can flash alerting the user when a new e-mail message has arrived or a computer command has completed.

In addition, hearing impaired person can use TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf), which is an electronic device for text communication via a telephone line, telecare, closed captioning, teletext and multimedia projector to address accessibility problem. Moreover, newer text-based communication methods such as short message service (SMS), internet relay chat (IRC) and instant messaging have also been accepted by the deaf as an alternative or adjunct to TDD.

AT for mobility impairments
Mobility impairment refers to any condition that limits an individual's ability to navigate through their environment. Mobility assistive technology products and services for the physically challenged are used to ensure freedom of movement around the home or office. For example, persons with mobility impairment can use wheelchair or electric wheelchair to overcome challenges to daily activities. A permanent or portable ramp can also help in this regard.

In addition, alternative pointing devices allow mobility-impaired individuals to control the mouse pointer via a mechanism other than the mouse. These are typically used when someone lacks dexterity to manipulate a standard mouse. Again, some software exists that converts the keyboard arrow keys into directional movements for the pointer. Other keys are used to signal a left and right mouse click. Besides, for individuals with severe impairments who are entirely unable to manipulate the mouse and/or use a standard keyboard can use HeadMouse wireless pointing device that converts the movements of a user's head into corresponding movements of the mouse pointer by tracking the motion of a single point on the user's head. A standard keyboard may be completely replaced by using this system in conjunction with software that produces an on-screen keyboard.

Mobility-impaired individuals may utilise speech recognition applications. This software can be used to both control applications via speech commands and as a means to dedicate text, with speech converted into text in real time.

Disability is not inability; rather, it is a blessing in disguise. If the disabled get some opportunity, they can also prove their potential in the real field. As evidenced by the above descriptions, assistive technology services address a variety of disabilities in numerous ways. Regretfully, technology, created without regard to people with disabilities, often creates undesired hindrances to hundreds of millions of people. We should know that assistive technology, or more specifically universally acceptable technology, equally yields great rewards for the typical users. One example is the kerb cuts in the sidewalk at street crossing. While these kerb cuts enable pedestrians with mobility impairments to cross the street, these also aid parents with carriages and strollers, shoppers with carts, and travellers and workers with pull-type bags.

And here in Bangladesh, though the availability of disabled friendly or assistive technology is alarmingly low, YPSA -- a specialised non-profit social development organisation -- is doing some exciting work in this respect. As a result, the organisation has been selected by DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) Consortium, to ensure information in accessible format for people with disabilities (PWDs), especially for the print disabled. We sincerely hope that other organisations would follow YPSA's effort in this regard to make the PWDs lives somewhat easy and enjoyable.

The author, a physically challenged person, is a trainee at Thakral Information Systems Pvt Ltd, Dhaka.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=2062

Turismo Adaptado (Portuguese)

Uma Entrevista de Ricardo Shimosakai falando sobre Turismo Adaptado no programa Estilo Saúde, da apresentadora Solange Frazão.

Svayam Receives Pro Forma Apology from Jet Airways

Backsliding on issues of air travel safety for people with disabilities has recently been a frequent issue here. One issue in India with Jet Airways has reached an unsatisfactory conclusion:

Ms. Sminu Jindal travelled by Jet Airways to Bangkok and back, on the Christmas vacations on 25th December 2007 and return on 01 Jan 2008. She was shocked to see the lack of sensitivity, ill-trained ground staff, absent essential services and above all how the Airliner like Jet Airways treat people with reduced mobility. Although Jet Airways issued a public apology, when media highlighted the incident, however, that doesn't solve the problem of millions of other people with disability whose voice doesn't reach the public/media.

Specifically, the apology indicates that Jet Airways will provide aisle chairs only on international flights. Such assurances by Jet Airways CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer certainly make for interesting case studies of worst practices in the anthology of business cases that I provide to faculty colleagues. However, I think he and I both share the ideal that such examples should be on the decrease rather than on the increase.

I would advise Jet Airways that their policy failure has already had negative impact on the company's international reputation. The smart business decision would be to consistently apply internationally recognized standards of non-discrimination and protect against further brand erosion.

Download apology from Jet Airways as .pdf

For more on this case see Svayam:
http://www.svayam.com/?q=node/411

Rail Accessibility in the UK

Forty rail stations in the UK will be involved in the Department for Transport's Access for All project. Funded at £370 million the goal will be accessibility with upgrades such as zero-step access, better lighting, new timetable screens and improved facilities for people who use hearing aids.

The project is expected to be completed between 2012 and 2015.

Further information:

http://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/display.var.2017358.0.0.php

.

Fundaperdis de Caracas

Caracas, 1 Feb. ABN.- La Fundación para la Atención de las Personas con Discapacidad (Fundaperdis), adscrita a la Alcaldía Mayor, finalizó el ejercicio operativo 2007 con grandes logros para este sector de la comunidad metropolitana, beneficiando a más de 3 mil personas.

Esta fundación sin fines de lucro, creada como parte del programa de Gobierno del alcalde Juan Barreto Cipriani, tiene como misión proporcionar atención integral a este sector del Distrito Capital para facilitar su incorporación e integración a la comunidad de forma digna, productiva y participativa.

El presidente de Fundaperdis, Otto Tovar, dijo que durante 2007 beneficiaron a 3 mil 946 personas de las 32 parroquias caraqueña, con lo cual superó las metas fijadas en más de 60%.

El organismo puso en marcha el Programa Apadrinando un niño con discapacidad o hijo de personas con discapacidad, el cual consiste en que cualquier persona, natural o jurídica, ayude a un pequeño con alguna discapacidad en forma de beca durante un año.

También realizó donaciones de sillas de ruedas, prótesis auditivas, bastones de rastreo, regletas y punzones, grabadores digitales, coches ortopédico, medicinas, férulas anti equinas, montacargas, rampas de acceso, becas escolares y de rehabilitación, termómetros y tensiometros parlantes, software sonoro para personas con discapacidad visual, intervenciones quirúrgicas, exámenes médicos, lentes, muletas axilares, muletas canadienses, andaderas, maquina de escribir braille, magnificadores para baja visión, colchones y cojines antiescaras y pañales, entre otros.

Fundaperdis también creó los equipos de baloncesto y de tenis sobre sillas de ruedas de la institución y concretó acuerdos de corresponsabilidad social con empresas públicas y privadas de Venezuela y de España (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (Once) y Universidad Complutense de Madrid, entre otras).

Además, patrocinó la publicación de la revista Todo con nosotros y El Manuel de accesibilidad como Derecho y Diseño Universal para todos, y organizó, patrocinó y participó en el II Encuentro de Discapacidad Intelectual, el II Encuentro Metropolitano de Políticas Públicas de la Asociación Civil Por una Caracas Posible y el II Aniversario del Sistema Metropolitano para la Integración Social de Personas con Discapacidad.

Otro de los logros tiene que ver con el impulso a la creación del Consejo Metropolitano del Poder Popular para las Personas con Discapacidad, en la que se logró la unidad del sector en una organización colectiva, cooperante y de participación protagónica.

Metas para 2008

Para el presente año 2008, Fundaperdis contará con un presupuesto operativo que estará destinado a la Creación de la Unidad Metropolitana de Ortesis, Prótesis y Ayudas Técnicas y mantendrá los programas iniciados el año pasado.

Igualmente, impulsará nuevos proyectos como la Cruzada por la Discapacidad, el Baúl de los Sueños, el Museo Tiflológico de Caracas, Ciudad Sin Barreras, Tecnoperdis de Venezuela y Producciones Fundaperdis.

Aunado a ello, gracias a las gestiones del alcalde Juan Barreto, Fundaperdis contará con otra sede para atender a las personas del sector con discapacidad, ubicada en la avenida Lecuna, esquina de Petión, Edificio El Águila, Planta Baja, municipio Libertador, sede donde también funcionarán las instituciones hermanas como el Consejo Metropolitano del Poder Popular para las Personas con Discapacidad y el Sistema Metropolitano para la Integración Social de las Personas con Discapacidad.

Las personas interesadas en contactar a Fundaperdis pueden acudir al Edificio Lander, esquina de Torres a Veroes, Planta Baja, Parroquia Catedral, Caracas, o a través de los teléfonos 0212-861-76-95 y 0212-815.85.20 y del correo electrónico fundaperdis@gmail.com.

Spotlight: An Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts in Cambodia

For more information:

http://www.spotlight-inclusiveartsasia.org/index.php

From Epic Arts

Overview

The purpose of this festival is to celebrate the abilities of all people with a spotlight on those members of the community who, labelled as disabled, are often considered less capable than others. The Nippon Foundation conceived the idea of an inclusive arts event by producing International Disability Concert - A Musical Show in 2006. SPOTLIGHT is the next stage of development of this project.

Through our work at Epic Arts we have seen the very tangible benefits that artistic practice and creative activities can provide, including improved self-confidence, sensory skills and alternative means of expression. Through a variety of forms of expression we will explore ways of communicating these benefits in a welcoming and stimulating environment for people who are not always viewed as full participants in society. In this way we aim to present powerful role models for the disabled community.

We hope that during the 8-day Festival we can also focus attention upon the experience of living with a disability and the rights of those members of society who do. By presenting their creative abilities in a public forum, we hope to raise the profile of people with disabilities and to reduce the existing barriers of communication, interaction and trust between disabled and non-disabled people. We also hope that the festival will engage the public in understanding how the disabled community can play a positive role in Cambodian society and culture.

In terms of events, we have chosen to focus on the creative talents of performing artists, visual artists and musicians. Over the course of one week, artists from Cambodia and the region will gather together to perform, collaborate, exhibit and present their work to the wider Cambodian community. Confirmed local artists include Kim Sathia (dance), Kung Nai (music), Phare Ponleuu Selpak (circus), BHOR and Amrita Performing Arts (theatre). The international program includes Together Higher (Vietnamese/dance), the Koshu Rao Taiko drummers (Japan/music), HITOMI (Japan/puppetry) and Chng Soek Tin (Singapore/visual arts). Additional events include an opening parade with over 300 participants and 5 decorated floats traveling through the streets of Phnom Penh (pending approval).

In addition, a dedicated workshop program and collaborations with local and visiting artists from abroad will take place before and during the Festival. This will not only provide the local participants (disabled and able-bodied) with the opportunity to explore different types of creative expression for people with different abilities, it will also allow local artists exposure to new and different forms, techniques, materials and approaches to artistic expression.

By involving the international community in the program, it is our aim to build opportunities and networks for artists with disabilities within the region and to also build capacity through workshops, collaborations and shared experiences for festival participants, local artists and members of the disabled community.

Festival events will take place in partnership with local disability and art organisations and venues include Chaktomuk Theatre, Chenla Theatre, Sovanna Phum (tbc) Metahaus, Centre Culturel Francais, Bophana Audiovisual Centre and Gasolina, as well as selected outdoor public spaces.
Why focus on disability?

One in 250 people in Cambodia have a disability. This is one of the highest ratios found anywhere in the world and is due to years of conflict, poor health services, road and work accidents and the ongoing incidence of landmines that still injure up to 30 people per month. Thus, whilst the existence of disability is becoming commonly accepted in Cambodia, as a person with a disability it is still difficult to integrate into society as limited infrastructure exists; buildings and transport are inaccessible and work is hard to find. Culturally, disability can be seen as the result of an individual's bad 'karma' and this together with a general lack of education/understanding regarding disabilities increases the existence of discrimination towards the disabled community.

By presenting a multi-arts festival of this scale we aim to not only raise awareness of the abilities of people with disabilities, but also we hope that by presenting interesting, dynamic and engaging work to an interested public we will open up discussions surrounding issues of acceptance of disability in the wider community. This is important for members of both the disabled and able bodied communities.

It is also our hope to build the foundations of a regional network and develop relationships with similar organizations supporting disability arts programs within the region. In presenting this work in a festival environment, we hope to create a festival model that in the future could become a signature disability arts event within the region.

http://www.spotlight-inclusiveartsasia.org/

Samarthya Centre: Accessible Delhi -- A Road Map for 2003-2008”

Anjilee Agarwal of the Samarthya National Centre for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment for Disabled Persons Accessible Delhi -- A Road Map for 2003-2008”

NEW DELHI: Moving in the direction of making Delhi accessible to all, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has in collaboration with Samarthya National Centre for Promotion of Barrier Free Environment for Disabled Persons identified 20 sites and services in the Capital, including 225 Delhi Transport Corporation bus queue shelters and New Delhi railway station, for making them barrier-free under its “Accessible Delhi” project.

As part of the two-year project that seeks to develop Delhi as a “model barrier-free city”, the Foundation had come out with a plan document, “Accessible Delhi -- A Road Map for 2003-2008”. The document identified bottlenecks to draw up appropriate design concepts and lay down an action strategy for all civic and government agencies involved in these areas. The Project Officer of Accessible Delhi project, Anjilee Agarwal, said the access audit of 18 of the 20 sites and services had already been completed and the reports submitted to their respective owning agencies. Of these sites and services, six pertain to the New Delhi Municipal Council, two to DTC, two to Indian Railways, one to the Archaeological Survey of India, one to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and eight to the Delhi Government

End-user perspective

Ms. Agarwal said construction work on all the sites is expected to be completed by this year-end. A key feature of the project, she said, was that it would also help in procuring end-user perspective on the plans while they are being implemented to ensure that there are no mistakes and costly rectification at a later stage is not required.

Of the 20 sites and services, she said, while the plans of all but two had been finalised, work had also started on six of the projects. These include the 11 Murti tourist area on Mother Teresa Crescent and Janpath Municipal Market where the streets and the sidewalks would be aligned to provide barrier-free movement. “Likewise, the whole of Connaught Place and Palika Bazar is being made barrier-free,” Ms. Agarwal said.

The other four projects on which work has begun are the DTC bus queue shelters and the procurement of low-floor buses, and making of New Delhi railway station barrier-free along with the creation of facilities to provide for easy access to railway coaches.

The other places and services that would be made accessible to all under the project are Hanuman Mandir Complex, Talkatora Garden, Nehru Garden, the road from Ram Manohar Lohia hospital to Gole Dak Khana, Senior Secondary Govt. Girls School (No. 1), Tagore Garden, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, Garden of Five Senses, PVR Naraina, Safdarjung Tomb, CGHS Dispensary at South Avenue, Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminus, Indraprastha Stadium and Indian Airlines Reservation Office at Safdarjung Airport. A very important aspect of the project is that it would make all these services and places accessible in a time-bound manner.

Source:

THE HINDU, 26th January 2008
Delhi takes long strides to be barrier-free within this year
Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

East Meets West: An Iconographer's Approach

With a touch of humor and an artist's eye for economy of expression the attached .pdf document looks at culture along an East/West divide.

Download file

Comitê Brasileiro de Acessibilidade: Revisão NBR 9050

Revisão NBR 9050 CB - 40 PRÓXIMA REUNIÃO (19/02/08)

Nesta oportunidade, a pedido da Arq. Adriana de Almeida Prado, Coordenadora da Comissão de Estudo Acessibilidade à Edificação e ao Meio, venho convidá-los para participar da 2º reunião plenária para revisão da NBR 9050 Acessibilidade a edificações, mobiliário, espaços e equipamentos urbanos, a ser realizada conforme a seguir:

Data: 19 de fevereiro de 2008 (terça-feira)

Horário: 9:30 às 12:30 hs

Local: CEPAM - Fundação Prefeito Faria Lima
Rua Prof. Lineu Prestes, 915 - Cidade Universitária - São Paulo - SP

Comitê Brasileiro de Acessibilidade

ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS TÉCNICAS

FÓRUM NACIONAL DE NORMALIZAÇÃO CERTIFICADORA DE PRODUTOS E SISTEMAS

Vouched for by a Vowel: A Big "E" for "Excellent!"

The Rolling Rains Report has been awarded a big "E." (Technically, it would be called a "Lazy E" if it were a cattle brand. I'm not so handy as a cowboy on the ranch where I worked as teenager since I've become paralyzed so optometrists and computer manufacturers come to mind first now when I look at it. "Big E" works fine as a visual description for us city slickers.)

I have been socialized to prefer "A's", of course. (Except on the shipping boxes of my PCs and laptops where the previous vowel predominates.) Fortunately, this "E" stands for "excellent" as in the "Excellent Award." My gratitude to previous recipient Ruth Harrigan for the nomination.

The meme seems to be circulating through the Catholic bloggers circle so I am going to give it wider circulation as I follow the rules for accepting the award. But I am going to hold off posting who I award this to for a few days to give Rolling Rains readers the chance to submit sites that they think should also be rated "Excellent":

By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you have to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want-even those that have received it already, but please award at least 10 people.

So, if this blog were on Sesame Street would it be introduced with the voiceover, "Today's post is brought to you by the letter 'E' !" Maybe so.

Conference: Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion & Disability

Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio will hold the Eighth Annual Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion & Disability: Looking Back & Thinking Ahead at the Pfahl Executive Education and Conference Center. The pre-conference will be April 21 with the full conference following April 22-23, 2008.

Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion & Disability: Looking Back & Thinking Ahead

Location: Pfahl Executive Education and Conference Center, The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

Date: Pre-conference April 21 - Full Conference April 22-23, 2008

Registration Open:http://mpconference.osu.edu/

Over 30 concurrent sessions and two Pre-conference Sessions

Access by Design: From Minimum Compliance to Universal Design (AIA CEUs Pending)

From Legal Principles to Informed Practice: Non-lawyers Reading the Law? (SHRM CEUs Pending)

Proposals for Student Posters will be accepted through March 21, 2008

"As social movements mature, they begin to look beyond the 'letter of the law', which emphasizes ethics and values, and promulgate systemic changes in attitudes, behaviors and institutional structures." - Leslie Kanes Weisman

What is “Multiple Perspectives”?

As a modern land grant university Ohio State University's mission includes serving the community. Since 2001 The Ohio State University's ADA Coordinator's Office has hosted Multiple Perspectives On Access Inclusion & Disability. The conference offers a unique opportunity for professionals, scholars and advocates to discuss the full spectrum of disability issues and experiences. The annual gathering provides a forum for individuals and organizations to share their knowledge; broaden their perspectives; and increase community resources through the synergy of collaboration

Each year Multiple Perspectives strives to present a program that can serve as a catalyst for change; providing a springboard for collaborations among individuals with and with out disabilities working in education, business, government and non-profits. The Conference’s presenters have included faculty, entrepreneurs, authors, artists and advocates as well as representatives from The U.S. Access Board, The EEOC, The Ohio Civil Rights Commission, The American Institute of Architects, The U.S. Department of Education, and The Department of Justice.

"I walked away from each session knowing far more than when I entered; I left each session invigorated; and, I left each session tingling with the excitement of being in an environment where I can relate intellectually and experientially with others." Jerome F. Shapiro, Ph.D. The Disabilities Studies Quarterly; Volume 26; Number 4

Past Partners

Hosted by The Ohio State University's ADA Coordinator's Office, the conference is made possible with collaboration and support from organizations as diverse as the participants. Past supporters include: Ability Magazine, ADA-OHIO, The American Bar Association, The American Institute of Architects, The Association on Higher Education And Disability, The City Of Columbus, The Columbus Advisory Committee On Disability Issues, The Great Lakes Disability Business Technical Assistance Center, The Ohio ADA Coordinator's Network, The Ohio Governor’s Council On People With Disabilities, The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and The Ohio State University (College of Humanities, The John Glenn School for Public Affairs, The Knowlton School of Architecture, The Moritz College of Law, The ASL Program, The Disability Studies Program, Academic Affairs, The Digital Union, The Multicultural Center, The Office For Disability Services, The Web Accessibility Center & The ADA Coordinator’s Office).

The Audience At-A-Glance

· 250 to 300 participants

· 83% are Ohio residents

· 71% of the participants influence or make purchasing decisions about accessible products & services

· 69% of the participants have a disability

· 20% are officials from Federal, State, County or City government

· 18% are college and public school faculty

· 15% represent private business

· 13% represent disability rights advocacy groups

· 13% are college service providers

· 11% are students

· 08% are architects

· 06% sit on State, County or Municipal

boards representing people with disabilities.

Presenters Include:

U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

U.S. Dept. of Education, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission

Ohio Legal Rights, Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Jaina Blakford, Lerner School For Autism

Janet Peters, Great Lakes DBTAC

L. Scott Lissner, Ohio State University

Brenda Bruggemann, Ohio State University

Peter Novak, Unit. of San Francisco

Susan Burch, Visiting Prof., Ohio State University

Ben Mitchell, Landmark College

Ryan Perry & Kelly Munger, Unit. of Illinois, Chicago,

Mark Willis, Wright State

Christine Kelly, Carlton University

Canada, Steve Noble, Design Science

Student Poster Reception

April 21 4:30-7:00 P.M.

Proposals by currently enrolled students (graduate or undergraduate) for Posters will be accepted through March 21, 2008. Send an E-mail to ADA-OSU@osu.edu for submission guidelines

Two Half Day Pre-Conference Sessions:

From Legal Principles to Informed Practice:

What non-lawyers can take away from reading the law?

Monday April 21 9:00-12:30

This workshop will provide grounding in disability law and best practices that will establish a framework for developing both policy and practical answers to questions encountered in the disability arena: When is a condition a disability? What is reasonable? Who decides and how?

A brief history of disability rights movement will provide an understanding of disability laws place within the family of civil rights laws. Building on this perspective an exploration of case law and best practices will be used to model an approach that is informed by legal principles and can guide operational decisions, and dispute resolution. A case study approach will allow frequent opportunities for reflection, questions and answers.

Topics include:

• Determining Disability

• Evaluating Accommodation Requests

• Resources for Accommodation and Assistive Technology

• Undue Burden

• Determining Direct Threat

• Complaint Resolution

Extensive resource materials including statutes, regulations, case law, model policies & forms will be provided in an on-line format. SHRM CEUs pending. Cost: $150 ($100 for OSU Faculty & Staff)

Access by Design: From Minimum Compliance to Universal Design

Monday April 21 2-5:30

For years the charge to meet accessibility requirements was treated as a code compliance issue to be addressed at the end of the design process. Today the call is to ensure seamless access that not only meets the needs of increasingly diverse users but welcomes them.

A discussion of the mandate to provide basic access will provide a foundation for a tour of the various standards for access and their interrelationships (ANSI, UFAS, ADAAG, Fair Housing, ADA Standard for Accessible Design and proposed changes. Examples drawn from experience and selected settlement agreements resulting from court cases and enforcement agency initiatives will provide a context for exploring the principles of Universal Design; an approach to planning that embraces diversity and inclusion by providing for equitable use while promoting efficiency, flexibility and sustainability.

Topics Include:

• Key Standards, their interrelationships and coverage

• Equivalent Facilitation & Structural infeasibility

• Readily Achievable Barrier Removal & Program Access

• Internal and External Compliance Audits

• Most Common Compliance Errors

• Principles of Universal Design

Extensive reference materials including copies of enforceable standards, check lists, and training materials will be provided in an on-line format. AIA CEUs pending. Cost: $150 ($100 for OSU Faculty & Staff)

Pre-Conference facilitator:

L. Scott Lissner has served as the ADA Coordinator for The Ohio State University since 2000 where he is an Associate of the John Glenn School of Public Policy and serves as an adjunct instructor for the Moritz College of Law, the Knowlton School of Architecture and Disability Studies. His teaching informs and energizes his role as the university’s compliance officer and as a clearing house for disability related policy and initiatives. An active member and officer in professional associations he serves on the Boards of Directors for ADA-OHIO and the Association on Higher Education And Disability; The Editorial Boards for Thompson’s 504 Compliance Manual and the Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability. Lissner publishes, presents, and consults frequently on disability issues. Recent publications include “Universal Design in the Institutional Setting: Weaving a Philosophy into Campus Planning” in Universal Design: From Accessibility to Zoning (J. Cowley-Evans & J. Nasser (Eds.) and “From Legal Principle to Informed Practice” with J. E. Jarrow.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact L. Scott Lissner

Phone: 614-292-6207

TTY: 614-688-8605

FAX: 614-688-3665

E-Mail: ADA-OSU@OSU.EDU

Shameless Self-Promotion -- And a Tribute to Rolling Rains Readers!!!

Our work together to date -- and my plans for future projects -- promoting Inclusive Tourism and Inclusive Destination Development worldwide has won the affirmation of the Echoing Green Foundation. The dedication shown by those who read, contribute to, and are written about here at the Rolling Rains Report have been an encouragement for me to continue to the next phase of the competition.

Very briefly my proposal is to establish three Centers of Excellence in strategic locations around the world over the next two years.

The Centers of Excellence will gather industry, government, and disabled people (individual PwDs and their DPOs) into an action-oriented network to grow this market of travelers with disabilities. The Centers will gather the local tourism business eco-system to function as results-focused resource and a professional standard-setting body. As part of a coordinated international network these Centers are the launch of a new stage of industry maturity in service and marketing to this growing but underserved and eager-to-travel demographic.

Each Center of Excellence will participate in our international work to standardize the diversity of accessibility laws, disseminate minimum accessibility guidelines for hotels, train travel & hospitality industry staff, promote the education & hiring of PwD in the industry. At the local level we will work to make these three destinations accessible and train a core of PwD to be self-sustaining as advocates & experts in Inclusive Tourism for their region.

This competition is important because it will provide initial seed funding. Without this Echoing Green Foundation funding the project cannot take place. With it we will see the confluence of the many "islands of innovation" that you have read about here over the years.

This project to make strategic impact in the proper management of three destinations is the concrete expression of the vision I presented at the United Nations for ICAT 2007 in the address, "Inclusive Tourism: A New Strategic Alliance for the Disability Rights Movement."

Readers are welcome to submit recommendation letters to the Rolling Rains Report. The form is available here. Download file

Potential funders: Echoing Green is interested in hearing that the project has matching grant, partner, and post-seed stage funders are standing ready to support this project. Contact me at the email address provided under the Rolling Rains graphic on the top left.

Readings on a vision for inclusion in travel:

Waking Up to a Changed Travel Market

Defining the Market of Travelers with Disabilities

Theme Parks and Real Life

From, "Prayaville, Thailand:Becoming a Destination of Choice for Travelers with Disabilities":

Vision Statement

(This Vision Statement is written in the present tense to express the ideal goals of the project as if they were already reality.)

• Prayaville is a barrier-free city with an affirmative policy of inclusion of people with disabilities (PwD) that is evident in its infrastructure as well as its business and civic cultures.

• Prayaville is a city with a community of citizens, as well as long- and short-term guests with disabilities, who actively participate in civic life through government, business, education, media, and the arts.

• Prayaville is a destination of choice for people with disabilities because it has applied Inclusive Destination Development principles of Universal Design in developing its tourist assets.

• Prayaville has differentiated itself from other tourist destinations while positioning itself within the mainstream tourist route of Thailand and of Southeast Asia.