Rolling Rains Report:

Da AVAPE: Turismo acessível

Convênio entre o Ministério do Turismo, AVAPE e a Prefeitura de Socorro facilitará o acesso de pessoas com deficiência ao turismo de aventura e atividades de lazer

Reportagem: Marília Penteriche

Em matéria de acessibilidade turística, o Brasil ainda engatinha se comparado aos Estados Unidos, Canadá ou Inglaterra. Além das poucas opções de destinos e habitações realmente acessíveis, as existentes costumam ser caras. Mas o município de Socorro (SP), a 130 quilômetros de São Paulo, promete mudar este cenário. Um convênio entre o Ministério do Turismo, a Prefeitura, a AVAPE e o programa Aventura Segura criou o projeto Socorro Acessível, para tornar a cidade - um dos pólos de turismo de aventura mais importantes do interior paulista - o primeiro destino turístico do país totalmente adaptado às pessoas com deficiência.

A AVAPE iniciou a análise do diagnóstico de acessibilidade e do potencial turístico de Socorro há um ano, identificando barreiras arquitetônicas construídas numa época em que as pessoas com deficiência não saíam de suas casas para se divertir, muito menos para viajar. No levantamento, a Organização empregou arquitetos e técnicos em inclusão. 'Ao todo, serão realizadas nove ações para acessibilidade, entre elas a instalação de sinais sonoros nos semáforos e construção e adaptação de rampas de acesso em locais públicos, como ruas, praças e museus', explica a técnica em acessibilidade da AVAPE, Cristiane Ecker. Mais do que promover a inclusão por meio do turismo acessível, Socorro está se adequando ao decreto número 5.296, de 2004, que regulamenta a lei 10.098. Entre outras definições, hotéis e pousadas devem ter 5% de suas acomodações adaptadas para atender pessoas com deficiência, de acordo com a Norma Técnica 9050. Os estabelecimentos de uso público e privado precisam estar adequados até dezembro de 2008.

A adaptação física não foi o único foco da AVAPE. A Organização se preocupou também com a questão comportamental. Em fevereiro, realizou a oficina 'Colocando as Mãos na Massa', para empresários e gestores de empresas que oferecem turismo de aventura, esclarecendo dúvidas sobre como iniciar projetos de acessibilidade e atendimento às pessoas com deficiência.

La région Riviera Cote d'Azur (French)

La région Riviera Cote d'Azur, dont la ville de Nice est l'un des centres majeurs, peut se vanter d'être l'un des principaux sites touristiques français. Une réalité qui a sa part d'ombre !

En effet il y a une catégorie de touristes qui trouve difficilement le gîte et le couvert dans cette magnifique région, ce sont les personnes à mobilité réduite. Malgré le dynamisme de certaines régions en matière de tourisme et handicap, nous pouvons constater que cet aspect n'est pas une préoccupation des professionnels du tourisme locaux. Seulement 79 structures labellisées sur 6 départements, alors que le Languedoc Roussillon en compte 252 et la Région Centre 272. Le Comité Régional de Tourisme a décidé de réagir en mettant les professionnels face à leurs responsabilités, à l'occasion d'un colloque au cours duquel ils ont débattu de cette situation avec des personnes handicapées, des politiques, des responsables d'associations et assisté à la présentation de ce qui se fait dans ce domaine en Espagne grâce à la présentation de l'architecte Francesc Aragall, président de « Design for all » qui a mis en accessibilité de nombreux sites historiques. Dominique Charpentier, le Directeur Général du CRT Riviera Côte d'Azur, estime que la mise en accessibilité des sites d'accueil touristique est une démarche totalement rentable au vu des plus de 130 millions de personnes handicapées identifiées en Europe, qui sont autant de touristes en puissance pour les régions touristiques qui ont une image de zone accessible pour tous.

Le président de l'un des groupements hôteliers de Nice rétorquait que cette démarche est difficile à mettre en œuvre pour nombre de professionnels, coûteuse et non rentable dans la plupart des cas. Un point de vue qui a déclenché les foudres de Muriel Marland-Militello, députée des Alpes Maritimes et qui est, entre autres, vice-présidente du groupe d'étude sur l'intégration des personnes fragilisées, et de Madame Catherine Bachelier, Déléguée ministérielle à l'accessibilité depuis une dizaine d'années. Celles-ci ont su faire valoir le fait que l'investissement dans l'accessibilité était une ambition nationale irréversible dont le bénéfice ne pouvait être remis en question. Pour accompagner les professionnels qui souhaitent obtenir le label Tourisme et Handicap, le CRT anime une commission composée de spécialistes du handicap et de l'accessibilité qui, sur demande, réalisent un diagnostic de la structure et instruisent le dossier qui permet l'obtention du Label. Au vu de la détermination de l'équipe locale de labellisation, on peut espérer que les labellisations actuelles fassent boule de neige.

Source:

http://informations.handicap.fr/art-tourisme-culture-15.0.0.0-2543.php

Sérgio Franco, Marta Suplicy, Hotel Fazenda Campo dos Sonhos em Socorro Continuam Trabalho do Pioneiro De Turismo Inclusivo Dada Moreira

A Ministra do Turismo, Marta Suplicy, visitou o Hotel Fazenda Campo dos Sonhos em Socorro (SP) - o primeiro empreendimento da cidade a ser referência para a acessibilidade a pessoas com necessidades especiais (deficientes auditivos, visuais e de mobilidade)

O Parque dos Sonhos, onde está localizado o hotel, também será referência para a certificação de turismo de aventura, pois é o primeiro a adotar integralmente as normas da ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas), que foram regulamentadas a partir do Projeto “Aventura Segura”, coordenado pela ABETA (Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Turismo de Aventura) em conjunto com o Ministério do Turismo.

Sérgio Franco, diretor da Adventure Sports Fair, acompanhou a visita, e pode constatar com orgulho o fato de que grande parte das iniciativas hoje implementadas tiveram início nas edições da feira, que se tornou o ponto de encontro anual entre os empresários do turismo, ONGs e Governo.

Todas essas iniciativas tiveram início durante a Adventure Sports Fair – o grande ponto de encontro entre os empresários do Turismo, Ongs e Governo.

Fonte: http://www.adventurefair.com.br/noticias/destaques1.asp?numero_noticia=208

De sitio Adventure Sports Fair:

A Adventure Sports Fair tem papel importante no mercado de turismo de aventura, para a indústria de roupas, calçados e equipamentos para os praticantes de esportes de aventura ou simplesmente para os consumidores que adotam a aventura como estilo de vida.

É também o mais importante salão de veículos 4x4, com a presença das principais marcas do mercado, oferecendo, assim, a possibilidade dos consumidores experimentarem seus lançamentos.

Além de ser uma feira de negócios, a Adventure Sports Fair aproxima os destinos e os operadores das agências de turismo que irão comercializar seus produtos.

E, para os fabricantes de roupas, calçados, equipamentos e bikes, a Adventure Sports Fair é a grande plataforma de lançamento de seus produtos, porque atrai milhares de lojistas de todo o Brasil.

Ao mesmo tempo, é uma feira voltada ao consumidor final, divulgando essa nova categoria de turismo e os novos produtos voltados à aventura para um público de alto poder aquisitivo e formadores de opinião.

Por tudo isso a Adventure Sports Fair está entre as maiores feiras do mundo na sua categoria.

Wellington City Council and Tourism for All

A public forum held by the Wellington City Council at Te Papa earlier this month was entitled “Tourism for All” and concentrated on a number of aspects around accessible tourism for people with disabilities (PWDs) and seniors. Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is probably the most proactive jurisdiction in the country when it comes to access tourism, and the forum, driven by the council’s Disability reference Group (DRG), was opened by Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast.

Guest speaker Sandra Rhodda from Tai Poutini Polytechnic in Greymouth said that the New Zealand tourism and hospitality industry ignores the boomer, senior, and access tourism market to its peril.

She suggested that PWDs, seniors, and boomers are all part of the same equation. In spite of the fact that the world population is dominated by baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1965 and now aged 43 to 62), in spite of the fact that this age group has the most disposable income, in spite of the fact that as these boomers age, they will swell enormously the ranks of the seniors market (25% of New Zealand’s population will be 65+ by 2040) and the ranks of PWDs, in spite of the fact that already over half of international visitors to New Zealand are over 45 (as are over 70% of cruise passengers in New Zealand), in spite of the fact that PWDs are the worlds largest minority group (e.g., 17% of New Zealanders have a disability), Rhodda pointed out that these groups are apparently rarely considered in New Zealand tourism and hospitality planning and market targeting. Unlike in countries overseas, very few New Zealand businesses or jurisdictions are gearing up to meet the demands of these groups, and there is little New Zealand research providing information on their size, spending power, habits, or needs.

A presentation by the Barrier Free New Zealand Trust (BFNZT) outlined how it plans to create a “one-stop” website of accessible venues for all people. The website will include accommodation venues, conference facilities, restaurants, bars, and cafes, and event centres. The BFNZT is a charitable trust, made up of consumers and individuals with experience and expertise in local government, the building industry and the disability sector.

Garth Stewart of NZ Bus outlined how his company will invest $40m over the next two and a half years on 90 new buses, and plans to have 95% of their fleet fully accessible by end of 2009. New customer service training and accessible bus stops are planned, together with GPS and Real Time services (up-to-date information by internet, phone, or txt).

Patrick FizGerald8360 from Squiz NZ described a plan to develop the online and print version of the “Accessible Wellington” map so that it remains up to date, interactive, and so that the visually impaired and blind would have full access to the information.

Michael Grace from Positively Wellington Tourism (the local marketing organization) made a plea for sector cooperation in increasing the accessible tourism offer in Wellington. He noted that there was currently no disability-specific accreditation scheme in New Zealand and in fact his organization depended on self-assessment by operators who listed their business on the Positively Wellington site. He discussed the various pros and cons of various international accreditation systems, and the adoption of an Independent Qualmark type rating system for disability accreditation.

The DRG reported back to the community on its work plan progress over the previous 12 months. Of particular importance was mobility parking, access to the railway station, the Kilbirnie Community Sports Centre, bus driver training with Stage Coach, input into the councils draft annual plan, and issues relating to the Footpath Management Policy. A project called the Kumutoto Open Spaces, which has reconnected the city waterfront to the CBD, was reported on. Project improvements included having ramps at a 1-in-15 gradient (as opposed to the legislated 1-in- 12), colour contrasts, and hand rails. However, a ramp to the water’s edge was not included despite the recommendations of the DRG. The DRG intends in the coming year to raise the issue of access gangways on the inter-island ferries, provide further Universal Access training, submit on the council’s Draft Annual Plan, progress issues with the council’s website in respect to accessibility, and work closely with the Greater Wellington regional Council to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission Report into Accessible Land Transport.

Bathroom Talk

Let's face it. For those of us with spinal cord injuries and many people with mobility impairments bathrooms and bodily processes come up more often in our conversations than is the national average.

The Best Little Outhouse in Town!

An award-winning universally designed public restroom outside Bangkok, Thailand.

Talking Bus Stops

The e-government Awards in the UK recognize innovation. Talking bus stops in the Brighton & Hove City Council Sustainable Transport system won the award in 2007.

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15193&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

In August 2007 Brighton & Hove became the first area in the country to introduce talking bus stops for blind and visually impaired people. Brighton and Hove City Council, in conjunction with Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company, have a well-established award-winning accessible bus policy.

The RNIB React system links into the city's Bus Real Time Information signs allowing blind and visually impaired people to hear announcements at bus stops which tells them which bus stop they are at, which buses are coming and when they are due to arrive, meaning they no longer need to rely on fellow passengers for help.

Brighton & Hove City Council and the Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company have a quality bus partnership and, between them, have won major awards for bus accessibility policies, the real time information system and for innovations which have generally helped to increase bus patronage year on year, against national trends. The RNIB React system is another step towards making the city more accessible, bringing independence and confidence for blind and visually impaired people who want to use local buses. Talking bus stops were introduced in July and launched city-wide at 20 bus stops and a further 2 bus stops in East Sussex.

A multi-disciplinary working group was been formed, including councillors, officers, system designers, users, local politicians and consultants. A partnership was formed with the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) to evolve a RNIB React system from providing orientation messages to include Real Time Information. The interface to provide a text to speech link with the Siemens VDO Passenger Information Displays was created by working with SFX Technologies, whilst Atkins Consultants helped with project management. The resulting system can be replicated in other areas and interest has already been shown from London local authorities.

In Brighton and Hove 1900 people were registered blind or partially sighted in March 2006 (DoH). It is estimated by the RNIB that under-registration is running at 20%, meaning that up to 2375 people in the city (1.0% of the local population ) could benefit from using Talking bus stops. The number of people with sight impairment problems is likely to double over the next 25 years as the population ages and diseases such as diabetes (a major cause of sight loss) becomes more prevalent.

People over the age of 60 and all eligible people with disabilities can have concessionary bus travel in the city. The majority of Blind and partially sighted people (81%) are aged 65 and older so this new system helps to ensure that this section of the population who qualify for free travel can actually make good use of it!"

"Brighton & Hove's Talking Bus Stops were officially launched in August to a group of 70 users. Already one user has reported that he won't leave home without his key fob now and it has become as important to him as his mobile phone. Mick Etheridge says "I travel into Brighton quite a lot on the buses and before the signs were made audio I used to struggle as it was not always possible to find someone to ask for the next bus time.?

Alison Evans is also a regular user of the system: "I use my keyfob daily on my way to work and home from work to check when my bus is due. In the evening I have a choice of buses and it helps me to know which one is due first so I can make the decision which one to get, rather than having to get whichever one arrives first because I don't know how long it is until the next one. What is even better is that my partner and I live in Peacehaven and Brighton & Hove Council were able to work with East Sussex County Council and install 2 of the React units at bus stops we both use regularly. It really is a great system and well done Brighton & Hove for being the first council to use the React system in this manner."

Source:

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15193&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

<1__

Award category: 11) Building a fairer society with e-Government: Targeted or localised services
Sponsored by KPMG
(Using ICT & e-Government services to improve social inclusion for specific groups of excluded or disadvantaged people).

Talking Bus Stops for the blind and visually impaired (linked to Real Time Bus Information signs)

Brighton & Hove City Council Sustainable Transport www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

- RNIB React System links into Siemens Real Time Bus Information System - Atkins Consultancy provided help with project management - SFX Technologies enabled the RNIB React system to link into the real time information system

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=15193&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
--!>

Progress on Inclusion at Delhi Airport

Parul Sharma in The Hindu on April 7th about improvement for travelers with disabilities using the New Delhi airport. What is not clear is whether or not these features arise from active participation by people with disabilities and their organizations (DPOs) or whether they are best guesses of the real needs of users provided by non-disabled "experts."

The responsibility lies with disabled people of India to assure that it is the former and not the latter. It is a responsibility they carry on behalf of other communities of people with disability from around the world -- and not a light burden in the face of the huge infrastructure investment being made by India on airport upgrades.

What the Indian disability community does today will be the legacy left to several generations in the future. This is the moment for it to step out on the international stage in a position of moral leadership and technical competence. Is the Indian disability community rising to the challenge?

by Parul Sharma, New Delhi, The Hindu, 07th April 2008

NEW DELHI: As the authorities attempt to make things easier for the differently-abled citizens of the Capital by providing for disabled-friendly bus shelters and low-floor Delhi Transport Corporation buses, the Indira Gandhi International Airport here has also come up with some arrangements for dealing with such passengers.

The Delhi International Airport Limited that manages the airport has made some special provisions for physically challenged persons.

Special parking

To begin with, DIAL has made provision for special parking for the physically challenged persons in the reserved parking area near the VIP gate at all the terminals of the airport.

Also, once a physically disabled person reaches the airport, wheel chairs are available for them at the airport manager’s office that can be used free of cost.

“The facility is available round the clock along with an attendant as well as a customer service staff to help such passengers with the check-in procedures. An attendant is there to take care of these passengers who come at the Arrivals terminal as well as those who are in transit. Mostly, the airlines have their staff to take care of such travellers or otherwise we too have our own attendants for the same,” said a DIAL official.

Also, provisions have been made for special wash rooms for the physical challenged people inside all the terminal buildings of the airport.

“These toilets have been specially designed keeping physically challenged persons in mind. We got the old wash rooms renovated and got contact fittings done. An attendant is present inside the toilet, though they have been created in such a way that these passengers do not even need to touch anything. We have ensured that throughout the same ground level is maintained inside the terminals so that their movement is not affected,” the official added.

Once inside the terminal, the airlines take care of the wheel chair-bound passengers, which is again a free-of-cost service.

Different carriers have also arranged for low floor coaches – similar to some of the new DTC buses -- for wheel chair passengers, while a few others provide for ambu-lift facility as well, when the passenger is simply raised to the level of an aircraft using a vehicle.

Apart from these facilities for special passengers, work is on to create a brand new domestic terminal that is likely to be ready by the end of 2008.

New runway

Along with the new runway, the new domestic terminal is expected to benefit all the travellers by reducing congestion inside the terminals. It will also allow greater number of aircraft movements, thereby considerably increasing the airport’s capacity. Designed by architect Hafeez Contractor, the upgraded terminal will include a new Departure building and an expanded and improved Arrival building.

source: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/07/stories/2008040756890400.htm

Philippines: Access 2010 - First National Conference on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities

The First National Conference on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities March 27-28, 2008 at the Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City, Philippines. The objectives of the conference were "to promote transport accessibility as an entry point to building a non-handicapping environment for persons with disabilities."

At the end of the Conference the participants shall have:

• Developed common inter-sectoral understanding and dialogue on public transport and accessibility issues.
• Linked the call for accessible transportation to efforts on creating non-handicapping public transport facilities and physical environments.
• Identified the consideration needed for drawing an intervention plan for increasing inter-sectoral partnership for transport and accessibility issues.
• Recommended measures to address the identified gaps and issues in the public transportation system that limits the mobility of persons with disabilities resulted from the regional transport summits held in 2007.
• Drawn and formulated a National Plan of Action for an accessible public transportation system for persons with disabilities in the country.

“ACCESS 2010”:

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT

We, the participants of the Access 2010: First National Conference on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities belonging to the government and the private sectors, declare to commit ourselves to work together in a common platform and uphold the principles of :

Respect for the dignity and rights of all persons with disabilities; and,

Empowering them to live independently and participate fully and equally in all aspects of community life especially the women with disabilities whose involvement in community activities have been undermined because of gender
biases and discriminations.

We pledge to participate actively and unfailingly in the implementation of the National Plan of Action for an Accessible Land, Rail, Air and Sea Public Transportation System for Persons with Disabilities in the country.

Further, we resolve in particular to achieve the following five-point action agenda in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, BIWAKO Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-Free and Rights-Based Society for Persons with Disabilities and the Accessibility Law:

1. Formulate strategies that will improve attitudes and behavior towards persons
with disabilities particularly in the public transport sector;

2. Undertake comprehensive review of accessibility standards for planning of
public transport systems, as well as universal vehicular standards for
indigenous public transport;

3. Provide opportunities for the development of a strong multi-sectoral
partnership for public transport accessibility;

4. Improve existing public transport systems and ensure new and renovated public
transport systems are accessible; and,

5. Provide education and training for public transportation stakeholders on
accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities.

To achieve this five-point agenda, the participants commit to undertake the following:

Assist in the development of an effective mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of laws and policies pertaining to the accessibility of transportation services provided to the public;

Review and amend existing policies, guidelines and standards on public transport systems as well as universal vehicular standards for indigenous public transport that restricts mobility resulting in the discrimination of persons with disabilities in the transport industry;

Actively support the development of a strong multi-sectoral partnership for public transport accessibility among government organizations, non-government organizations and the sector of persons with disabilities that will result in a pro-active public transportation industry responsive to the enjoyment of persons with disabilities of their rights as Filipino citizens;

Support the development of existing transport systems to include standards in the designs of vehicles and other transportation facilities as well as ensure that new and renovated public transport systems are accessible; and,

Provide continuing capability-building activities for public transportation stakeholders on accessibility for the effective implementation of guidelines/policies/standards as well as ensure that persons with disabilities have the same access and are treated in a dignified and non-discriminatory manner.

Finally, in support of the above five-point agenda, we urge all persons with disabilities to organize themselves in all levels of the political subdivisions of our country so that with one voice they can call for government’s affirmative action in pursuit of the attainment of the objectives of this Declaration.

Signed this 28th day of March 2008 at Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City.

Undersecretary Anneli R. Lontoc –DOTC
Asst. Secretary Elmer A. Soneja – DOTC
Director Ildefonso T. Patdu, Jr. - DOTC
Undersecretary Rosie Lovely Romulo –NCDA
Asst. Secretary Nora Salazar – NCDA
Michael P. Davies – CBM-Seapro
ies

Green & Inclusive: San Jose's Gish Apartments

We have been describing Universal Design as:

...an orientation to any design process that starts with a responsibility to the experience of the user. It has a parallel in the green design movement that also offers a framework for design problem solving based on the core value of environmental responsibility. Universal Design and green design are comfortably two sides of the same coin but at different evolutionary stages. Green design focuses on environmental sustainability, Universal Design on social sustainability.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and First Community Housing have delivered on the green/UD link:

In San Jose, First Community Housing's 35-unit Gish Apartments earned the LEED for Homes certification. The group serves transit-oriented families as well as those with developmental disabilities.

"Green homes perform better than the average home," [LEED council spokeswoman Ashley] Katz said. "They're a healthier place to live with a smaller environmental footprint. It's like a tighter envelope."

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, who offered up a green vision for the city last fall, attended Monday's ceremony. Afterward, he said his staff has started counting solar roofs in San Jose, and that fewer than 500 are now in place. His goal is 100,000 solar roofs in San Jose over the next 10 years.

Sustainable and inclusive destination development works even in Silicon Valley.

Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/green/ci_8530078

More on First Community Housing:

Web Site:
http://www.firsthousing.org/

Global Green Case Study
http://www.firsthousing.org/pdfs/GlobalGreen2.pdf

Innovation in Design
http://www.firsthousing.org/pdfs/Innovation%20part%20of%20Design%2012-14-07%20SVBJ.pdf

Wall Street Journal on Universal Design in Homes
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120742884133292721.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Life on the Beach

Beach access for wheelchair users is an issue being addressed in in creative ways: ramps, boardwalks, Mob-Mats, and all-terrain wheelchairs. Shared Adventures of Santa Cruz, California has added a Landeez Beach Wheelchair to the collection of options available to the public in that beach town:

We often receive questions about beach wheelchairs. Locals and travelers alike would like to know where to rent one so that they can experience our majestic and famous coastline from the sand.

The city of Santa Cruz currently does have a beach chair program, but it is very limited in certain aspects and they can only be used onsite at three beaches.

In many instances, someone needs a beach wheelchair to attend a specific event (such as a wedding) or to visit an alternate site. There is no other place locally that rents them out, so we have not had anywhere to refer these many people. We are the ONLY place in Santa Cruz that offers a beach wheelchair available to rent on a daily (or weekly) basis!

Source
http://www.sharedadventures.org/beachchair.htm

Contact Information:

Shared Adventures
90 Grandview St. B101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone/Fax: 831-459-7210
Office Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri 11-5:30
info@sharedadventures.org

Landeez
http://www.landeez.com/

From Tourism-Review.com

A special issue of the magazine Ethical has been published on Barrier-Free Tourism. The 13 page pdf download is available here.

Articles include:

Tourism Accessible for All in Europe
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For those who associate tourism only with holiday and leisure and luxury it should be mentioned that tourism is a sector of remarkable economic importance. The European tourism economy contributes to about 5 % (depending on its definition up to 11 %) to the GDP of the European Union and provides between 8 and 24 million jobs (depending on the definition of the sector). Furthermore, it should be taken into account that tourism is indispensably linked with travel...

Case Study: Economic Advantages of Accessible Tourism in Germany
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In November 2002 Germany's Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour commissioned a project group, comprising the University of Münster and the consulting firms NEUMANNCONSULT and Reppel + Lorenz, to conduct a study on the economic impulses of accessible Tourism for All. For the first time reliable data and statements were brought together, which represent the customer’s potential and manner regarding accessible Tourism in Germany...

Merging Architecture and Accessibility
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In the Nordic countries, improving disabled people's access to museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions has been an important consideration for a number of years. It is evident that museum buildings and the way displayed objects are presented should embrace all visitors; one of the challenges confronting museums at the turn of the twenty-first century is to ensure the greatest possible accessibility for all without compromising the architectural expression...

Providing Services in an Accessible Manner
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Access is about the absence of barriers to the use of facilities. Although this is usually seen in terms of physical access or access to informa¬tion and communication, poorly trained staff can represent a serious barrier for disabled people if they are unable to provide services in an appropriate, non-discriminatory way...
Barrier-Free Asia?

You Don't Need to Speak the Language to Understand This Video

The Alternative to Universal Design - A Video

Video description:

"Quebar barreiras arquitectónicas. O grito silencioso da marreta mostra à sociedade
que a cidadania também se faz de mobilidade."

"Breaking architectural barriers. The silent scream of the sledge hammer shows to society that citizenship includes mobility."

New Dehli Adds New Low-Floor Busses

Since 2002 the Indian non-profit organization Samarthyam has been working to improve New Dehli's transit accessibility. On April 1, 2008 their work will see the light of day with the launch of a new Bus Rapid Transit System corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand. Recently Anjilee Agarwal and Sanjeev Sachdeva of non-government Samarthyam demonstrated the system at a press conference.

Initiative for the better: A disabled person with reduced mobility demonstrating the use of the new Bus Rapid Transit System in New Delhi on Wednesday that makes it accessible for all on low floor bus.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System, a joint venture of the Delhi Government and the Industrial Development Finance Corporation, is all set to officially roll out the new Bus Rapid Transit System corridor from Ambedkar Nagar to Moolchand on April 1

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Delhi Transport Corporation officials waxed eloquent about the benefits of BRTS in making the Capital's public transport disable-friendly. A demonstration of how a wheelchair user will be able to easily access the bus queue shelter and the low-floor buses on the corridor was also provided after the conference

This demonstration was carried out by Anjilee Agarwal and Sanjeev Sachdeva of non-government organisation Samarthyam, which has been associated with the project since its inception in 2002.

The new low-floor buses that would be plying on the BRT corridor would be equipped with a ramp to enable people to board and disembark conveniently. The height of the bus-queue-shelter pavement has been raised to synchronise the height of the bus chassis. These buses would also have reserved space to accommodate wheelchairs.

"These features of this corridor make it accessible not just to the disabled but also to persons with reduced mobility such as senior citizens, families with small children, women wearing high heels," said Ms. Agarwal.

The disabled-friendly features in the system include an access ramp for persons using mobility aids, Braille plates and tactile floor tiles incorporated in the bus-queue-shelter in addition to boasting of well aligned street furniture.
The bus-queue-shelters included in the corridor will be located in the middle of the road with traffic marshals employed to help regulate traffic and help bus commuters cross the road. The segregated road design in BRT corridors will allow commuters to cross only at the zebra crossings when the traffic light is red during its normal cycle. A total of six traffic lights will be installed on the 5.6 km stretch of the trail corridor with each bus-queue-shelter located every 500 metres. According to DIMTS Senior Manager (Bus Operations) A. K. Sinha, the four bus routes to ply on the corridor would be 522, 521, 419 and 423. These would be run exclusively by the DTC. Blueline buses will not be permitted to run on them. The buses will ply in the corridor from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Indian Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on Inclusion at National Congress on Disability Studies in Secondary and Higher Education

Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni today said that any proposal for inclusion of disability studies in academic discipline should be supported as it will create an awareness in society about the needs and rights of the physically challenged.

Inaugurating a three-day National Congress on Disability Studies in Secondary and Higher Education in India here, Soni said: Attitude has to be changed towards the physically challenged persons as they are challenged in a limited sense only and can do wonders in other areas of their expertise or interests.

People at work place, society and in the country as a whole must be sensitized about the needs of the physically challenged and their rights within the Constitutional framework, Soni added.

Referring to the socially and economically disadvantaged groups in the country, she said that we must work towards creating an inclusive society where every person would contribute to the growth and development of the country.

Public awareness campaign for creating such an inclusive growth is the need of the hour, she added.
She said the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture is sensitive to the special needs of challenged people.

The Minister further added that all the world heritage sites are in the process of providing special facilities for such people.

Other important monuments will also be provided with facilities, which would improve access to these monuments to people with special needs. This would enable them to appreciate the heritage of this country in the same manner as other citizens, she said.

The Tourism Ministry is also encouraging the hotels and other tourism related infrastructure to be developed in a manner that people with special needs could also use them as effectively as others.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/people-must-sensitize-themselves-to-the-needs-of-the-physically-challenged-soni_10029132.html

Accessible Wellington Forum: Tourism for Disabled People and Seniors

Wellington City Council is hosting an Accessible Wellington Forum on
Tourism for disabled people and seniors on 11 April, 2008. Dr Sandra
Rhodda, author of “Tourism for visitors to New Zealand with mobility
problems: a West Coast perspective” April 2007
http://www.taipoutini.ac.nz/taipoutini/report.asp?id=4#item , will speak
on the economic value to New Zealand business of catering for disabled
people and seniors. The Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast and the
CEO of Wellington City Council, Gary Poole will also speak.

An exhibition of barrier free solutions, Lifetime Design, Go-bus accessible buses and Wellington City Council accessible events, parks and gardens will run at the same time as the Forum.

People are asked to RSVP to Ross Livingstone by 2 April 2008.

For more information:

Contact: Ross Livingstone, Community Advisor-Disability
Postal: Absolutely Positively Accessible, PO Box 2199, Wellington
Phone: 04 801 3134
Mobile: 027 687 6412
Fax: 04 801 3124
Email: Ross.Livingstone@wcc.govt.nz

La Argentina y El Plan Nacional de Accesibilidad (Spanish)

El Ciudadano del famoso destino turistico Bariloche report del Plan Nacional de Accesibilidad:

¿Qué es el plan?

Es un marco estratégico para promover y dar coherencia a las acciones que las Gestiones de Gobierno conjuntamente con otras administraciones y entidades públicas o privadas han de realizar con el objetivo común de suprimir barreras e implantar el denominado Diseño Universal.

Se entiende por Diseño Universal a la actividad por la que cualquier bien o servicio es concebido o proyectado desde su origen para ser utilizado por todas las personas, o el mayor número de ellas posible.

Es también un instrumento posible de ejecutar para poder ampliar el ámbito de la Ley Nacional Nº 24.314 de Accesibilidad de Personas con Movilidad Reducida, para que desde el Gobierno de la Nación se propicie su aplicación; es decir, para favorecer la equiparación de oportunidades de las personas con movilidad y/o comunicación reducida promoviendo a la vez una mayor calidad de vida en toda la población.

Mas

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Inclusive Destination Development
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/travel_with_disabilities/115176

The Rolling Rains Report Featured Entrant in the National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers Geotourism Challenge

The proposal to open three Centers of Excellence in Inclusive Tourism that is being considered by Echoing Green Foundation and publicy discussed at Ashoka's Changemakers' Geotourism Challenge has generated 80 comments from around the world here:

http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/5952

The Rolling Rains Report Featured Entrant in the National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers Geotourism Challenge

Global competition will uncover most innovative projects that support better tourism

[San Jose, CA, USA] – The National Geographic Society and Ashoka’s Changemakers have introduced the first Geotourism Challenge to identify and showcase innovators in tourism development, management, and marketing.

The one-of-a-kind online collaborative competition is designed to raise awareness about how tourism can help sustain, enhance and preserve local culture and environment.

The Rolling Rains Report is a featured entrant in this initiative at - http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/5951. The Rolling Rains Report is an experiment in achieving social inclusion. As a daily online publication it provides research and educational material emphasizing the quality of tourist experience of a group who has historically been denied access to tourism - people with disabilities.

At the Geotourism Challenge an expanded project is proposed. The Centers of Excellence in Inclusive Tourism Project will bring to scale sustainable inclusive tourism development projects piloted in Asia and the Americas. The project goal is to make the tourism industry an authentic partner in the aspirations, rights, and culture of the disability community by establishing local collaboratives, directed by people with disabilities, to provide tourism product creation, infrastructure design, and destination development services to the tourism and hospitality industry. Matching the profit motive of industry to the pent-up demand for travel opportunities among people with disabilities will be the purpose of three Centers of Excellence in Inclusive Tourism currently under consideration for funding and launch in September 2008. People with disabilities of the USA alone spend $13.6 billion annually on travel. Tourist destinations recognize the market advantage they gain by accommodating this travel sector. One of the world’s largest industries, tourism, can create lasting social change for one of the world’s fastest growing underserved populations, people with disabilities - including aging Baby Boomers and their parents.

Discussion of the Centers of Excellence in Inclusive Tourism proposal is drawing worldwide participation at - http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/5952

The Geotourism Challenge is Changemakers’ 15th collaborative competition and draws on Ashoka’s 27 years of experience in identifying leading social entrepreneurs around the world. To date, the competitions have sourced more than 2,000 local innovations on various themes from more than 125 countries. The Rolling Rains Report is honored to be recognized as a leader in the global movement to create social change through the tourism sector and the foremost voice for Inclusive Tourism and Inclusive Destination Development.

Anyone can participate and comment on entries. Everyone is invited to improve all entries through online collaboration. A panel of expert judges will choose approximately a dozen finalists who demonstrate innovation, social impact and sustainability. Judges include: Keith Bellows, VP, National Geographic Society, Editor-in-Chief, NG Traveler; Susan Berresford Past President, The Ford Foundation; Leonard Cordiner, CEO, whl travel; and Nachiket Mor, President, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

The finalists will have the opportunity to present their innovations at The Geotourism Challenge Summit this fall. Three winners will be chosen by online voting and receive $5,000 each.

###

About National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,800 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com or visit the Web page for the Center for Sustainable Destinations at www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/.

About Ashoka’s Changemakers

Changemakers is building the world's first global online “open source” community that competes to surface the best social solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Changemakers focuses on thematic, collaborative competitions, inviting innovators from around the world to profile and collaborate with a global community of investors, thought leaders and enthusiasts. To date Changemakers has launched 14 successful collaborative competitions and attracted more than 2,000 high-impact solutions from more than 125 countries. Changemakers builds on Ashoka’s 27-year history identifying and selecting leading social entrepreneurs and its belief in “Everyone a Changemaker” global society. Get involved. Find out more about how to nominate, enter, comment and vote in our collaborative competitions at www.changemakers.net

For more information please contact:

Delyse Sylvester
Director of Communication
Ashoka's Changemakers
250-551-0570
dsylvester@ashoka.org

About Scott Rains and the Rolling Rains Report

Dr. Scott Rains writes daily on travel and issues in the tourism industry of interest to people with disabilities.
His work appears online at http://www.RollingRains.com and http://withtv.typepad.com/weblog/travel/ . Rains’ articles have also appeared in New Mobility, Emerging Horizons, Contours, Design for All India, Accessible Portugal, Audacity, Travel and Transitions, eTur Brazil, Co-Walking Korea, Turismo Polibea, Current Rehabilitation, [with]TV, and Disaboom among others. For his research on the topic of Universal Design and the travel and hospitality industry he was appointed as Resident Scholar at the Center for Cultural Studies of the University of California Santa Cruz (2004-05)

For more information please contact:

Dr. Scott Rains
Publisher, The Rolling Rains Report
srains at oco dot net

Recognition to Jack Sink, Susan Kovas, and the Town of Chester, South Carolina

Charles Perry writes in the HeraldOnline:

Wylie Park doesn't offer something for everyone yet, Chester leaders say.

Sure, the 48-acre city park sports a miniature golf course, a rugged, mile-long nature trail and a pool. But the park doesn't have a place where someone in a wheelchair can travel or where mothers with strollers can pace.

Outdoor accessibility was considered a luxury when we began public advocacy for ubiquitous barrier-free environments in the 1970's. Today we see that it has rightly become a cornerstone of family values.

Thank you, Chester, South Carolina and all the visionary leaders who just keep "doing the right thing" day in and day out at the local level without fanfare and for the good of the entire community.

Universal Design builds up communities!

Full article:
http://www.heraldonline.com/109/story/423039.html

European Regulation on Air Passengers' Rights

Brussels, 5 March 2008 – Guaranteeing full accessibility of disabled passengers to the transport system and overcoming the existing barriers in Europe remain a priority for the European disability movement, but also for the European Commissioner Jacques Barrot, as he expressed yesterday during a meeting with Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF): “I can guarantee you my full commitment to advance access of disabled people the transport system’, said the Commissioner.

Referring to the recent entering into force of the European Regulation on Air Passengers’ Rights, Barrot highlighted the importance of a proper implementation of this key text: "adopting the Regulation was only the first step; we will now use all our means to make sure that it is also correctly implemented, but most important, we need disabled users’ support to do it well”.

Yannis Vardakastanis welcomed Barrot’s commitment to disability issues and stressed the important role of 50 million disabled people in the European integration process: “By securing access of disabled people to all forms of transport, the European Union is responding to the needs of citizens at the very grass root level, contributing to the improvement of their daily lives” said Vardakastanis to the Commissioner.

The discussion also focused on the forthcoming European Regulations on maritime and coach passenger rights, currently in preparation. “The Regulations will be proposed in the course of 2008; we will particularly make sure that the discrimination of passengers with disabilities will be addresses in these texts through a series of specific measures”, promised the European Commissioner. Barrot also thanked the European Disability Forum for the numerous cases of discrimination reported in the field of maritime transport and agreed on the need to simultaneously address the rights of disabled passengers and the accessibility requirements to be applied to this sector.

During the meeting, EDF President presented to the Commissioner the proposal for a comprehensive European disability Directive, tackling disabled people’s discrimination in all fields of life, including transport. Welcoming the proposal and congratulating the EDF for the success of its campaign “1million4disability” in favour of the disability Directive, Barrot recognised the specificities of the discrimination faced by disabled people, “made of prejudges and stereotyped , but also of structural barriers”

For more information on the EDF campaign “1million4disability”: www.1million4disability.eu

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel: (+32 2) 282 46 04; Mobile phone: (+ 32 ) 485 64 39 93; E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled citizens in Europe. EDF membership includes national umbrella organisations of disabled people from all EU/EEA countries, as well as European NGOs representing the different types of disabilities, organisations and individuals committed to disability issues. The mission of the European Disability Forum is to ensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.

From March 2008 Global Access News Travel E-Zine

The latest issue of Global Access News Travel E-Zine is out with this article entitled "New York City Buses" by Derek Guzman. Derek runs wheelchair accessible guided tours in Paris and New York City. I highlight this article because NYC can be rightly proud -- of doing what we did for the first time in history at home in Seattle:

As I left the bus I asked the driver about wheelchair accessibility on the city’s bus system. “Every bus in the system is accessible” he told me. Across the whole city? “All five boroughs, the whole city”. I was impressed. I thought of Seattle, which to this point operated my idea of the consummate bus system – every bus in King County Metro’s fleet is wheelchair-accessible. Indeed, Seattle’s was the nation’s first transit system to be able to make this claim. However, New York City is far bigger than Seattle, and the fact that the Metropolitan Transit Authority could also achieve 100% accessibility on its busses was doubly impressive to me.

For the full story:
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/newyorkguzman08.htm

Forum européen des personnes handicapées (French)

>>> Communiqué de presse

Les droits des passagers handicapés, au cœur de l’agenda européenne

Rencontre hier à Bruxelles entre Jacques Barrot, Commissaire européen au Transport, et Yannis Vardakastanis, leader du mouvement européen des personnes handicapées

Bruxelles, 5 mars 2008 – Garantir une totale accessibilité des passagers handicapées au système de transport et surmonter les barrières existantes en Europe demeurent parmi les grandes priorités du mouvement européen des personnes handicapées, mais aussi parmi celles du Commissaire européen au Transport, Jacques Barrot, tel qu’il l’a exprimé hier lors de sa réunion avec le Président du Forum européen des personnes handicapées (FEPH), Yannis Vardaksatanis : “Je peux vous garantir mon engagement total afin de faire progresser l’accès des personnes handicapées au système des transports“, a déclaré le Commissaire.

Faisant référence au Règlement européen sur les droits des passagers aériens handicapés, récemment entré en vigueur, Barrot a souligné l’importance d’une bonne application de ce texte clé: "l’adoption du règlement n’était que le premier pas; désormais nous utiliserons tous les moyens à notre disposition afin d’assurer sa correcte application, et pour bien le faire, nous avons besoin du soutien des usagers handicapés”.

Yannis Vardakastanis a favorablement accueilli l’engagement de M. Barrot envers les questions liées au handicap et a souligné l’important rôle que les 50 millions de personnes handicapées jouent dans le processus de construction européenne: “En assurant l’accès des personnes handicapées à toutes les formes de transport, l’Union européenne répond aux besoins des citoyens de base et contribue à améliorer leurs vies de manière tangible” a exprimé Vardakastanis au Commissaire.

La discussion s’est également focalisée sur les futurs règlements européens en matière des droits des passagers maritimes et des autocars, en cours de préparation. “Les règlements seront proposés au cours de 2008; en particulier nous nous assurerons de la prise en compte de la discrimination à laquelle les passagers handicapés font face et cela, à travers des mesures spécifiques”, a promis le Commissaire européen. Barrot a également remercié le Forum européen des personnes handicapées pour les nombreux cas de discrimination dont l’organisation lui a fait part dans le domaine du transport maritime. Il a par ailleurs exprimé son accord sur la nécessité de travailler simultanément dans l’amélioration des droits des passagers handicapés et les critères d’accessibilité qui devront être appliqués dans ce secteur.

Au cours de la réunion, le Président du FEPH a présenté au Commissaire la proposition de directive européenne en matière de handicap actuellement promue par le Forum, dont le but est de combattre la discrimination des personnes handicapées dans tous les domaines de la vie, y compris les transports. Barrot a favorablement accueilli cette proposition et félicité le FEPH pour le succès de sa campagne “1million4disability” en faveur de la directive, tout en reconnaissant les spécificités liées à la discrimination des personnes handicapées, “faite de préjugés et des stéréotypes, mais également, de barrières structurelles”.

Pour plus d’information sur la campagne du FEPH “1million4disability”: www.1million4disability.eu

Pour plus d’information, veuillez contacter: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, Responsable de Communication et Presse; Tel: (+32 2) 282 46 04; GSM : (+ 32 ) 485 64 39 93; Courriel: communication@edf-feph.org

Le Forum européen des personnes handicapées (FEPH) est la plateforme européenne qui représente les intérêts de 50 millions de citoyens handicapés au sein de l’Union européenne. Les organisations membres du FEPH incluent les plateformes nationales des personnes handicapées de tous les Etats membres de l’UE et de l’Espace économique européen, ainsi que les ONG européennes représentant les différents types de handicap. La mission du FEPH est de garantir le respect total des droits fondamentaux et humains des personnes handicapées par le biais d’une implication active dans le développement et application des politiques européennes.

CNVLD Announces Annual National Disability Awards

The Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled) (CNVLD) has caught the spirit of the Recommendations of the Second International Conference on Accessible Tourism with its new National Disability Awards program.

As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting the Rights of Persons with a Disability, the CNVLD is proud to announce the inaugural CNVLD Annual National Disability Awards recognising commitment to accessibility and support in the Cambodian corporate sector.

After signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability in October 2007, the Cambodian Government recently passed its domestic disability law.

Rising investment in Cambodia has also led to rapid urban development in the capital Phnom Penh. In response to Cambodia’s changing landscape, the CNVLD National Disability Awards aim to encourage local corporate sector social responsibility in Disability Rights and Access.

The 2008 CNVLD National Disability Awards will be presented for:

• Best Access: Hotel /Hospitality
• Best Access: Retail
• Best Access: Educational Institute
• Best Access: Restaurant
• Best Employer
• Best Corporate Support for Disability Rights

The CNVLD will assess the disability friendliness of some of Cambodia’s leading businesses based on a number of criteria including accessibility (entrances, steps, ramps, lifts, helpfulness / understanding of staff, use of facilities), positive employment and support for disability issues.

The inaugural 2008 CNVLD National Disability Awards winners will be announced on 1st September 2008. Category winners will be presented their awards along with the year’s best athletes by H.E Ith Sam Heng Minister of Social Affairs, Youth and Veteran’s Rehabilitation at the 2008 National Volleyball League Finals at the Olympic Stadium at the end of September 2008.

Award winners will receive unique a Cambodian trophy produced from destroyed AK-47s by Armed Art and a framed certificate. Award winners will also be provided stickers to promote their Accessibility Friendly’ status in their premises. Each winner will also be specially profiled on the CNVLD website.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Malaga - Plan de Accesibilidad (Spanish)

Desde - www.malagaes.com 29/01/2008

El Alcalde de Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, ha presentado hoy el Plan estratégico de Accesibilidad Universal de la ciudad de Málaga 2007-2011. Este documento es una propuesta integral que ofrece una solución a los problemas que las personas con discapacidad puedan tener en Málaga. En él se articulan medidas concretas que resuelven todas y cada una de las facetas de la vida privada y social, no solamente para las personas con discapacidad, sino para el resto de ciudadanos malagueños que puntualmente pueden tener reducida su movilidad.

El Ayuntamiento destinará 24 millones de euros a la aplicación del Plan, a través del un esfuerzo inversor realizado por las todas las áreas y entidades municipales. Destacan los 17,2 millones de euros que la Empresa Municipal de Transporte destinará en los próximos 4 años para que el 100% de sus autobuses sean vehículos adaptados, los más de dos millones aportados por Limasa o los 1,1 del Instituto Municipal del Taxi y del Área de Alcaldía. Tras ellos destacan el millón de euros procedente de la Gerencia Municipal de Urbanismo, o los más de 700.000 euros del Área de Participación Ciudadana.

Este documento, iniciativa del Área de Accesibilidad Universal, es el resultado de un trabajo consensuado y participativo con las asociaciones y entidades malagueñas que trabajan en el sector de las personas con discapacidad y ha contado también con aportaciones de los diferentes grupos políticos que conforman el ayuntamiento.

Han sido un total de 27 las entidades sociales que se han implicado en la redacción del Plan estratégico, a través de la Agrupación de Desarrollo “Málaga Más Accesible”. Por tanto, se recogen las propuestas y medidas que han decido las personas con discapacidad, siendo este grupo poblacional el principal redactor de un documento que hará posible un camino más corto hacia la accesibilidad universal del municipio.

Tras su aprobación se convertirá en un Plan pionero, ya que ha contado con la colaboración activa de todas las áreas municipales y abarca todos los ámbitos de actuación posibles de las personas con discapacidad, como el trasporte, el viario, la inserción social o el acceso a las nuevas tecnologías. Además, se trata de un Plan transversal que cuenta en su desarrollo con los recursos de las diferentes áreas que conforman el Ayuntamiento.

La aplicación de este documento mejorará la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad y de sus familias, ofreciéndoles las mismas oportunidades que al resto de los ciudadanos y resolviendo de este modo los elementos de discriminación existentes actualmente.

Este plan ha sido elaborado siguiendo principios de transversalidad, accesibilidad y diseño universal y esta justificado en el hecho de aún persisten en la sociedad desigualdades ante este importante grupo poblacional.

En Málaga existen un total de 57.215 * personas con discapacidad, lo que representa el 10,20% de la población. Pero este plan no sólo va dirigido a personas que tengan recocida legalmente una discapacidad, sino a un segmento poblacional mayor mucho mayor, ya que se beneficiarán de él aquellos ciudadanos que temporal o permanente tengan reducida su movilidad como personas mayores, mujeres embarazadas, accidentados o quienes manejen un carrito de niño.

Han sido los colectivos y asociaciones que trabajan diariamente por las personas con discapacidad los verdaderos protagonistas del Plan de Accesibilidad y el Ayuntamiento ha recogido sus propuestas en unas medidas concretas que van desde garantizar el acceso a las información municipal, a la ampliación de las plazas de aparcamientos reservados, pasando por que el 100% de los autobuses urbanos y el 5% de los taxis sean adaptados.

No se olvida a los jóvenes, a los que se ofrecerá una Caseta de la Juventud accesible, la participación de artistas con discapacidad en el festival Joven las Artes o la promoción del deporte adaptado en las Escuelas Deportivas Municipales. También las mujeres protagonizan un capítulo especial, promoviendo su participación en el tejido asociativo y su acceso al mercado laboral y dedicando un esfuerzo particular que aquellas que son víctimas de la violencia de genero.

El Empleo, la vivienda, la movilidad, el ocio y el tiempo libre, la concienciación, la formación y la investigación son el resto de ámbitos de actuación que recoge el Plan de Accesibilidad que estará en vigor hasta el año 2011.

* Marzo 2006. Delegación de Igualdad y Bienestar Social de la Junta de Andalucía

DOCUMENTACIÓN

El Plan Estratégico de Accesibilidad se concreta en una serie de medias específicas aplicables a dada uno de sus ámbitos de actuación, que abarcan todo el espectro del ámbito personal y social de las personas con discapacidad:

Información, Orientación, Asesoramiento
• Garantizar la accesibilidad del entorno Web del Ayuntamiento así como de todos los servicios y productos derivados de las nuevas tecnologías de la comunicación y la información.
• Reforzar las actividades municipales con Intérpretes Municipales de Lengua de Signos
• Garantizar un servicio de información, orientación y apoyo a personas con discapacidad
• Se promoverá la implantación de un sistema de información basado en el uso de la señalética en paneles, postes de señalización de paradas de autobús que garanticen la accesibilidad a la información en la vía pública.
• Elaborar folletos y guías de lecturas de las bibliotecas municipales en formatos accesibles
• Adquisición de fondos bibliográficos y/o audiovisuales accesibles a personas con discapacidad.
• Elaboración de audio–guías y signo–guías que faciliten la comprensión de los monumentos y museos municipales.
• Realización de una audio-guía y signo-guía sobre el Archivo Municipal
• Promover información sobre accesibilidad turística acerca de itinerarios culturales, ocio, administrativos, botánicos.
• Elaboración de Guías de itinerarios accesibles para cada distrito.
• Implantar un sistema de información acerca de los servicios que se prestan en los Centros de Servicios Sociales Municipales y Centros de Mayores basado en el uso de la señalética.
• Garantizar que los medios de comunicación municipales sean accesibles.
Sensibilización, Concienciación
• Creación de un distintivo de buenas prácticas en la promoción de los derechos y de la igualdad de oportunidades de las personas con discapacidad.
• Campañas de Concienciación Ciudadana “Convive Sin Barreras”.
• Desarrollo de Campañas de sensibilización y fomento de la participación dirigida a las personas con discapacidad de la ciudad de Málaga

Participación Social
• Creación y fomento del Consejo de Accesibilidad Universal.
• Fomento del asociacionismo de personas con discapacidad.
• Fomento de las redes de participación social con la promoción de agrupaciones de desarrollo
• Fomento del voluntariado social para la accesibilidad y el acompañamiento
• Premio a las iniciativas sociales en materia de accesibilidad
Movilidad
• Ampliación del nº de plazas de aparcamientos reservadas para personas con discapacidad.
• Promover soluciones de movilidad en el centro urbano que beneficien los desplazamientos de personas mayores y personas con discapacidad.
• Reposición paulatina del mobiliario urbano por modelos accesibles según los criterios del diseño universal.
• Rehabilitación de mercados municipales conforme a proyectos que contemplen las prescripciones en materia de accesibilidad.
• Promover espacios de ocio juvenil accesibles (caseta de la Juventud).
• Proyecto Integral de actuación en playas: dotación en todo el Litoral malagueño de puntos de playa accesibles.
• Alcanzar en los próximos años que el 5% del total de la flota de taxis sean adaptados a personas con discapacidad.
• Alcanzar en los próximos años que el 100% de la flota de autobuses urbanos sea accesible.
Cultura, Deporte, Ocio y Tiempo Libre
• Mejora de las condiciones de accesibilidad de las instalaciones y actividades culturales, de ocio y tiempo libre.
• Mejora de medios y dotación de profesionales para hacer posible la inclusión de personas con discapacidad en actividades culturales, de ocio y tiempo libre.
• Realización de programas de ocio y tiempo libre para personas con discapacidad adaptados a sus necesidades y demandas.
• Asignación de un porcentaje de plazas en programas de ocio y tiempo libre destinadas a personas con discapacidad.
• Promover la participación de jóvenes artistas con discapacidad en el festival Joven de las Artes.
• Crear un premio especial en el marco de la Muestra joven de video creación que refleje el tema de la discapacidad.
• Promoción del deporte adaptado en las Escuelas Deportivas Municipales.
Transversalidad Institucional
• Incorporar la accesibilidad en todos los programas, recursos, servicios y productos municipales y de todas aquellas empresas con participación municipal
Accesibilidad al empleo
• Establecer una reserva del 5% para personas con discapacidad en la oferta de empleo público.
• Establecimiento de Cláusulas Sociales en lo procedimientos de contratación que realiza el Ayuntamiento de Málaga para favorecer la contratación de personas con discapacidad.
• Favorecer el acceso de las personas con discapacidad a las Escuelas Taller y Talleres de Empleo.
• Promover el autoempleo entra las personas con discapacidad.
Formación, investigación
• Estudio de Necesidades de las Personas con Discapacidad en Málaga capital
Derechos
• Aprobación de unos criterios de accesibilidad en la organización de actos públicos.
• Promover la implantación de un sistema de señalización, de publicidad o de información en general que garantice su lectura, comprensión, visión, audición, etc .
• Promover ayudas económicas que faciliten la movilidad ( ayudas al transporte, adaptación funcional del hogar, ocio, etc).
• Promover medidas sancionadoras a la ocupación ilegal o exceso de ocupación de la vía publica con sillas, mesas, toldos, veladores, etc.
Vivienda
• Adaptar las viviendas a las necesidades de la persona con discapacidad adjudicataria.
• Introducir en los Pliegos de condiciones técnicas de contratación, diseños y criterios que garanticen la accesibilidad de las viviendas y su entorno
• Realizar campañas de información a Comunidades de Propietarios sobre la eliminación de barreras arquitectónicas en edificios, portales y zonas comunes, así como sobre las distintas líneas de ayuda que en esta materia pueda ofrecer la Administración Local

Igualdad de Oportunidades para mujeres

• Promoción de la participación activa de la mujer con discapacidad en el movimiento asociativo
• Promoción de la mujer con discapacidad en los órganos de decisión de las asociaciones
• Promover medidas de acción positiva en relación al empleo de mujeres con discapacidad
• Sensibilizar y formar sobre la violencia de género en mujeres con discapacidad
• Prevención de malos tratos en mujeres sordas.

Análise da Consulta Nacional: Especificações técnicas para fabricação de veículos para transporte coletivo de passaeiros (Portuguese)

Convidamos V.Sas. para participar da Reunião de Análise da Consulta Nacional do Projeto 00:001.64-001 - Transporte - Especificações técnicas para fabricação de veículos de características urbanas para transporte coletivo de passageiros, da ABNT/CEE-00: 001.64 - Comissão de Estudo Especial Temporária de Fabricação de Veículo Acessível, a ser realizada conforme programação a seguir:

Data: 11 e 12 de fevereiro de 2008

Horário: das 9:00 às 17:00

Local: Av. Paulista, 726 - 10º andar - São Paulo - SP

Pauta: - Projeto 00:001.64-001 - Transporte - Especificações técnicas para fabricação de veículos de características urbanas para transporte coletivo de passageiros - Análise da Consulta Nacional

SOLICITAMOS CONFIRMAR PRESENÇA COM O SR. RODRIGO CANOSA, ATRAVÉS:

- Telefone: (11) 3017-3623
- e-mail: rodrigo.canosa@abnt.org.br

Na certeza de podermos contar com a valiosa e imprescindível presença de V.Sa. ou de seu representante, subscrevemo-nos.

Atenciosamente,

Rodrigo Sansivieri F. Canosa

Gerência do Processo de Normalização

ABNT - R. Minas Gerais, 190 - Higienópolis

01244-010 - São Paulo - SP

( (11) 3017- 3623

* rodrigo.canosa@abnt.org.br

Visite nossos sites: www.abnt.org.br / www.abntnet.com.br

Decreto do Passeio Livre ( 45.904/05) - (Portuguese)

A nova lei, com data de 23 de janeiro, foi publicada no Diário Oficial de hoje, quinta-feira, 24.

Depois da transformação visual da nossa cidade, incentivado pelo Programa Cidade Limpa, agora são as calçadas que vão fazer a diferença. Além da estética, o mais importante é a acessibilidade. Se já é difícil circular na maioria dos passeios públicos de São Paulo, imagine para quem tem uma deficiência ou mobilidade reduzida - como idosos, mães com carrinhos de bebê, obesos ou pessoas com uma perna quebrada, por exemplo?

De autoria da vereadora Mara Gabrilli, a lei 14.675, de 23 de janeiro de 2008, vai implantar na cidade o Programa Emergencial de Calçadas - PEC. A partir de hoje, a Prefeitura de São Paulo, por meio da Secretaria de Coordenação de Subprefeituras, vai reformar as calçadas de São Paulo de modo a atender o Decreto do Passeio Livre ( 45.904/05). Por Lei, o morador é o responsável pela sua calçada e, caso não faça a adequação, pode ser multado. Mas, para incentivar as reformas, é a Prefeitura quem vai arcar com os custos das novas calçadas que estiverem dentro das rotas estratégicas determinadas pela Secretaria Municipal da Pessoa com Deficiência e Mobilidade Reduzida (SMPED).

São Paulo tem 30 milhões de metros lineares de calçadas

As rotas serão especificadas por um sistema de georeferenciamento desenvolvido pela SMPED. "Cada Rota Estratégica e de Segurança terá de dois a cinco quilômetros e vai contemplar as vias com serviços públicos e privados, como saúde, educação, esporte, cultura, correios, bancos, entre outros, e, principalmente, paradas ou estações para embarque e dsembarque de passageiros do transporte público", informa a vereadora Mara Gabrilli. "Temos, pelo menos, 31 rotas, uma em cada Subprefeitura da cidade", complementa. O cronograma de rotas e obras será determinado trimestralmente e publicadas no Portal da Prefeitura de São Paulo. "É essencial, que, além da população, o próprio Poder Público se conscientize da importância da acessibilidade para todos. O Projeto de Lei da vereadora Mara Gabrilli vai nesse sentido", comenta o secretário das Subprefeituras e Subprefeito da Sé, Andrea Matarazzo.

Como a Prefeitura será a responsável pelas reforma das calçadas, ao munícipe caberá a manutenção delas. Para se ter uma idéia, desde 2005 a Prefeitura aplicou mais de 8 mil multas aos cidadãos que não conservaram sua calçada. Para estipular um novo valor de multa - na verdade, um "incentivo" para que o munícipe cuide da nova calçada -, esta lei altera a Lei 10.508/88, que dispõe sobre limpeza de imóveis, passeios públicos e dá outras providências. Segundo a antiga legislação, o valor da multa aos munícipes era de R$ 200 reais por metro linear de calçada, corrigido anualmente pelo IPCA. A partir da aprovação do PEC, a multa será de mil reais pelo mesmo metro linear.


Mais informações

Assessoria de Imprensa

Vereadora Mara Gabrilli

Jorn.Resp.: Claudia Carletto

fones: 11 3396-4899 // 8385-3443

Lousã Vai Ser o Primeiro Destino "Acessível a Todos" (Portuguese)

A Câmara e a Provedoria Municipal das Pessoas com Deficiência da Lousã anunciaram ontem a apresentação, para breve, do plano de acção do projecto "Lousã: destino turístico acessível". Em causa está um projecto pioneiro em Portugal, que já mereceu rasgados elogios

Fernando Carvalho, presidente da autarquia, salientou o investimento efectuado no sector do turismo nos últimos anos, em especial na oferta de alojamento, referindo que «agora queremos agregar o turismo acessível para todos». «Pretendemos deixar de ter barreiras para aqueles com algumas dificuldades», acrescentou o autarca socialista, que anunciou para este ano alguns investimentos nesta área na apresentação do projecto.

O Plano de Actividades e Orçamento para este ano contempla verbas para a requalificação da rua que vai da igreja matriz à fábrica do Papel do Prado, no Penedo, e da praia fluvial da Senhora da Piedade (Burgo) e eventualmente a de Serpins.

"Lousã: destino turístico acessível", cujo plano de acção está em fase de conclusão, «surge como condição de integração das funções humanas do território, para o diferenciar relativamente a destinos turísticos concorrentes», de modo a acolher o mercado dos turistas portadores de incapacidade.

O estudo vai definir a oferta de estruturas e serviços turísticos acessíveis a todos e preconiza a constituição de uma estrutura de missão que crie as condições para a entidade coordenadora que assumirá o plano de acção.
A estrutura de missão deverá ser composta por entidades locais, que terão responsabilidades em termos da concretização de candidaturas específicas previstas no plano de acção.

A entidade coordenadora deve ter incumbida a tarefa de gerir o destino turístico, sendo responsável pelos investimentos, acções e iniciativas que favoreçam a acessibilização da oferta turística da Lousã como um todo.

"Lousã começa a ser exemplo"

António Fontes, da empresa que elaborou o projecto, disse que o documento foi apresentado às instâncias nacionais com responsabilidades nas áreas da reabilitação e turismo, tendo recebido elogios e manifestações de apoio.

Acrescentou ainda que, na Lousã, estão reunidas «as condições para se iniciar um projecto exemplar», assente num sistema de certificação da acessibilidade na oferta turística.

Presente na cerimónia, a directora do Instituto Nacional para a Reabilitação, Luísa Portugal, afirmou que a «Lousã começa a ser um exemplo, com um percurso muito característico e personalizado, que tem na ARCIL um instrumento muito importante».

«A verdade é que há outras instituições também interessantes e pessoas sensibilizadas noutros locais e noutras comunidades que não atingiram este nível de quase excelência», sublinhou.

«A Lousã ainda não é completamente um destino turístico acessível, mas penso que já completaram a parte mais difícil do trabalho que é sermos capazes de falar sobre o preconceito, as discriminações, perceber e valorizar que há pessoas diferentes, trabalhar para inclui-las no dia-a-dia da comunidade», acrescentou Luísa Portugal.

Foram ainda entregues na sessão 33 selos "Lousã Acessível" a entidades privadas e públicas, que certificam os estabelecimentos que recebem público e possuam condições de acessibilidade a pessoas com mobilidade condicionada.

A Provedoria Municipal das Pessoas com Deficiência da Lousã tem como missão dinamizar a criação de novas situações que favoreçam as pessoas com mobilidade reduzida e dar resposta aos portadores de deficiência para que tenham acessos mais simples e fáceis às entidades públicas e privadas.

Fonte: Diário de Coimbra
http://www.diariocoimbra.pt/17598.htm

Brazil Takes Leadership -- but Does it Hear "Nothing About Us Without Us?"

I am extremely pleased at recent events in Rio de Janeiro toward inclusion in the tourist sector:

* Brazil will train 200 people with disabilities in tourism and
hospitality in order to meet the demand for improved service to
travelers with disabilities.

* Rio de Janeiro has contracted with the French organization Tourisme &
Handicaps to do infrastructure audits and upgrades. They claim to have
standardized on EU protocols.

* Brazil has also launched an inclusive Destination Development campaign
of upgrading the accessibility of public restrooms

Consultation with the Brazilian disability community and those who monitor access and audit tourist destinations does not seem to have taken place beforehand. As a result the French contractor has presented their proprietary standards as EU standards (there are 40 legitimate standards in the EU and we all work diligently toward harmonization under the leadership of ENAT) and some accessibility claims are a bit exaggerated:

Through this visit [of Tourisme et Handicap] it was possible to verify that the situation is better than we imagined. Christ the Redeemer (Corcovado) and Sugar Loaf, for example, need only small adaptations to be totally accessible. The agency left with is the European Union norms that are going to guide the work, said the sub secretary who pointed to the Hotel Sofitel in Copacabana as ideal in terms of accessibility for people with physical disabilities.

In all, the trend is positive. After consultation with the Brazilian disability community results could be excellent.

Announcing Easy Access Chicago

What: Please join us for a press conference announcing the release of Easy Access Chicago, the first-ever comprehensive visitor guide for travelers with disabilities.

The Easy Access Chicago guide provides detailed information about the city’s accessible offerings allowing visitors with disabilities to make informed choices about their travel experience in the Chicago Area. A copy of Easy Access Chicago is available by calling the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at 1-800-2CONNECT or by visiting www.enjoyillinois.com or easyaccesschicago.org.

Who: Eric Lipp, executive director of the Open Doors Organization, Jack Lavin, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Karen Tamley, commissioner of the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, and Marca Bristo, president and CEO of Access Living invite you to this historic occasion

When: Thursday, January 17, 2007, 10:00 a.m.

Where: Wrigley Gallery at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street

RSVP: If you have any questions regarding the Easy Access Chicago event or to RSVP, please contact Eric Lipp at ericlipp@opendoorsnfp.org. We look forward to seeing you at this important event.

Regards,

Eric Lipp
Executive Director
Open Doors Organization

Parque para todos: Parque Estadual do Jaraguá (Portuguese)

As trilhas do Parque Estadual do Jaraguá, na zona oeste de São Paulo, acabaram por passar por reformas. Nesta quinta-feira, uma delas começou a receber a visita de deficientes físicos. Um trajeto de 400 metros, batizado de Trilha do Silêncio, foi especialmente adaptado a cadeirantes, deficientes visuais, pessoas com pouca mobilidade e idosos. Exemplo que diversos outros parques deveriam seguir.

Fonte:

http://arruda.rits.org.br/oeco/servlet/newstorm.ns.presentation.NavigationServlet?publicationCode=6&pageCode=69

Obrigado ao Bill Hinchberger do BrazilMax.com para as noticias. Visite o sitio.

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Universal Design & Blindness: Creating A Barrier Free Society

As Inclusive Tourism and Inclusive Destination Development emerge further into mainstream thinking it is important the its implementation be truly "universal."

With the age inversion of populations in an increasing number of countries, the prevalence of older travelers, and the frequency of blindness as a consequence of aging the observations and guidance of those who have had long experience with blindness is a social asset of increasing value. Below is the document, Creating A Barrier Free Society, from the World Blind Union on the proposer implementation of the seven principles of Universal Design.

Creating A Barrier Free Society

Creating a barrier free society for persons who are blind and partially sighted is a goal of the World Blind Union. Over the years a great deal of attention has been given to the accessibility requirements of persons with ambulatory disabilities however the need to create a barrier free society for persons who are blind and partially sighted is equally important and not to be forgotten.

In more recent years a movement known as "Universal Design" has evolved. Universal design is based on the principle that, the built environment, communication and products should be accessible to the widest range of people possible. Universal design is different from accessible design in that accessible design creates products and environments for people with disabilities, which often tend to segregate people creating separate systems. Universal design is considered to be usable and inclusive to all, including people with disabilities.

Although the concept of universal design is well documented, the unique design needs of persons who are blind and partially sighted have not always been fully considered or incorporated into the built environment.

One very important component to consider in advocating for a barrier free society is the development of a consumer group that represents different consumer groups, organisations and individual advocates. The group is an invaluable asset to obtain ideas, and consensus and endorsement on areas of importance to person's who are blind and partially sighted. It is important to note that many countries have developed excellent laws, standards, guidelines and recommendations governing the accessibility requirements. (Please see websites and material noted at the end of this document)

The information that follows provides guidelines and recommendations on key areas related to the built environment for people who are blind and partially sighted. These areas are key in creating a built environment that is barrier free and inclusive for persons who are blind and partially sighted. You may wish to consider them in your advocacy efforts of person's who are blind and partially sighted.

Lighting

Adequate lighting is the single most important aid to vision. The lighting needs of persons who are blind or visually impaired vary according to the individual and their particular eye condition. One level of light might work well for a person with glaucoma and be to low for someone with macular degeneration.

The three principle light sources are natural light; incandescent and florescent each has their own attributes and weakness when considering lighting situations for persons who are blind or partially sighted. The key is to utilize these light sources optimally and considering the following:

* Avoid glare and reflection, which are often caused by shinny or glossy surfaces.
* Place light sources in locations to avoid creating shadows. Shadows created by natural or artificial light can create optical illusions.
* Distribute light levels evenly throughout working and walking areas as many people have difficulty adjusting to fluctuations in light levels.

* Include task and spot lighting to augment the overall lighting system.
* Use of dimmer switches allows light levels to be adjusted to suit the unique needs of users.

Colour Contrast

Colour contrast is another key component in designing spaces for persons who are partially sighted; its importance cannot be overemphasized enough. A building can be logically laid out, include proper use of signage, provide good lighting but the building can cause disorientation if there is very little use of colour contrast within the building. Colour can be used effectively for many purposes such as:

• To draw attention to signage.
• To define a route of travel.
• To define areas.

Colour contrasting items, is also a very effective means in defining spaces. A colour contrast of 70% is generally accepted in many countries as the preferred amount to define items such as:

* A dark door frames, against a light door and a light wall.

* A light floor colour with a dark perimeter against a light coloured wall.
* Hand rails that colour contrast with the surrounding wall colour.
* Stair nosing is best seen when a colour-contrasted edge is provided.

Furniture that is colour contrasted with the floor and walls assists in locating furniture. Considerations when using colour: * Colours to avoid using together include red/ black, yellow/ grey, yellow /white, red/green, black /violet and blue /green.

• Be consistent in use of colour to convey messages.

• Limit use of colour and keep colour schemes simple and avoid large-scale patterns. Keeping in mind that too many Colours used in design can create confusion.
Acoustics

Sounds can assist in providing orientation clues about a space. A person can use reflected sound to determine a room size, the presence of corridors and proximity of walls or other structural barriers.

Inappropriate use of sound can create problems such as high levels of ambient sound or high levels of reflective sound. Some things to consider when planning space are:

* Well-defined, acoustically alive spaces are easier for people who are visually impaired to negotiate safely. Position items such as escalators, fountains, and elevators to create useful sounds.
•* Carpets, acoustic tiles and furniture reduce sound reflectance. Consideration should be given to providing some reverberation so that people can obtain a feel of the space.
* Noise sources may ma