Rolling Rains Report:

Disability Travel Challenge Continues

John's latest report comes from Cairns, Australia, where he enjoyed the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Cultural Experience. See The Disability Travel Challenge: Kuranda tour, Cairns, Australia

Collaborative Design of a Lifestyle

The Chicago Tribune has another story about collaboration where a designer enters into the reality of someone with a disability to provide a mutually transforming result. See Young designer makes a kitchen accessible—and pretty

Starting from the fundamental reality that ADA is not Universal Design designer Jordan Guide began work on the kitchen of Connie Wurtzel:

"The look of ADA is not luxury by any means," Guide says. "It's very basic. It's very institutional looking. And Connie is not that and would never settle for that."

Notably, Guide used few specialty products designed for people with disabilities. Instead, she specified standard items and then used them in creative, accessible ways.

This is the goal of inclusion. Not separate and stigmatized but "imagined" into normalcy and full participation by intent of design

Author Karen Klages comments:

t is important to note that although the kitchen was gutted and feels gads bigger now, it retains its original, (slightly larger than) 10-foot-square footprint. The only wall-altering change that Guide specified was widening the entryway by 7 inches so Wurtzel could glide easily into the room.

And also important was the Wurtzel-Guide teamwork involved here, which also feels bigger than most client-designer relationships.

Before plans were drawn, Guide spent significant time observing Wurtzel in the kitchen, noting her "range of motion, her strengths, her weaknesses and what she was lacking" in that kitchen. And all along the way, Guide would insist that Wurtzel try out products and appliances to make sure her client actually could use, reach and maneuver them.

The function/happiness that resulted from all this attention to detail is stunning in its breadth.

"Stunning." What an appropriate description for both the process and product of the respect embodied in Universal Design.

Travel Solutions

Image by frankdasilva via Flickr

Travel globally, socialize locally: PDAs and social networks keep far-flung friends more connected looks at Kelly Fallis' travel paraphernalia and travel style. We watch these trends for the way they suggest new more comfortable ways for travelers with disabilities to get around. As the travel niche that most utilizes word-of-mouth endorsements this snippet seemed especially appropriate:

According to Norm Rose, a travel technology analyst and consultant in Belmont, Calif., people like Fallis are on the leading edge of technology's impact on the travel experience. "As smart phones become the standard, we will see location-based services and specific applications from different segments of the travel industry catering to every sort of traveller," he says, citing ReardenCommerce.com as a good example.

Rose notes that as the Facebook generation gains greater disposable income for travel, the industry will have no choice but to change: Online social networks essentially digitize real-life ones, making them, and the collective wisdom they contain, instantly accessible. "By having instantaneous peer opinions on travel-related subjects and products, the impact on vendor choice could be significant. Especially since this generation is predisposed to book vacations on their own (using say, Tripit.com,) versus using a traditional travel agent," he says.

Source:
http://www.nationalpost.com/life/travel/story.html?id=1187360

For those who read "below the fold" here's a hot tip. Craig Grimes has started a new travel-with-a-disability social network at accessible.travel. It specializes in short-hop "city breaks.

Universal Design for Web Applications

Marisa Peacock writes:

O'Reilly has just published Universal Design for Web Applications, a new book that promotes designing accessible websites and teaches readers how to build websites that are more accessible to people with disabilities and explains why doing so is good business...

Once considered internet pariahs, the over 50 age group is rapidly expanding its web presence, and designers need to get their sites ready to handle the user behaviors accompanying it. Improving web site experiences and accessibility doesn't mean that your site will alienate other users -- in fact, it will improve your site's overall user experience.

Full article:

http://www.cmswire.com/cms/books/want-to-build-websites-that-are-more-accessible-003695.php

Universal Design: Malia & Sasha Obama and the White House

Image via Wikipedia

"Kids in the kitchen benefit from universal design as much as those managing physical limitations due to age and disability," writes Konrad Kalestch See his reflections on the application of Universal Design to the White House with the upcoming occipancy by the Obama family:

http://universaldesignresource.blogspot.com/2009/01/universal-design-malia-sasha-obama.html

Cocooning, Staycations - and Universal Design as the Next Trend in Resort Design

Joann Pestaschnick writes about the trends that portend hope for travelers with disabilities - starting at home:

As the cost of fuel makes travel increasingly expensive, there’s a growing tendency among homeowners to stay put and add some new features to their homes. Call it a "staycation" or call it cocooning, but the focus is changing. "People are definitely turning inward, paying more attention to their homes and their quality of life," says Ed Miller of E. Miller & Associates in Cedarburg, and chairman of the Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA) Remodelers Council...

Some of the trends popular in the last couple of years are back again, says Chellee Siewert, chief operating officer of the MBA in Waukesha. For example, the concept of "aging in place" supports the notion that older persons should be able to live in their own homes for as long as confidently and comfortably possible. Livability can be extended through the incorporation of universal design principles and other assistive technologies. Modifications to bathrooms and changes to accommodate a wheelchair are common.

This idea of aging in place has become so popular that the MBA now offers a certification in it, according to Siewert. "What we heard from our members is that there is the need to respond to consumer demands. So, we developed this CAP (Certified Aging in Place) designation for our members who complete a series of seminars," she says.

Source:
http://www.gmtoday.com/content/m_west/2008/October/mwest_1008_p52.asp

Looking Ahead to 2009

Image via Wikipedia

"Tis the season to make resolutions - and predictions!

Doreen Hemlock at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel sees these trends in travel for 2009:

• Value will reign
• Travelers will stay fewer nights.
• Travelers will use more Internet services
• Travelers will expect businesses to go "green"
• Marketers will celebrate diversity
• Business travel will fall especially hard
• Fewer will visit the United States from abroad

What trends do you see?

Full story:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flztraveltrends0101sbjan01,0,993760.story

Looking Back at 2008: An Example from India

Image via Wikipedia

One of the most enjoyable of New Year's traditions is counting achievements and blessings. Here, from Shivani Gupta of India's AccessAbility in New Delhi, is just one example of how Inclusive Tourism is professionalizing and institutionalizing around the world. Watch for more in 2009!

It has been an exciting year for AccessAbility. Some of our key achievements in 2008 have been:

1. Launch of our Diversity Employment Initiative at www.AccessAbility.co.in/jobs that has brought together over 70 sensitised employers who regularly use this portal to recruit disabled job seekers. Working closely with CII & Naukri.com we hope to extend the reach of this initiative to a pan-India level.

2. Launch of Free2Wheel - www.Free2Wheel.co.in - the first Indian tourist guide for disabled travelers. The travel portal is being advertised by the Ministry of Tourism on the Incredible India home page to promote India as an accessible destination.

3. Our Access Consultancy division has assisted premier brand names in the travel and hospitality industries, higher educational institutes, retail and office complexes and builders in incorporating disabled friendly infrastructure in their existing and upcoming properties. We have also had an opportunity to review and develop some path breaking policies with various Government Ministries.

4. Publication of books authored by us:

1. Employing Persons with Disabilities (online version at http://www.accessability.co.in/files/Employing-Persons-with-Disabilities.pdf)
2. A Guidebook on Creating Sporting & Recreational Facilities for Persons with Disabilities (online version at http://ccdisabilities.nic.in/Sportsf.pdf )

5. AccessAbility team members have been adorned with prestigious awards such as the CavinKare Ability Award 2008 and Helen Keller Award 2008.

Looking Back at 2008: An Example from the US

Green Maps founder Wendy Brawer has been an enthusiastic supporter of any and all suggestions to improve their remarkable tool for the benefit of travelers with disabilities. Below is a recap of some of their recent accomplishments - and an appeal for support:

2008 has been an action-packed year. 88 new Green Map projects got started! This record-breaking number includes well-known cities like Austin Texas, Cape Town South Africa and Seoul Korea alongside lesser-known places like Sharon Ohio and Gandhinagar India. Each has something remarkable in common – they are changing for the better, and they want everyone to take part!

Our 'Open Green Map' participatory social mapping platform is creating a low-cost new way to promote, share and enhance the sites making progress toward sustainability as well as highlight the challenging places that can be turned around with community involvement. Green Map System has also created new youth tools, updated our globally designed iconography and much more to support locally-led Green Mapmaking projects. Click GreenMap.org for 360 unique published editions and to explore the first 36 participatory maps now online at OpenGreenMap.org.

In the waning moments of 2008, we ask you to make our dream of a better world for all, your dream as well. Tell your friends about how we and our global partners are helping to guide the way, and how they can utilize Green Maps as a resource for choosing where to live, how to get around, where to dine, and for finding green options for employment, recreation, learning and community involvement.

Then, please send a tax-deductible donation that will really make a difference to hundreds of communities by clicking GreenMap.org/donate to contribute online in any amount. Or send a check to Green Map System, PO Box 249, New York, NY USA 10002-0249. We will be glad to acknowledge donations made in honor of or as a gift to friends and family.

Reach out to us anytime at info[at]greenmap[dot] org - we encourage your suggestions and ongoing involvement.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has announced a new standard to make sites more accessible to older and disabled people.

Version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) will apply to text, images, audio and video.

It also covers web applications and is said to give developers more flexibility than the old guidelines.

According to the consortium, WCAG 2.0 should also be easier to understand and use.
The guidance is designed to address barriers encountered by people with visual, hearing, physical, cognitive and neurological disabilities and older people with access needs.

For more news see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7789622.stm or watch the video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7792662.stm

Assistive Technology for Travelers

Congratulations to Suzanne Robitaille for here piece in Business Week today :

For the Disabled, More Power for Play

You can read her blog at:

Profoundly Yours

The UD "Boom" in Housing Design - Aging in Place Will Impact Hotel Design

Stories on Universal Design in homes keep getting better and better in the mainstream US press.

Partly that is the convergence of promotion of UD by AARP and serious efforts by home appliance m=designers to accommodate the very real desire of the Boomer population bulge in aging in their own homes. Partly is is the tireless advocacy of Eleanor Smith and allies for Visitability at Concrete Change. Partly it is just good research and interesting writing.

Take the latest example to come across my desk -- Appliance makers fine tune aging-in-place features for baby boomers by Julia Bauer in The Grand Rapids Press:

The population bulge of 76 million [Baby Bomers] has surged through the economic landscape since birth.

All that buying power -- a big chunk of the $25 billion U.S. appliance market -- is prompting manufacturers to pay closer attention to focus groups of old-timers.

But as those appliance and home products makers fine-tune features, they serve more than just baby boomers.

Within 10 years, many younger families will have live-in senior citizens. And designs to help the aging customer also can foster independence for children, said Margaret Biggs, a universal design consultant with Disability Advocates of Kent County.

Full article:
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/business/index.ssf/2008/12/appliance_makers_fine_tune_agi.html#post

See also:

A Message from the Tourism Authority of Thailand

More than 10 years ago Thailand adopted an explicit policy of striving to be a destination of choice for travelers with disabilities. Knowing the importance of tourism to their national economy and reflecting the sincere spirit of hospitality apparent when visiting this country Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand has issued the following statement:

The recent closure of Bangkok's two airports was an unforeseen and unpredictable event never experienced before in Thailand. We sympathise with all of you who were affected and the distress it caused.

In realising your plight, the various related agencies of the Thai tourism industry did everything possible to alleviate the inconvenience incurred upon visitors. Hundreds of people across the spectrum of the Thai travel and tourism industry worked round-the-clock to help the thousands of tourists seeking to be reunited with their families and friends.

With regards to the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and together with entire private sector, we provided accommodation and meals, as well as facilitated tourists as much as possible. Some emergency flights were also operated from other airports, and city terminals were established for tourists to undergo early check-in procedures. Once the all-clear was declared, the entire tourism industry moved expeditiously and urgently to get the airport open again.

We hope that you have reached home safely and that your confidence and trust in Thailand as a destination has not been affected, and that we will have many more opportunities to welcome you again in our country.

Today, I am happy to inform that the Thai travel and tourism industry is back to normal. Thailand is and continues to be a wonderfully diverse tourism destination with great beaches, savoury, food, health and wellness centres, luxury accommodation, unspoilt nature, and of course warm and friendly smiles.

So with all of this and much more, we look forward to seeing you in Amazing Thailand soon.

Self-Promotion

Alexa has spoken! Who are mere mortals to argue?

The Rolling Rains blog is #51 in popularity rating among design blogs. See Alexa's Top 90 Weblogs.

Turismo em Numeros (Portuguese)

A revista Turismo em Numeros ( Edição Número 74) contem:

* Editorial – Conselho Editorial: "Turismo Especial."

Disabled Travel Advice - UK

Global Access News reports:

Sue Davies, of the UK’s Disabled Travel Advice, wrote to share the word on their new public interest web site at www.disabledtraveladvice.co.uk/home.htm The site focuses on the disabled travelers’ needs and provides great tips for everything from traveling with pets to staying in hostels.

Where else would you find an article like Dealing with Mobility Scooter Rage and Motorcycle Riding for Disabled Drivers?

Air Travel - Philippines

This review of the Cebu Pacific's discrimination against deaf travelers appeared at Filipino Deaf blog

I know that the incident involving Cebu Pacific happened earlier this year. But at least people from outside our community are slowly taking notice of it. After making it my first blog post in April, some notable bloggers picked it up and commented about it. I have so far collected a few and I’m posting them here.

Here is the blog post link made by Filipino Voices entitled “No Hear, No Fly” which so far has more than 36 responses. Filipino Voices Blog was awarded one of the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2008.

Another Award Winning Blogger Jester-in-Exile posted his though-provoking insights. The issue was also being discussed in Plurk and other social networking
sites.

Mr. Kevin Ray Chua, web designer of Mar Roxas for President in 2010 already wrote an email asking Mr. Palengke for his assistance and would also blog about this.

“This is shameful” was the intriguing blog title posted by Bny Castro on his The Beanster Blog.

Cebu Bloggers also made a forum thread discussion (Blog Swarm) about this. I have also added this on the All Deaf Forum to find out the international deaf communities’ sentiments.

Source:

http://deafphilippines.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/cebu-pacific-discriminating-deaf-passengers-stirs-attention-from-filipino-bloggers/

$4.7 Million Disability Transportation Research Grant

Congratulations to Edward Steinfeld, Arch.D.and Aaron Steinfeld, Ph.D on their grant from the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

$4.7 Million Disability Transportation Research Grant Awarded to UB and Carnegie Mellon

Release Date: December 1, 2008

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Researchers in the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning will partner with colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University on a $4.7 million, five-year effort to advance public transportation for people with disabilities.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) was awarded to father and son researchers, Edward Steinfeld, Arch.D., an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of universal design at UB, and his son Aaron Steinfeld, Ph.D., a systems scientist in Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute.

The grant will fund a new Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation (RERC/APT) at UB and Carnegie Mellon, and establish a formal partnership between the UB Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center), an internationally acknowledged center for excellence in universal design directed by Edward Steinfeld, and the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, an internationally regarded center for excellence in robotics.

For more information on the new RERC on Accessible Public Transportation, go to http://www.rercapt.org.

Employing elements of computer science technology and principles of universal design, the RERC/APT will research and develop methods to empower consumers and service providers in the design and evaluation of accessible transportation equipment, information services and physical environments.

The Steinfelds are each co-directors of the RERC/APT. Aaron Steinfeld will be the principal investigator.

Edward Steinfeld, a UB professor of architecture, and his research team in the UB IDEA Center research and design environments and products to make them more usable, safe and appealing to people with a wide range of abilities. The center provides resources and technical expertise in architecture, product design, facilities management and the social and behavioral sciences.

Aaron Steinfeld does research and development on human-robot interaction, ergonomics, rehabilitation, universal design and intelligent transportation systems in the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute's Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center.

According to Edward Steinfeld the RERC/APT will conduct research that is extremely timely and needed by the transportation industry and business partners, including manufacturers and consumer-advocacy organizations. "We will help to implement research findings and disseminate information that directly improves transportation services, vehicles and facilities," he says.

One collaborating organization is the United Spinal Association, which focuses on improving the quality of life of Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders. The association will focus on developing improved transportation regulations and standards.

Two other partners, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in Buffalo and Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, will assist the researchers as they develop new technologies and concepts.

A fourth partner is the California-based Gillig Corp., the nation's largest manufacturer of heavy-duty mass transit buses. Gillig will, at its own expense, incorporate the access and interior design modifications developed by the RERC/APT into a new prototype NFTA bus that will be ready for commercialization.

As part of its project, the team will create a public Web site where riders can report on their experiences and collaborate with transit providers on ways to improve the transportation system. The team also will use advances in machine learning to develop software that can assist riders in reaching their destinations.

Source:
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/9802

Universal Design, Visitability and the "Resort Lifestyle" in a Retirement Home

Luxury comes home in Kansas City. It is being described with reference to travel industry products in the "resort lifestyle" retirement home with "cruise ship style dining":

Riverstone Resort Lifestyle Retirement Community in Kansas City, North, offers a “cruise ship” style of dining, said Ted Rychlik, who is the on-site manager of facility..“Our residents can eat all day,” he said. .. the Kansas City facility is the first to offer the “resort lifestyle” rather than the more traditional structure, Rychlik said.

Innovation around town includes a strong does of Universal Design and Visitability according to the Kansas City Star:

What works is universal design — houses that have entryways without steps, wider doorways, lever handles instead of door knobs, elevated dishwashers and accommodations for homeowners or renters whose bodies can no longer bend as low, reach as high or grip as well as they used to.

“The next 20 years in the housing industry is going to look completely different,” said [Jim Albertson, chairman of the 50+ Housing Council of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City.]

Construction companies are creating villa communities with universal design and maintenance-provided features or they are building new homes to suit the older homebuyers. Remodelers, too, are retrofitting existing houses with ramps and other accommodations for those who want to stay where they are.

The EasyLiving Home Program, developed by public and private organizations, is a national voluntary certification program promoting construction features that make homes convenient and comfortable.

“Visitability” is one of the buzzwords.

“It means anyone can come visit you and can get in and out of your home without limitations,” Albertson said.

Source:
http://www.easylivinghome.org/elh.htm

Vida em Movimento (Portuguese)

Apresentado por Dudu Braga, filho do cantor Roberto Carlos, o programa "Vida em movimento" estréia neste sábado, dia 29, às 10h, na TV Cultura. O objetivo "é mostrar e valorizar toda a capacidade física de pessoas com deficiência", como o próprio Dudu, que é deficiente visual. O programa contará com um sistema ainda pouco conhecido no país, a audiodescrição, "recurso em que um locutor narra às pessoas com deficiência visual detalhes do conteúdo das matérias exibidas e que não contam com narração ou pessoas falando, apenas imagens".

A data escolhida para o lançamento da atração antecede ao Dia Internacional da Pessoa com Deficiência, comemorado em 3 de dezembro.

http://oglobo.globo.com/cultura/kogut/post.asp?t=dudu_braga_estreia_programa_sobre_pessoas_com_deficiencia&cod_Post=142416&a=12

Accessible Portugal Online Magazine

Accessible Portugal Online Magazine offers some travel itineraries based around the arts in Portugal.

http://www.accessibleportugal.com/revista/2008/Novembro/site/home.html

Dear friends,

Our last issue of the year is already online. In this one, Accessible
Portugal Online Magazine is going to present you a little bit about the
Portuguese artistic culture, tracing some curious and original routes
based on our artistic heritage.

In 2009, we will return in February. Then you’ll understand why. For
now, enjoy your reading at:

http://www.accessibleportugal.com/revista/2008/Novembro/site/home.html

Best regards,
João Durão da Silva
__

If you want to see your website, your association or something else in
Accessible Portugal Online Magazine, please contact us through
magazine@accessibleportugal.com

And Even More Design for All - Enabled by Design

Yesterday it was time to celebrate the forthcoming issue of Design for All India . The day before we had the chance to highlight again Wendy Jordan's book Universal Design for the Home.

Today have a look at a new social entrepreneurial project in the Universal Design space out of the UK called Enabled by Design. Congratulations to Denise Stephens!:

:

Enabled by Design supports anyone looking to make adjustments to their lives through the use of assistive equipment, be it as a result of disability, injury or personal identified need. We aim to make independent living more accessible through the use of clever modern design. Enabled by Design bridges the communication gap between users of assistive equipment and designers, encouraging discussion and collaboration to produce both practical and stylish gadgets. The site provides an opportunity for people to air their views, talk through ideas and hopefully find some answers! It’s all about giving people the chance to adapt their lives in a way that fits around their individual needs.

...we will be working hard to build a strong, interested and engaged community of users and designers around our new site, which is being developed as we speak. Other priorities include continuing to promote the project to a wide and diverse audience of individuals and organisations, champion the notion of universal design and personalisation within the health sector.

Source:
http://enabledbydesign.org/?p=87

International Monitors Elected for CRPD

States that are parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities elected the first twelve members to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; formally setting up a mechanism for countries that have ratified the Convention to report on their implementation efforts.

The Committee, made up of independent experts, was established and its members elected during the first session of the Conference of States Parties, held in New York on 31 October and 3 November 2008.

Starting 1 January 2009, Mr. Ronald McCallum AO (Australia), Mr. Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri (Bangladesh), Ms. María Soledad Cisternas Reyes (Chile), Ms. Jia Yang (China), Mr. Germán Xavier Torres Correa (Ecuador), Mr. György Könczei (Hungary), Mr. Mohammed Al-Tarawneh (Jordan), Ms. Edah Wangechi Maina (Kenya), Ms. Amna Ali Al Suweidi (Qatar), Mr. Cveto Uršič (Slovenia), Ms. Ana Peláez Narváez (Spain), and Mr. Lotfi Ben Lallahom (Tunisia) will serve as members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Committee will review periodic reports from States Parties, raise concerns, if necessary, and make recommendations to the States Parties concerned. The Committee will receive and consider claims of violations of the Convention, from individuals and groups under the jurisdiction of States that have also ratified the Optional Protocol. The Committee can also initiate enquiries when informed of reliable evidence of grave and systematic violations of the Convention.

Members of the newly established Committee on the Rights of Persons with disabilities were elected from a list of experts nominated by 23 of the 41 countries that have ratified the Convention. However, experts do not represent their countries; rather they serve in their personal capacity.

Six of the initial twelve Committee members will serve a full four year term while the other half will serve two years. The latter will be eligible for re-election for a full four year term.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol entered into force on 3 May 2008, marking a new era in efforts to protect the rights of the world’s 650 million persons with disabilities. States that ratified the Convention commit themselves to enact laws, and harmonize legislation, policies and programmes to be in line with the Convention, removing barriers in society that discriminate against persons with disabilities. The Convention does not create new rights; rather, it sets out with much greater clarity the obligations on States to promote, protect and ensure the rights of persons with disabilities. The Convention has been signed by 136 countries and ratified by 41. The Optional Protocol has received 79 signatures and 25 ratifications.

For further information, please visit: www.un.org/disabilities or contact Franck Kuwonu of the UN Department of Public Information, tel. 1 212 963-8264; e-mail: kuwonu@un.org.

Advising President Obama on Tourism: An Initiative by the National Tourism Association

eTurboNews reports that the National Tour Association is extending its campaign to advise the US government on issues of tourism:

Leaders of the travel and tourism sector of the national economy will convene to share ideas and prepare recommendations to assist President-elect Barack Obama in accelerating the economy through travel and tourism. The outcomes will be presented to President-elect Obama, his transition team, and key members of Congress following a meeting in Washington, DC on December 16.

A broad cross-section of travel and tourism leaders has been invited to be a part of creating workable solutions for the struggling economy. The participation of more than 20 organizations has been confirmed including leaders representing packaged travel, lodging, travel agents, cruise lines, ground transportation, air transportation, and special interest travel, according to the National Tour Association, which is managing the effort.

Source:
http://www.eturbonews.com/6047/travel-and-tourism-sector-convenes-draft-recommendations-presiden

At the time of this post staff at the National Tourism Association are researching my inquiry on how the organization intends to position Inclusive Tourism as well as the market of senior and disabled travelers in their policy recommendations.

Obama
Tourism Policy

Universal Design in Phones: Pantech Breeze

The Pantech Breeze is a new phone available through AT&T built on Universal Design principles. (Their UD Principles are here.) Let's Go Mobile reviews the phone like this:

Universal Design Handset

The Pantech Breeze budget phone is the direct result of AT&T and Pantech's collaboration to build a cell phone on the principles of Universal Design - the practice of designing products and applications that are usable by the most customers possible. AT&T recently published the company's approach to Universal Design to encourage application developers and handset manufacturers to consider the needs of seniors or customers who have disabilities when creating products and services.

AT&T and Pantech

"Universal Design helps define important design criteria to meet the wants and needs of as many of our customers as possible," said Carlton Hill, vice president of Product Management, Voice Products and Affiliate Marketing for AT&T's wireless operations. "The Pantech Breeze mobile phone is a result of our efforts to meet these criteria and offer a great-looking phone that's a breeze to use for everyone - from tweens to great-grandparents."

Source:
http://www.letsgomobile.org/en/4041/pantech-breeze/

In Ireland Universal Design is taking front stage also:

Telecoms providers will need to work harder to use universal design principles to ensure all users – including those with disabilities – can use their products and services.

At a workshop in Croke Park today, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the National Disability Authority (NDA) held a workshop on the importance of universal design in future products.

“As communications technology develops and improves, ComReg believes it is incumbent on operators to ensure that their products and services can be accessed by all users. Universal design is good design,” [ComReg commissioner Alex] Chisholm said.

Source:
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/11730/comms/telcos-must-learn-to-design-for-life

Healthy Homes for the Eldery on Tribal Land

Morgan Greenseth writes at WorldChanging.com on the green/Universal Design convergence occurring in the Pacific Northwest of the US. With forward thinking like this it should be no surprise that green maritime design is emerging from the same region. See the Waypoint-Backstrom Principles now in Spanish at Polibea Turismo.

Medical advancements and rising life expectancies mean new challenges as members of the Baby Boom generation age. One of these challenges is housing.

Many elderly citizens are demanding viable alternatives to nursing homes, where they can live independently, while interacting with their communities and growing old in their own homes. But this independence will require spaces that are accessible for a range of abilities: for example, with entrances that accommodate wheelchairs or walkers, or door and drawer handles that are easy to grasp and turn. Housing for the elderly also needs to be affordable, from construction costs to utility bills, and health, constructed with non-toxic and irritant-free materials.

The Elder Healthy Home by EcoFab offers one example of what a solution could look like. This showcase prototype is a working model of a sustainable, accessible home built on a budget that was designed specifically for senior citizens and regional Native American tribal members.

Full story:

http://www.worldchanging.com/local/seattle/archives/008915.html

Disability Rights Fund Makes Grants to 33 Organizations in 7 Countries

Press release:

The Disability Rights Fund[1] (DRF) – a groundbreaking collaborative to support the human rights of people with disabilities around the world– today announced funding decisions from its first request for proposals. A total of $800,000 will be gifted to 33 organizations in seven countries. The grants will support work to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities, build coalitions and networks, and develop advocacy and monitoring activities, in connection with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

DRF grantees share the goal of advancing the rights of people with disabilities at the country-level. Recipients include:

* A Ugandan organization of lawyers with disabilities.

* An emergent Peruvian group of people with psycho-social disabilities.

* A grassroots network in Bangladesh of women-led disabled persons’ organizations.

The full grantee list will be posted on the DRF website, www.disabilityrightsfund.org/grantees.html and is available upon request.

"As the disability rights movement gains new impetus through the UN Convention we are delighted to play our part by placing new funding in the hands of DPOs to enable them to advance rights at country level," stated DRF Co-Chair, William Rowland. DRF Director, Diana Samarasan, added “It is an auspicious day to put money in the hands of organizations run by people with disabilities. The first Conference of States Parties to the Convention is being held at the UN; the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is being elected. The work of translating the Convention from paper to practice is before us.”

Grantees were selected after a rigorous review process which included review by DRF’s Steering Committee, a committee composed of donor representatives and people with disabilities from the Global South.

DRF’s donors include: an anonymous founding donor, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Open Society Institute, the UK’s Department for International Development, and the American Jewish World Service.

A grantee list can be requested from DRF by writing to dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org

Accessible Taxicabs to Get Priority at JFK Airport

Starting on November 3, 2008, accessible taxicabs will receive priority when
being dispatched at JFK Airport. The Port Authority of NY and NJ will
sponsor this pilot program as an incentive to encourage taxicab drivers to
provide service to people with disabilities.

Accessible taxicabs must have the new, blue accessible logo on the front
hood of their cars to participate in this program. For more information on
the logo, please visit the TLC website at:

http://www.nyc.gov/taxi

Edificos Adaptados (Spanish)

Resulta paradójico que se erijan proyectos de tecnología avanzada, de elevadísimo presupuesto, con el objeto de incorporar avances de sostenibilidad cuestionables o de complejidad estructural y se desatienda flagrantemente posibilitar una arquitectura centrada en las necesidades reales. "Se tiende a pretextar que construir edificios adaptados para las necesidades de la gente mayor supondría un encarecimiento en los costos de producción debido a razones técnicas", apunta el geógrafo Andreas Huber.

"Sin embargo, diferentes estudios han permitido constatar que la construcción de un edificio sin barreras arquitectónicas supone un incremento de un mero 2%", afirma. "Construir para los mayores es construir para todo el mundo", apunta sin dudar el arquitecto Carlo Baumschlager...

Full story (subscrption):
http://www.lavanguardia.es/premium/publica/publica?COMPID=53567177812&ID_PAGINA=3746&ID_FORMATO=9&PAGINACIO=&dummy=dummy?urlback=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lavanguardia.es%2Fpremium%2Fpublica%2Fpublica%3FCOMPID%3D53567177812%26ID_PAGINA%3D3744%26ID_FORMATO%3D9

The Universal Design Renovations Website

We have mentioned Alex Cochran's very public Universal Design home makeover before. InfoLink has just published a release on the project highlighting the way it is serving as a beacon to the industry:

“When my partner Desiree suffered a significant stroke in 2006 that rendered her wheelchair bound, it became imperative to make her surrounds as comfortable, accessible and considerate of her situation as possible.

“I was shocked by the lack of resources available to people in our situation. When you are dealing with such a major emotional and physical change in your life, the last thing you want to be doing is to start from scratch researching and implementing universal design principles around the home,” said Cochran.

Determined to pave the way not only for his wife but countless other access-challenged people, Cochran launched an online resource capturing his research, relevant products and services, networks and even a regular diary detailing the renovation progress.

For the full piece:

http://www.infolink.com.au/c/Dulux-Australia/Universal-design-principles-for-Access-Challenged-n817465

Related Story: Endless Vacation Rentals

A few hours after posting Vacation Rentals: A Market for Universally Designed Homes? Endless Vacation Rentals by Wyndham Worldwide sent out a press release highlighting the new PhoCusWright research on the $24 billion vacation rentals market.

Key findings from "PhoCusWright's Vacation Rental Marketplace: Poised for Change" include:

1. Nearly two thirds of vacation rental guests researched online for their last trip
2. 20 percent of online travel shoppers (who used at least one website to plan their travel) booked a vacation rental in the past year
3. Vacation rental guests are well-off, well-traveled, well-educated and savvy Internet users
4. Vacation rental guests are very satisfied: 89% of vacation rental guests indicated that they will rent again within three years

We wish they had reported on trends in human-centered design of these vacation rentals as well.

The "PhoCusWright's Vacation Rental Marketplace: Poised for Change" research methodology included a survey to consumers who have and have not booked vacation rentals, vacation homeowners and vacation rental management companies over the last 6 months. In addition, more than 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with vacation rental management companies, distributors, technology firms, online players and homeowners.

Full press release:

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/endless-vacation-rentalsr-phocuswrightr-present/story.aspx?guid=%7BF28F8E59-B2C9-455C-8C13-E73144D8BF77%7D&dist=hppr

2008 Award: Architectural and Urban Accessibility for Latin American Municipalities

The San Isidro Municipality in Lima, Peru has been awarded the 2008 Architectural and Urban Accessibility for Latin American Municipalities Award. The contest was administered by the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECID), and the ACS Foundation, with the collaboration of the Royal Patronage on Disability.

A New Model in Car Sharing: Berkeley's AccessMobile

Berkeley's AccessMobile will be one of several projects receiving an award from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the San Francisco Bay Area with the 28th "Excellence in Motion."

From the press release:

City CarShare and City of Berkeley's AccessMobile

City CarShare and the city of Berkeley's AccessMobile will receive the Doris W. Kahn Accessible Transportation Award for providing the nation's first wheelchair-accessible carshare van for those with disabilities. The AccessMobile can accommodate two individuals using wheelchairs, plus three additional passengers and a driver. Funded by Berkeley and City CarShare, the AccessMobile cost more than $50,000 with City CarShare, a nonprofit carshare provider, matching $25,000 won by the city in 2007 through the National Organization on Disability's Accessible America contest. Access program participants can use the van around the clock, greatly increasing travel options for the disabled, and improving the quality of life for the disabled, their families and friends. The AccessMobile began operating on Earth Day, April 22, 2008.

"The AccessMobile is a shining example of innovative ways we can make car-sharing accessible to the entire community," said Berkeley Mayor and MTC Commissioner Tom Bates. "Through creativity, passion and commitment, City CarShare, our staff and our disability commission did an amazing job in developing a carshare vehicle that can accommodate disabled people with wheelchairs."

Source:

http://www.theenergydaily.com/pressreleases/environmental_services/200810160900PR_NEWS_USPR_____AQTH035.html

Calling Travel Writers: Contribute to Rough Guide's Accessible Britain

This travel writing competition is open to UK residents age 16 and over. Click here to register. Here's the offer:

Have you recently been on a fabulous day out? Have you discovered a hidden gem? Or do you simply feel the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain has overlooked one of your favourite trips?

If so, tell us about one of your own favourite days out and you could see your review in print. The best five entries will be featured in the next edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, due for publication in spring 2009. But please hurry as the competition ends Friday 7 November 2008!

Source: http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/write_review

Rough Guides and Motability have joined forces to produce an inspiring new Rough Guide to Accessible Britain. Packed full of ideas on days out across the UK, this pocket-sized guide lists 100 wonderful places, tested and recommended by our researchers. Read what people who have bought the Guide say about it here.

Badge User friendly, with colour coded sections of different days out in Britain, it highlights the accessible facilities at each location as well as containing handy maps to help plan your day.

The Guide is FREE to Blue Badge holders (£1.99 for postage and packing) and just £6.99 (inc p&p) to others.

Please click to read our Terms and Conditions

Source: http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/

Slowly Toward Ubiquity: Universal Design in Canada

As home design goes so hotel design will follow.

Here is another indicator of the ceaseless progress of Universal Design as the "new common sense" approach to lifestyle design.

By the year 2017, 50 per cent of the population will be 55 or older. They'll be affluent, discriminating baby boomers who want to stay in their own homes.

While they might need modifications to make those homes accessible, they'll also want them to be as tasteful and beautiful as the rest of the house.

"We found it to be such a growing industry that we focused a team just on this aspect of building and renovating," says Ezio Tartaro, of Windsor, Ont.-based Gintar Contractors. "With the aging baby boomers, it's growing even bigger."

There's such a market that Gintar is incorporating what it calls the "universal design concept" into all its current developments.

Source Calgary Herald Home:

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/neighbours/story.html?id=ae35a2b2-d9c1-4920-81ad-7ccc816d28a7

ReadSpeaker Blog on Listening as UD and CSR

I have just returned from the 2008 Universal Accessibility in Airports conference. One of my colleagues on a presentation panel described how they will be adding a ribbon at the bottom of the airport's many CNN tv screens for text versions of important announcements. Here Niclas Bergstrom at ReadSpeaker reflects on some other situations where multimodal information is Universal Design:

The other day I was standing in the hotel bar watching the TV. The volume was turned down completely but thanks to the real-time captioning I was able to follow the news broadcast. The day after, I was spending some hours waiting for my delayed flight at Heathrow airport to get ready for departure. There was a TV on the waiting area, again with the volume turned down. This time there was no captioning. However, they did have a sign-language narrator in the bottom right corner of the screen. That didn’t help me much since I can’t understand sign language. I was experience “Situational Disability”. In this case, text would have helped everybody that could read. Now, what about Audio? There are a great number of reasons why audio version of the text is as universal as text version of audio.

In another post Roy Lindemann notes a trend toward Universal Design as corporate social responsibility:

Here at VoiceCorp we’re convinced and obsessed that all web site owners and bloggers benefit from adding an audio version to their online content. So far, we have had a lot of our customers coming from the public arena. That is quite normal since this sector has often the obligation to provide an equal access to their information whether you suffer from a disability or use a mobile device to reach their online content for example. Making their web sites talk helps them achieve this.

But what about the private corporate sector? We are starting to see an evolution here with an increasing amount of household names contacting us and asking us what speech-enabling their web sites could help them achieve. One of the interesting trends here is that some of these companies see an audio version of their web content as part of their overall corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The full blog posts:

Listening as Universal Design
http://blog.readspeaker.com/2008/10/03/listen-function-as-universal-design/

Corporate Social Responsibility
http://blog.readspeaker.com/2008/07/21/online-csr/

Homes Going Green and Livable for the Long Term with Universal Design

The convergence of green and Universal Design is documented again. This time it is in an article on kitchen redesign in San Antonio Texas:

...appliances with the EnergyStar logo are extra-efficient and have become the norm in new appliances.

The placement of appliances is starting to reflect the interest in universal design, the idea that a home should accessible to everyone.

Although universal design hasn't taken over home design yet, builders say it's become more mainstream thanks to baby boomers interested in building a home or renovating so that they can live there for decades.

The full article;

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/real_estate/30373574.html

A Rocket Scientist Witnesses a Blind Man Being "Launched" from a Dragonair Flight

I was finishing up my presentation for the 2008 Universal Design in Airports Conference that will start next Tuesday in Chicago. I speak on a panel led by my colleague and Greek-Brazilian-American friend Gus Zografopoules. The topic is "Where do people with disabilities go to get information on flying?" I thought I had nailed down the content. I was looking forward to exploring one of the wheelchair accessible trails shown to me last weekend by folks from the San Francisco Bay Greenbelt Alliance. Then I saw Jim's blog.

Jim Fruchterman's blog at Benetech.org will now be front and center in my talk.

The Rolling Rains blog chronicles a small percentage of the stories on air travel and disability that are sent here (see below) but Jim's tale helps us illustrate what is sometimes overlooked.

Some violations are so egregious that reflection on their deeper meaning requires a cooling down period. The shock value of some stories evoke outrage. Jim's story documents classic nonviolent praxis in the face of injustice. He tells the story in a way that allows for some critical thinking even while the story itself is fresh.

Simon Darcy made an observation about the market dynamics of travelers with disabilities in his game-changing research entitled "From Anxiety to Access." He alerted the world that that we are very well networked and leverage a disproportionately large referral market.

That point didn't need to be made explicit when we reported on billionaire Sminu Jindahl's mistreatment by Jet Air. It seems rather obvious that a billionaire might have more socially beneficial things to do than argue about her competence to sit in an airline seat - and probably had an influential social network.

Jim's Benetech.org is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere social entrepreneurial enterprises. It builds technological solutions for entrenched social problems with such products as a database for documenting (and prosecuting) human rights violations called Martus and their rapidly-expanding service for those who need audio books known as Bookshare. He speaks regularly to industry leaders at events including the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Perhaps it is true that "all publicity is good publicity" but If Dragonair had contracted me to produce a "short list" of people who they would definitely not want to witness abusive practices on their part Jim's name would be on it.

It was unfortunate that Rami Rabby, the first blind foreign service officer working for the US State Department, was thrown off their Dragonair flight from from Hong Kong to Fuzhou. Like Jim I applaud Rami for the courage of his convictions.

But Jim is being overly humble so I also want to recognize his everyday heroism of solidarity and citizen journalism. He could easily have argued that he had more pressing things to do (yes he is literally a rocket scientist by training) yet he stood by witnessing and documenting this act of all-too-common injustice. Thank you Jim from our entire global community

A select list of similar incidents endured by air travelers with disabilities:

Katrina Segundo-Casino on Cebu Airlines

Lori Mango on American Airlines

Michelle Daley on Air France

Chrsitine Wolf on Qantas

Deaf discrimination by Tiger Airways

Rajeev Rajan on SpiceJet, AirSahara, and JetLite

Adele price on Air France

Qantas Issues a 'Non Servium" to a 72 year old

Deaf culture's response to airline discrimination

"Sometimes your just seen as a piece of luggage."

What was my presentation topic again - "Where do people with disabilities go to get information on flying?"

Same answer/new meaning: We go to our friends.

Read more on Benetech's contributions to the world at:

http://benetech.blogspot.com/

One Word: "Intolerable!"

"Australia's largest-ever overseas team flew into Sydney yesterday morning, the kit bag full with 79 medals, including 23 gold [from the Paralympic Games]."

They flew Qantas:

Paralympian Christine Wolf's return home yesterday was soured when staff on her flight from Sydney refused to allow the gold medallist to take her prosthetic legs as carry-on luggage.

Australian coach Iryna Dvoskina, who travelled back to Canberra with Ms Wolf yesterday, said she would make a formal complaint.

''[The prosthetics] are just so sensitive, we never check it into luggage, we take it on the plane all the time and now, on our last flight after two months away and we are just very happy to be home, it was just so unhelpful and unfriendly,'' Ms Dvoskina said.

''I can't believe that it would happen.

Writing about this topic daily, lecturing about it globally, I can't pretend to be as incredulous at this abuse as Coach Dvoskina. With sympathy to Christine Wolf the bright side of the story is that her celebrity status made newsworthy the sort of back alley bully mentality that travelers with disabilities endure from even the top brands in the industry.

The rest of the article:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/qantas-snubs-goldmedal-paralympian/1278246.aspx?src=enews#

Deja Vu All Over Again: Ike and the Absence of Accessible Post-Disaster Housing

The fundamental of Universal Design is that you build a product so that it usable by the largest number of people under the widest range of situations without the need for special modification. Simple. Not rocket science.

So when we read the following predictions about Hurricane Ike bearing down on Texas all these years after the mistakes of Katrina we can be certain that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has learned that the most cost-effective response is to insist that all mobile homes purchased with federal dollars meet that simple common sense criteria, right?

"This is pretty much a worst-case scenario for flooding the Gulf Coast area," Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told a press conference in Washington, D.C. "It is a potentially catastrophic hurricane. We will move as swiftly as possible to relieve suffering."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that at least 100,000 homes would be flooded and that several million people could be without power. Officials were sending more than 5.5 million prepackaged meals to the region, along with more than 230 generators and 5.6 million liters of water.

Here we go again! Exclusion by design.

Message to Mr. Chertoff -- You can't relieve suffering by providing "solutions" that cause suffering. You cannot relive suffering caused by the built environment without unequivocally adopting Universal Design.

Watch the weather. There is a a slow storm brewing that will sweep away those who perpetrate the social exclusion caused when government constructs cities that are not Livable or Visitable.

iPod Improves as a Travel Tool?

The new iPod Nano is out.

It's not that it is chock full of content or capacities that make it a necessity for a traveler - although having your tunes along is nice.

What is prophetic is the prominence given in the interface design to the aging demographic and other visually impaired users :

In a bid to increase the accessibility of the Nano for people with impaired vision, Apple has included a font size setting on the fourth-generation Nano that makes its menus more legible--a nice feature even if you have 20/20 vision...

An unprecedented feature found only on the fourth-generation Nano is the capability for vision-impaired users to hear menu, selection, and playback information read to them in a synthesized voice. You can enable this feature through iTunes, which generates the synthesized voice information and transfers it to your iPod Nano.

For more on the iPod nano:

http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/apple-ipod-nano-fourth/4505-6490_7-33246772.html

Silent Odyssey: The First Feature-Length Documentary Film on Filipino Deaf Culture

Maria Gilda L. Quintua is CEO of M.G.L.Q. Deaf Tour Assistance, Philippines. The upcoming film, Silent Odyssey, may give you even more reasons to want to visit the Philippines and take advantage of her service.

SILENT ODYSSEY:

The First Feature-Length Documentary Film on Filipino Deaf Culture

September 20, 2008

Saturday

4:00 p.m.

UP Film Center Theater

SILENT ODYSSEY—a journey into the Deaf world—brings out the Filipino Deaf's sentiments towards the hearing society, chronicles the significant and pioneering efforts of different institutions and personages in Philippine Deaf history and touches on important and current issues on Deaf education. It introduces the word "audism" (Deaf oppression)—a not-yet-so-popularly used term in the Filipino Deaf community; takes a glimpse at the 15th World Federation of the Deaf Congress in Spain with the theme "Human Rights Through Sign Language" and the celebration of the entry into force in the Philippines of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The film also focuses on some of Deaf achievers who are worthy of emulation by the Filipino Deaf youth and presents the World Federation of Deaf President Markku Jokinen's views on oralism, use of hearing aids and importance of sign language to the Deaf. Most importantly, the film takes a close look at the Filipino Sign Language (FSL)—its probable origin, uniqueness, present status vis-à-vis other sign systems and its importance as index to the cultural identity of the Filipino Deaf as a cultural-linguistic minority group.

The journey leads to a realization that the Deaf are disabled and impaired by society's failure to understand and accept their language and culture as an ethnic group, disregarding their cultural needs as Deaf persons by not providing the bridge of communication which aggravates their linguistic isolation. That "Deaf can" is no illusion but a reality which can shame those who think of themselves as superior just because they can hear.

---------------

"Silent Odyssey captures the cry of the Deaf soul through an intricate tapestry of image, sound and color – indeed a poetic documentary that only Miranamedina can create."

PROF. THERESE BUSTOS

Special Education

University of the Philippines, Diliman

"I have to admit that many issues tackled in the film were new to me. So, in that sense, the film has accomplished its purpose on introducing what is happening in the Deaf community in the Philippines…"

JUNKICHI FUJIOKA

Reporter

Manila Shimbun

"Silent Odyssey is simply unbelievable in its quality and unmatched expressiveness in outlining the life, struggles of the Deaf and the Deaf history in the Philippines. Mirana Medina's excellent film will capture the hearts of every movie watcher and celebrates the expressiveness of language without a voice."

RAPHAEL TORRALBA

Journalist

WITHNEWS

"Silent Odyssey shows who Deaf people are and what they want."

ANA KRISTINA ARCE

President

Benildean Deaf Association

---------

SILENT ODYSSEY (110 minutes, subtitles in English) is a production of Miryad Visyon in cooperation with the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Lingap-Pangarap Foundation, Inc.

The Premiere Screening of Silent Odyssey is sponsored by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (DLS-CSB SDEAS) and UP Special Education Council.

Proceeds of the film will go to the Deaf Scholarship Fund of DLS-CSB to provide access to tertiary education for more Deaf Filipinos, to Miranamedina's next advocacy film on special children and to projects of UP Special Education Council.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Php 150 (Regular)/Php 100 for students (please present ID)

silentodyssey@gmail.com, 526-7441 local 239, 0927-2248584

Watch the Silent Odyssey trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFUeGiYyH6I

Visit the blog:

http://silentodyssey.blogspot.com/

Inclusive Tourism on the Agenda at Prince Salman Center for Disability Research

Congratulations to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities on taking a bold step forward in the promotion of Inclusive Tourism in collaboration with the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research.

JEDDAH: Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the board of trustees, signed 10 separate agreements for the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research at a ceremony held here on Monday night. “These agreements are aimed at reaching out to the international community in a spirit of collaboration and help us achieve our goals to serve disability research,” the prince told a meeting at Jeddah’s Le Meridien Hotel.

World organizations to help in disability research K.S. Ramkumar I Arab News

“By linking bridges with like-minded organizations, we eliminate duplication of efforts and resources. We assemble world-renowned experts from various disciplines and provide them with the vehicle to seek solutions to a global issue,” he said.

“We strive to bring about real-life changes that lead to prevention and treatment of disabilities as well as to reduce their impact. We collaborate with key stakeholders to translate knowledge gained from research findings and essential services and policies, to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities,” he added.

Various agreements signed highlight the center’s commitment and that of many prestigious organizations to develop an international collaborative effort to prevent and reduce the impact of disabilities. “Using knowledge to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, we act as a medium for exchange of information both in the region and globally,” the prince said.

“Our founders and collaborators are actively engaged in partnerships with key stakeholders, and continue to build bridges around the world in order to benefit members of the disabled community. Together, we become a powerful force for change,” he added.

The agreements relate to various research projects initiated by the center. They include universal accessibility standards in the Kingdom with Universal Design and Accessibility Consultants in Hong Kong as the collaborator. Other partners in the program include Ministry of Transport, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Development of standards and assessment system for day-care centers providing services to individuals with disabilities is another project. Its collaborator is the Academy of Educational Development based in Washington.

Establishment of a scholarship program for people with disability is another project. Publication of specialized materials in the field of disability is yet another project of the center, with Al- Obeikan Bookstore as its collaborator and Saudi Research and Marketing Group as its partner. It aims to publish reliable information in the field of disability for professionals and the public.

Source:

Arab News
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=114080&d=10&m=9&y=2008

River Landing: Is the Back Entrance Acceptable Inclusion?

"To me, excuses are excuses. I don't think there's any logical reason why they couldn't have made this accessible to everyone without segregating a portion of the population off to two elevators."

So goes the argument at the center of a design decision controversy for River Landing in Saskatoon. For those willing to dig, the compromise solution may already be built and working well in some unique stair/ramp designs in Singapore. For the full article:

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=8c595198-63e3-49ee-b6d7-49f60b2fd996

Eve of the Paralympics: Update on China

(New York, September 5, 2008) – Despite recent positive steps, discrimination against persons with disabilities continues in China and organizations for the disabled face government pressure and harassment, Human Rights Watch said today on the eve of the September 6 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

“The Chinese government deserves praise for enacting laws and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “But so far these protections have meant little to persons with disabilities and their advocates in China who struggle to promote their rights and, in particular, to fairly compete for employment.”

The Chinese government has in recent years enacted a variety of new laws including the Law on the Protection of Disabled Persons, Regulations on the Education of Persons with Disabilities, and the Regulations on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, which on paper provide impressive protections of the rights of China’s estimated 82.7 million persons with disabilities. Human Rights Watch applauded the Chinese government’s August 1, 2008, ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Human Rights Watch said that the new laws have not ended discriminatory employment practices.

In June 2007, shocking images of workers who had been held in slave-like conditions in Shanxi brick kilns were published; many of the workers proved to have mental disabilities. Over the next two months, authorities endeavored to free 1,340 people from similar working conditions in kilns, mines, and other forced labor situations. In August 2007, the State Council, China’s cabinet, announced that 367 of those freed had mental disabilities, underscoring that this population remains highly vulnerable to such exploitation.

A 2007 survey by the China University of Political Science and Law of 3,454 people in 10 cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou and Nanjing, among others, revealed that 22 percent of the respondents said their physical disabilities had prompted employers in both the public and private sectors to reject them for jobs. Those attitudes may have contributed to unemployment of the disabled. Official statistics show that more than 8.58 million employable people with disabilities did not have jobs in 2007 and that this number rises by 300,000 per year. Although the government has imposed a mandatory quota requiring that people with disabilities comprise a minimum of 1.5 percent of all employees of government departments, enterprises, and institutions, there is little evidence of official efforts to enforce that quota.

Human Rights Watch called for the Chinese government to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol, and to loosen restrictions on grassroots civil society organizations dedicated to assisting people with disabilities. Citizens of states which join the Optional Protocol can seek redress at the UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities after they exhaust domestic legal remedies for convention violations.

The Chinese government has only in the past two decades begun to tolerate grassroots civil society organizations, which operate outside official bureaucracy and control of the Chinese Communist Party. However, such organizations, particularly those devoted to addressing the needs of China’s HIV/AIDS and chronic hepatitis B sufferers, continue to be targets for repression by Chinese security forces suspicious of such groups.

Meng Weina, founder of China’s Huiling Community Services, a nongovernmental organization which assists disabled people in eight major Chinese cities, complained of harassment by Shanghai police in a letter to the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees. A group of Meng’s mentally disabled students were harassed en route to the Special Olympics in Shanghai on October 11, 2007; Meng described the incident as evidence that Chinese police “believe that events initiated by civil society must be ‘dangerous’ and ‘destructive.’”

“Until the Chinese government tolerates a civil society which operates without threat of official repression and improves ordinary citizens’ access to justice, its commitments on paper to people with disabilities will remain limited,” Richardson said.

Human Rights Watch said that the Beijing Paralympics also offer the Chinese government an opportunity to fulfill its Olympics-related commitments to media freedom and internet access. During the August 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Chinese government continued to obstruct media freedom and to restrict foreign journalists’ access to the internet.

“The Paralympics are the Chinese government’s last chance to live up to the Olympics-related human rights commitments made to the international community, but which were repeatedly violated during the Beijing Games,” Richardson said.

Source:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/09/04/china19751.htm

Construction Begun on the Ed Roberts Campus

Construction has begun on the historic Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, California:

Judged strictly by traditional development standards, the new Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley will be woefully inefficient when it opens in the spring of 2010.

The corridors will be unusually wide. The bathrooms will be unusually large. Doors will be programmed to open by custom motion detectors rather than simple lock and key.

But architect William Leddy measures the design by a different yardstick: its future use by Jan Garrett, who was born without arms or legs but became an attorney and now is executive director of Center for Independent Living, one of the campus' future tenants.

"The goal was to make a building where Jan can come in after hours and move about with no problem at all," said Leddy, whose firm Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects designed the complex that on Thursday officially began construction.

Full story:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/05/BA3T12O8KH.DTL

Foreign Language Survey Asks People with Disabilities to Respond

National surveys show U.S. high school students with disabilities, while increasing in the numbers enrolled in foreign language courses, still lag behind their non-disabled peers in the percentages who study foreign languages. U.S. students with and without disabilities are close to equal in the percentages completing foreign language courses at the higher education level. However, the data does not explain what languages are being studied, how successful the learning experience is, and what are the barriers and benefits for people with disabilities at all ages. Are you a person with a disability from the United States who is interested in taking a survey about foreign language learning and disability? The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (http://www.miusa.org/ncde) seeks your and other individuals with disabilities input and experiences.

Take a 10-minute Foreign Language survey online at: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/47971/foreignlanguages.

Deadline to submit the survey: October 31, 2008.

Questions:

Melissa Mitchell
Outreach & Training Coordinator
National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange
Mobility International USA
(541) 343-1284 ext. 21
www.miusa.org
132 E. Broadway, Suite 343
Eugene, OR 97401 USA

Empowering people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights through international exchange and international development.

Hilary Lister and Breaking Barriers at Sea

The news is a few days old now but in anticipation of the Paralympics here's a tribute to Hilary Lister who has had to postpone her journey to circumnavigate Britain:

Hilary Lister, who is paralysed from the neck down, and her support team have been beset by problems since setting sail from Dover on 16 June.

Bad weather, technical trouble and injuries to crew members meant they had only managed to reach Cornwall on a trip scheduled to take four months.

Mrs Lister, 36, said: "The fates have conspired against us but I am now ever more determined to go again next year."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7559387.stm

Green Globe International and the United Nations World Tourism Organization

I like this statement describing the UN's World Tourism Organization:

UNWTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.

Will we that fragment of institutional "Inclusive Tourism DNA" get transferred to Green Globe in this mating? We would all like to see more progress in the vision:

Universal Design is a framework for the design of places, things, information, communication and policy to be usable by the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate design. Most simply, Universal Design is human-centered design of everything with everyone in mind.

Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but 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.

Source:
http://www.adaptenv.org/index.php?option=Content&Itemid=3

Green Globe International, Inc. (OTCBB: GGLB), which owns the Green Globe brand, the premier international green brand focused on sustainability and carbon neutrality programs, today announced that Green Globe International has been accepted for affiliate membership of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The UNWTO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, the UNWTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.

Green Globe International received an official notification that the UNWTO Executive Council had approved its membership application at its 83rd session held on June 13-14, 2008 in Juju, Republic of Korea. The Executive Council's approval will be subject to formal ratification by the next General Assembly, which will take place at Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2009.

In accordance with established practice, the Executive Council has decided that pending ratification by the General Assembly, Green Globe International has been admitted provisionally to membership of the UNWTO will all of the rights and obligations and may participate fully in any of its activities.

Affiliate membership in the UNWTO offers a chance to participate in the forefront of international tourism business and policy. Members benefit from increased exposure and visibility and gain access to all UNWTO meetings and seminars. As a UNWTO affiliate member, companies and organizations will be able to: 1) access to UNWTO's extensive information networks; 2) explore partnerships for specific projects and new business opportunities; 3) contribute to policy inputs through participation in specific UNWTO working committees with member states; 4) contribute to UNWTO program development for projects, events and other activities; 4) share your institution or company knowledge/expertise; 5) network with leading business decision makers and influential policy shapers.

"A strong association with the UNWTO and adherence to its principles related to sustainable tourism was identified as a high priority for Green Globe International management once we completed our acquisition of the Green Globe brand, and we are extremely pleased to have received notification of our acceptance for affiliate membership in the organization," commented Steven R. Peacock, chief executive officer and managing director of Green Globe International.

The UNWTO has expressed its support for the creation of a Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) designed to increase the credibility of sustainable tourism certification programs. The STSC will become the accreditation body that will endorse these programs and will create the first set of comprehensive global requirements that such programs will have to meet.

"The long and distinguished history of the Green Globe program in the global travel and tourism industry, as well as the strong academic and scientific principles that underpin the Green Globe standards, obviously position Green Globe very well relative to any accreditation process. Green Globe International will continue to support the policies set forth by the UNWTO and will ensure that all Green Globe programs, including its comprehensive Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality Plans, meet the requirements set forth by the STSC," Mr. Peacock added.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) established Green Globe in 1992 as a response to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, where 182 Heads of State endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of Sustainable Development. Green Globe is the only international sustainability program based on Agenda 21 principles.

Green Globe International (www.greenglobeint.com) encourages all shareholders and others interested in following the progress of the company to subscribe to receive email alerts whenever new information is made public. To subscribe, please visit http://www.greenglobeint.com/stayconnected/email/.

About the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT)

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO/OMT) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.

UNWTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.

The Organization encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism*, with a view to ensuring that member countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its negative social and environmental impacts.

Its membership includes 157 countries and territories and more than 300 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

Direct actions that strengthen and support the efforts of National Tourism Administrations are carried out by UNWTO's regional representatives (Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and South Asia) based at the Headquarters in Madrid.

UNWTO is committed to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, geared toward reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.

*
Article 2 of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET)

Tourism as a vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment

1. Tourism, the activity most frequently associated with rest and relaxation, sport and access to culture and nature, should be planned and practised as a privileged means of individual and collective fulfilment; when practised with a sufficiently open mind, it is an irreplaceable factor of self-education, mutual tolerance and for learning about the legitimate differences between peoples and cultures and their diversity;

2. Tourism activities should respect the equality of men and women; they should promote human rights and, more particularly, the individual rights of the most vulnerable groups, notably children, the elderly, the handicapped [sic], ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples;

3. The exploitation of human beings in any form, particularly sexual, especially when applied to children, conflicts with the fundamental aims of tourism and is the negation of tourism; as such, in accordance with international law, it should be energetically combatted with the cooperation of all the States concerned and penalized without concession by the national legislation of both the countries visited and the countries of the perpetrators of these acts, even when they are carried out abroad;

4. Travel for purposes of religion, health, education and cultural or linguistic exchanges are particularly beneficial forms of tourism, which deserve encouragement;

5. The introduction into curricula of education about the value of tourist exchanges, their economic, social and cultural benefits, and also their risks, should be encouraged.

Surprised by the Desire for Basic Services

We repeatedly emphasize the need for reliable travel information on the part of travelers with disabilities. This is one reasons that breakthrough projects like AccessAbility's Free2Wheel.co.in get such an enthusiastic welcome here. The following press release demonstrates how even the airlines themselves are seemingly unaware of how dependent all their customers are on quality information -- British Airways was surprised by response to its simple

Press release - 18 August 2008 - British Airways

British Airways’ application for the new Apple App Store has seen massive uptake that exceeds expectations. It’s being accessed by up to 3,000 people a day worldwide. In the first month, UK users alone exceeded 15,000.

These statistics underline the importance of accessible travel information on the move and the readiness of consumers to utilise the functionality of new technologies.

The application allows users to access real-time departure and arrival information for updates if catching a flight or picking someone up. It also contains full BA timetable information and enables access through to ba.com.

Chris Carmichael of BA’s innovations team said: “Customer reviews on the Apple App Store site have been great and they have given us lots of ideas for the future.

“We knew there was an appetite for this application and the take-up figures have been very impressive. The statistics underline which technology tools really make a difference to customers in making travel that much easier.”

Inclusive Tourism meets Adventure Tourism in Brazil Next Month

Ricardo Shimosakai is organizing the following in Brazil.

Para un turismo accesible a los minusválidos en los años 90 (Spanish)

La Oraganizacion Mundial de Turismo en su documento "Para un turismo accesible a los minusválidos en los años 90" considera con relación a este tema ciertas pautas de diseño:

"...A. Terminales, estaciones e instalaciones afines
1- Los pasajeros con deficiencias de movilidad en especial los que utilizan sillas de ruedas, deberían tener fácil acceso a servicios de transporte de ida y vuelta hacia y desde todas las terminales de los c/ Los prestadores de servicios deben contar con personal capacitado en la atención de PMR. medios de transporte.

2- Siempre que sea posible, las terminales deberían estar situadas a un mismo nivel o equipadas con rampas donde exista un cambio de altura.

3- Cuando sea necesario, deberían preverse rampas especiales o ascensores no utilizados para carga y otros fines, con destino a las personas con deficiencias de movilidad y a las que utilizan sillas de ruedas.

4- Los cruces de las vías de acceso deberían estar provistos de señales especiales y semáforos para las personas con deficiencias visuales o auditivas para que puedan atravesarlas con seguridad.

5- El acceso a los medios de transporte debería ser lo más sencillo posible y disponer de asistencia cuando sea requerida.

6- Las personas en silla de ruedas que tengan que trasladarse a sillas especiales de embarque, deberían poder hacerlo lo más cerca posible del medio de transporte, y las sillas de ruedas deberían ser almacenadas de modo que se les pueda devolver intactas inmediatamente a la llegada al destino o punto de tránsito

Fuente:

http://www.turismoparatodos.org.ar/tu

Disability Body Blasts EU Anti-Discrimination Draft

A draft anti-discrimination directive from the European Commission has been criticised by a major disability lobby group for failing to cover technology accessibility standards.

The commission’s proposal, ‘Non-discrimination and equal opportunities: a renewed commitment’, deals with discrimination against people on the basis of disability, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation and covers non-employment areas such as education, social security and health care (see http://fastlink.headstar.com/eur8).

In a statement European disability Forum (EDF) President Yannis Vardakastanis said the draft directive omits “important issues for persons with disabilities as the concept of universal design, the necessity of European and national accessibility standards and the right to services ensuring inclusion.”

In addition the document “leaves room for interpretation and will create legal uncertainties”, Vardakastanis said (see http://fastlink.headstar.com/edf2).

The EDF was created in 1996 to give a voice in the European Union to Europe’s 50 million disabled people (http://www.edf-feph.org).

Source:
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=199

Remodelling, Aging-in-Place, and Unversal Design

Chris Farrell of Business Week takes a look at the trend toward aging in place. Predictably the conversation turns to that contribution of the US Disability Rights Movement to global society: Universal Design:

Overall, remodeling activity is falling at an annual rate of 4.8% in 2008, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. But the fastest-growing segment of the remodeling industry is overhauling homes for the 50-plus crowd.

Making your home a place where you can grow old comfortably doesn't mean littering it with sterile-looking devices reminiscent of nursing homes. The trend is to "universal design," which calls for safe, easy-to-use appliances that blend in with their environment. Doorknobs are replaced with handles (easier to open), lights made brighter (for aging eyes), door frames widened (for wheelchair access), and grab bars installed in the shower. "It's no one thing," says George Cundy, architect with the firm Cundy, Santine & Associates in Shoreview, Minn. "It's a combination of things that makes the difference so you can stay there."

Source:

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/Story.asp?S=8691441
The article would have been stronger with an adequate definition of the concept:

Principles of Universal Design

1. Equitable Use: The design does not disadvantage or stigmatize any group of users.
2. Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple, Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and Space for Approach & Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use, regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Compiled by advocates of Universal Design in 1997. Participants are listed in alphabetical order: Bettye Rose Connell, Mike Jones, Ron Mace, Jim Mueller, Abir Mullick, Elaine Ostroff, Jon Sanford, Ed Steinfeld, Molly Story, Gregg Vanderheiden. The Principles are copyrighted to the Center for Universal Design, School of Design, State University of North Carolina at Raleigh [USA].

The Principles established a valuable language for explaining the characteristics of Universal Design. They are in common use around the world, sometimes with slight modifications, primarily one or two principles grouped together. It is expected that the principles will be reconsidered on the occasion of their tenth anniversary in 2007 and are likely to evolve in response to experience with implementation and in order to incorporate insights and perspectives from the engagement of more diverse cultures.

Source:
http://www.adaptenv.org/index.php?option=Content&Itemid=25

China: personas con discapacidad como voluntarios en Beijing (Spanish)

Personas con discapacidad actuarán como voluntarios durante los Juegos Olimpicos y Paralimpicos de Beijing 2008. Puestos como centros de llamadas para atención a usuarios y kioskos de información serán ocupados por voluntarios con discapacidad seleccionados en el proceso de formación del cuerpo de voluntarios integrado por 87 mil personas, la mayor de todos de 87 años, que representan la diversidad de culturas en la cumbre del alto rendimiento deportivo mundial. Concursaron 600 mil aspirantes al cuerpo de voluntariado, muchos de ellos con discapacidad.

Advances at Avis

Although originally nudged along by litigation Avis Rent A Car continues to show commitment to the disability community as travelers with further improvements in service announced yesteerday.

Press release:

PARSIPPANY, NJ, Jul 17, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) --

Avis Rent A Car today announced the nationwide rollout of mobility
devices and the addition of new mobility devices including heavy duty
scooters, power chairs and manual wheelchairs, to its Avis Access(R)
program, the Company's suite of products for travelers with
disabilities. The national rollout of these lightweight,
battery-operated portable mobility scooters follows a successful test
in Orlando and Las Vegas.

Mobility devices are popular with older travelers in addition to
people with disabilities, especially when traveling for special
purposes such as vacations, graduations or weddings. They are also
used by general consumers for special purposes, including:

-- Navigating large conventions or resorts with long walkways;
-- Overcoming the inconvenience of a temporary ailment such as a sprained
ankle or fracture;
-- Making sightseeing in large cities easier and more enjoyable,
especially during the hot summer months.

"Customer response to mobility scooters in Orlando and Las Vegas was
strong," said Michael Caron, vice president of product and program
development for Avis Budget Group, Inc., parent company of Avis.
"Offering these rental products in additional cities as demand
increases shows how 'We Try Harder' at Avis to bring customers
products and services that make travel more accessible for all."

"My son had broken his leg and the scooter made it possible for him
to go everywhere with the family," said Ted Fardoe, an Avis customer
who rented a mobility device in Orlando. "The scooter rental made a
huge difference in the entire family's ability to enjoy our
vacation."

In 2004, Avis introduced Avis Access, the most comprehensive suite of
products in the car rental industry aimed at making travel more
accessible for travelers with disabilities. Available free of charge
with all Avis car rentals, Avis Access products include transfer
boards, swivel seats, spinner knobs, hand-controls and panoramic
mirrors. Last year, Avis also introduced a national training program
to educate employees on how to recognize different types of
disabilities and how best to assist these customers. Avis employees
are also trained in the correct usage of terminology and language
when dealing with persons that are sight or hearing impaired,
speech-impaired or use wheelchairs.
devices that can be reserved directly through
Scootaround, the industry leader in mobility equipment rentals, and
are available for rent for a minimum of three days. For more
information or to make a reservation, visit www.avis.com/access or
call 1-888-TRY-HARDER.

About Avis

Avis Rent A Car System, LLC and its subsidiaries operate one of the
world's leading car rental brands, providing business and leisure
customers with a wide range of services at more than 2,100 locations
in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Latin
American/Caribbean region. Avis is one of the world's top brands for
customer loyalty, as ranked in the 2008 Brand Keys(R) Customer
Loyalty Engagement Index. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Avis Budget Group, Inc.

Rolling Rains and ENAT

Scott Rains, publisher of RollingRains.com, was recently honored as Lifetime Honorary Associate member of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT). Download file

The ENAT site is a rich source of current information and quality literature on inclusion in tourism. See the site at:

http://www.accessibletourism.org/

Manual de Convivência (Portuguese)

Está disponível para download em PDF o Manual de Convivência, um guia prático de como se relacionar com as pessoas com deficiência.

Manual de Convivência: Pessoas com deficiência e mobilidade reduzida
http://www.vereadoramaragabrilli.com.br/manualc/manual_web.pdf

Hacer accesible el turismo beneficiaría al 35% de los ciudadanos europeos (Spanish)

Desde El Cisne:

El coordinador de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Oficina de Accesibilidad de Bélgica, Steven Vos, afirmó durante su intervención en el 'II Congreso de Turismo para Todos ENAT' que, teniendo en cuenta a las personas con discapacidad, a los mayores, a las mujeres embarazadas, a las familias con niños pequeños y a quienes tienen otras limitaciones, 'alrededor del 35% de todos los europeos pueden beneficiarse de las mejoras de la accesibilidad en el turismo', como las instalaciones y los servicios accesibles.

"No obstante, sólo un porcentaje muy pequeño del mercado se ocupa de las necesidades en materia de turismo accesible", agregó Vos. Este experto belga comentó que hay una gran cantidad de hoteles, servicios de transporte y lugares turísticos que "no son físicamente accesibles" para muchas personas con discapacidad y personas mayores. "Falta información precisa y accesible, los empleados no están capacitados para proporcionar servicios adaptados a las personas con discapacidad, y el personal de los servicios de turismo a menudo carece de formación sobre los medios para satisfacer las necesidades de accesibilidad de los turistas con discapacidad", agregó Vos.

Por su parte, la directora de Ocio y Bienestar del Reino Unido, Susan Thomas, hizo un llamado a los estados miembros de la UE para que compartan "las buenas prácticas", armonicen los criterios de accesibilidad y fomenten y permitan que todos los servicios relacionados con el turismo "elaboren y apliquen planes de acción sobre accesibilidad para mejorar la experiencia de los viajes y el turismo del cliente".

Por su parte, Ercan Tutal, representante de la Asociación Turca de Agencias de Viajes, habló sobre el turismo accesible en Turquía y comentó que en los últimos años se han producido muchos avances con el objetivo de convertir a Turquía en un lugar más accesible, con "más habitaciones para personas con discapacidad en los servicios de alojamiento, nuevos hoteles sin barreras y nuevos reglamentos en la accesibilidad del transporte". Asimismo, recordó que la normativa de la UE en materia de accesibilidad turística se basa no sólo en la "rehabilitación" de las personas con discapacidad, sino también en la "integración" de este colectivo en la sociedad, lo que se considera "una cuestión de derechos humanos". Tutal explicó que la asociación a la que pertenece creó una "Comisión de turismo sin barreras para todos", que, entre otras iniciativas, ayuda en la creación de una guía turística titulada "Estambul sin barreras para todos", dirigida a personas mayores y personas con discapacidad.

En representación de Noruega, Aina Olsen, consultora de la Dirección de Sanidad y Asuntos Sociales, destacó el hecho de que en el 2004 se estableciera una comisión en su país con el objetivo de crear un "sistema de etiquetado" para los destinos turísticos accesibles. Ello supone, en su opinión, un gran reto para "ver cómo un sistema nacional de etiquetado puede abarcar las necesidades de todos los grupos de discapacitados". En cuanto a las medidas que se pueden tomar para convencer al sector turístico de la necesidad de adoptar el sistema de etiqueado, Olsen destacó que hay que "apelar a la conciencia social", porque el bienestar de las personas con discapacidad "no es sólo responsabilidad del sector sanitario, sino también del turístico", sin obviar que "la gran proporción de personas con discapacidad y mayores suponen un área de mercado muy importante".

En este sentido, la secretaria delegada de la Asociación de Turismo y Discapacidad de Francia, Emmanuelle Tulliez, comentó que desde su institución se ha creado la etiqueta "Turismo y Discapacidad", que comprende los cuatro tipos de discapacidad (motora, visual, auditiva y mental) y todos los alojamientos turísticos, hostelería, sitios turísticos, lugares de ocio, etc. Dicho sello distintivo, explicó, "sirve para potenciar los esfuerzos de las personas que trabajan en la industria del turismo y hace una invitación a todos los que quieran abrir sus lugares a la mayor variedad de clientes".

Marriott Courtyard in Columbia, SC

Watchdog ( Tony Bartelme ) at the Charleston Post and Carrier reports on abuse of disabled parking spaces and ignorance of the law by staff at a local hotel. While this abuse is common the Post and carrier is to be commended for taking notice of such a "small" infraction and protecting the safety of the disability community as we travel for work and pleasure -- and probably stay at a competitor's hotel:

Last April, Laura Kirkham was a guest at Marriott Courtyard in Columbia and noticed these materials stored on a disabled parking space. [photo in original article here ]

Kirkham said she uses crutches and that this was the only covered handicap parking spot at the hotel. She it would have been helpful to have this space available because it rained several inches during her stay. "Rain and crutches are a treacherous combination," she noted...

Michael Wells, a manager, told Watchdog that the hotel has 189 spaces total, five of which are for disabled motorists, including the one covered up. He said the hotel was only required to have four. He declined additional comment.

In fact, the hotel is required to have 6 spots available at all times.

Total Parking in Lot -- Required Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces

1 to 25 -- 1

26 to 50 -- 2

51 to 75 -- 3

76 to 100 -- 4

101 to 150 -- 5

151 to 200 -- 6

201 to 300 -- 7

301 to 400 -- 8

401 to 500 -- 9

501 to 1000 -- 2 percent of total

1001 and over -- 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

Source: access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

Route 66 -- and Accessibility -- the Jason Angel Story

Route 66 once had a mythical attraction to Americans as the ultimate "road Trip." Jason Angel relives the magic as a traveler with a disability.

Angel delivers: 'Accessing the Mother Road'
http://www.wickedlocal.com/amesbury/archive/x170777075

Salem State student travels the long road to accessibility
http://www.wickedlocal.com/northshoresunday/news/x273547792/Salem-State-student-travels-the-long-road-to-accessibility

India Rising in Popularity with American Tourists

This article appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. Timely as we prepare to do a nationwide tour for the Indian tour industry on Inclusive Tourism:

NEW DELHI—Keith Lotman went to New Delhi on a two-week business trip. But a quick day of sightseeing in India's capital city left him enthralled and ready to see more of the country. "I have about a hundred different places that I'd like to visit," said Lotman, 31, a business executive from Philadelphia, as he checked out the world's largest Bahai temple in New Delhi. "A hundred different kinds of experiences." He added: "It's very different from any place I've traveled to before. Culturally very different. I'd definitely like to go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal next...."

New tourists like Lotman have helped feed a boom in travel to India, and the country is now nearly as popular a destination for Americans as Spain. Travel to India from the United States increased 10 percent between 2006 and 2007, on top of an 8 percent rise the year before. More Americans visited India last year than went to Ireland or Thailand, according to the most recent data from U.S. Department of Commerce.

The upsurge in Americans visiting India is part of broader boom in India's tourism industry. In 2007, some 5 million travelers headed to India, nearly double from 2000, according to the Tourism Ministry. Visitors from the U.S. accounted for 15.7 percent of the total.

These include a large number of business travelers, wealthy retirees out to explore India from the comfortable confines of an air-conditioned luxury bus or train, and people of Indian origin eager to see their parents'—or grandparents'—homeland.

For the full article: Americans are part of boom in tourism to India

Even better, watch Rolling Rains for a travelogue as we go.

Will You Be Traveling to Ohio?

The following video was produced by Day al-Mohammed to support discussion of disability issues by the US presidential candidates.

Dubuque Aims to be 'Proudly Accessible'

Katrina Wilberding is executive director of Proudly Accessible Dubuque. If you have time to look at only one page on their site take a look at this survey and description for at your businesses on how to identify and remove accessibility barriers: http://www.proudlyaccessibledubuque.com/tools/survey.cfm

In an interview with TH Online she makes the inclusion argument using the Open Doors Organization survey results on the travel behavior of people with disabilities - another sign that Inclusive Tourism is simply becoming the 'common sense' approach in heartland America.

Besides needing to abide by the law [ADA], accessibility is good business, Wilberding said.

A travel industry survey shows that four out of 10 travelers are either disabled or traveling with a disabled companion. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than seven out of every 10 Americans will acquire some sort of disability by the time they reach the age of 75.

"Most don't realize the business they are losing because they're not accessible," Wilberding said.

For the full article:
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=207388

DisabilityPhoto.com Launches!

Received from the new site DisabilityPhoto.com

A new stock photo agency‚ Disabilityphoto.com, is aggressively seeking photos and illustrations of‚ by‚ and for the disability community.
The site’s goal is to offer a unique place for royalty–free and rights–managed photography and illustrations.

Art from prominent photographers in the disability community has already been lined up. For instance‚ buyers on the site will be able to obtain the works of Christopher Voelker, Chris Hamilton, Eric Stampfli and
and many others. However, Creative Director Jennifer Ruf wants to get the word out that there’s no limit to DisabilityPhoto’s quest for talent.

“We’re creating something that’s never been done before…a place where a
huge amount of disability artwork will be available at a buyer’s fingertips.
We’re calling on all artists‚ from amateurs to professionals‚ to contact us.
It’s a great opportunity.”

Disabilityphoto.com will be a well–organized site so that finding the right works for any project will be a snap. “This site is intended to offer high end photography and illustrations in an easy–to–use format‚” says Ruf, “The site
has a great layout to make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.

“With the goal of stocking the site with thousands of photos and art, Disabilityphoto.com promises to be the premier source for anyone seeking disability–related images.

To submit artwork or learn more about the site, please go to:

www.disabilityphoto.com

You can also find disability and travel photos at Travel with a Disability on Flickr

Peace through Tourism Course Launched

While I have not reviewed the final curriculum I did contribute in the research phase of this promising new course:

At the 4th IIPT African Conference, May 20th – 25th 2007, Kampala, Uganda, a course on Peace through Tourism was launched, discussed and enthusiastically received by the international community. WICE – World Leisure International Centre of Excellence at Wageningen University, The Netherlands – developed this course; course director is Drs Jan te Kloeze.

The course is an initiative aiming to consolidate the concept of Peace through Tourism. It is open to external participants, members of institutions interested in the subject, and tourism and peace policy makers.

The course – duration 4 weeks – is divided in four thematic units:

1. Sustainable tourism and the world today;
2. Theory of peace making and peace keeping in a national and international context;
3. The role of tourism in promoting international understanding; and
4. Tourism and community development: tourism as an agent for poverty reduction.

Peace through Tourism Course Launched

A trans-interdisciplinary approach is used to outline the potential of tourism as a peace tool. Lecturers from WICE together with international academics, carefully selected from the WICE world wide network of renowned experts are giving the lectures.

The classes will take place at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. When certain conditions are met, the course can be given in other guest countries too.

Costs and fees: € 3,770.—[including living costs, travel costs, and fee; fee only: € 1,750.–].

About World Leisure International Centres of Excellence (WICE)
In 1988 the Association began exploring the concept of a truly international post-graduate programme in leisure studies. Ultimately this led to the creation of a framework for the World Leisure International Centres of Excellence (WICE). The purpose was to provide an unique opportunity whereby postgraduate students from countries around the world and international leisure specialists come together in one location for a two-year program leading to a graduate degree.

The first such program was established in The Netherlands in 1992, with substantial support from the Dutch government. Today, through a contract with Wageningen University, a leading international institution in Holland, the WICE program gives students access to the resources of the University and at the same time provides instruction and consultation through a visiting faculty of 40 professors in any given year. Up to 25 students are admitted each year. Students completing the program receive a M.Sc. degree in Leisure and Environments. Many of the graduates have gone on to occupy senior leadership positions in their home countries.

A WICE Advisory Panel, responsible to the World Leisure Board, reviews and advises on existing programmes and new initiatives. For more information, visit www.worldleisure.org.

Usability Review: The SPOT Personal Safety Device

Ever find yourself asking, "Who designed this thing anyway?" I do. I also found someone who figured out what to do next. Her story might someday impact us all.

Julie Jones is founder and CEO of Engineered Travel. Engineered Travel, LLC (www.engineeredtravel.com ) works with manufacturers of existing products and shows them how to apply Universal Design thinking. The result can be anything from product improvements involving simple engineering changes to the development of entirely new products to meet the needs of the disability market. The company is busy at both.

Julie has teamed up with Bob Davis of the GEOS Travel Safety Group www.geosalliance.com. GEOS provides integrated security, safety and resilient communications services for corporations as well as domestic and international travelers. With former police, military, and government security professionals in-house and having extensive knowledge of search and rescue (SAR) practice GEOS partnered with the manufacturers of the SPOT Satellite Messenger to provide a new type of personal safety device.

I have been field testing it.

I like it!

Let me reiterate that the purpose of Engineered Travel LLC is to take products that were not designed with our community in mind and make them accessible. That said, even with opportunities for design improvements I have had fun playing with SPOT as I traveled from Brazil to Alaska. It evoked a satisfying round of "tech envy" as I took it out of my briefcase during a meeting of technology innovators in San Francisco recently. I am getting quite a few requests to be added to the list that receives a SPOT "Check In" email pinpointing me on a Google map as I globe trot with SPOT.

There is always inconvenience, even risk involved in travel. For someone with a disability what may be inconvenience for some can be a risk - a vehicle that goes dead somewhere out of cell phone range for example. This is where a personal location device like SPOT literally becomes a life saver.

The orange and black ruggedized waterproof unit has several functions. These include 9-1-1 mode, a less urgent Help mode, and a simple Check-in mode.

From the SPOT website here is how 9-1-1 mode works:

Once activated, SPOT will acquire its exact coordinates from the GPS network, and send that location along with a distress message to a GEOS International Emergency Response Center every five minutes until canceled. The Emergency Response Center notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information - which may include local police, highway patrol, the Coast Guard, our country's embassy or consulate, or other emergency response or search and rescue teams - as well as notifying your emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal.

In Help or Check-in mode SPOT contacts those who you have designated to receive an SMS message or an email. The email also includes a link to a Google map showing your location within 15 feet. At your SPOT account online you compose the email and select who you want to receive the message before you travel.

Something that seems ingenious is the SPOT Tracking feature. It is the second function to the OK button used for Check-in mode. This “Optional feature” ($49.99/yr) is very useful so in the event you need to be located but also need to move. Tracking leaves a breadcrumb trail of where you have been. Once activated this feature plots your location every 10 minutes for 24 hours, without having to re-push a button.

SPOT distinguishes itself from existing products in a number of ways. It uses satellite technology and the GEOS Emergency Response Center that is not dependent on cell phone reception, Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or the PSAP (Public Service Access Points) network. This adds a layer of human contact which, in one case described to me by Bob Davis of GEOS, led to additional lives being saved.

I was told one story about a rescue using SPOT. In an avalanche situation a SPOT owner's distress call was verified by GEOS. (Note: SPOT is not designed to function under snow.) GEOS’ call to the owner's emergency contact revealed that the owner's party included eight people. That information allowed the Search and Rescue team to be prepared and make a successful rescue.

SPOT is waterproof although it is not designed to signal effectively when submerged in water.

This feature, that SPOT is waterproof for up to 30 minutes even when submerged at 1 meter, was quite a reassurance as I kayaked through an ice floe in Alaska last month with the unit in my pocket. Doubly reassuring as one iceberg chose to imitate a rotary saw blade by flipping top for bottom just after we passed it.
More often I suspect that the waterproofing feature will come in handy when I am juggling coffee cups or at the pool.

In my analysis of the product, and the team behind it, my opinion is that the three part team involving SPOT, GEOS, and Engineered Travel LLC is what makes this product/service bundle such a potential benefit to the disability community. Team members express genuine interest in achieving usability for, to quote the classic definition of Universal Design, "the widest range of people operating in the widest range of situations without special or separate design."

For some of us the current SPOT form factor will work just fine. If it works for you as is you can pick one up online here: https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/orderspot.aspx (Although I do recommend that you read to the end of this review to find the discount code.* )

For others of us Engineered Travel LLC needs to work its magic. In its present form SPOT controls lack sensory redundancy for those of varying abilities.

I found the buttons took effort to push under warm conditions and required me to use a pen or other implement to activate when my fingers became weaker in the cold. The size and non-slip material along the edges were a benefit in gripping the unit but the protruding belt clip on the back makes the unit unstable when laid on a flat surface in order to work the buttons. The easy release fasteners made opening the case for battery insertion possible. The color makes it easy to locate.

Whether you need a safety device for when you are in a cell phone dead zone, a monsoon downpour, or just want to accurately geo-tag your photos on Google maps this is a handy unit to have. Thinking ahead to travel, emergency, or disaster situations where normal communication channels are unavailable I am reminded of yesterday’s post and the Bonn Declaration that “Disasters are Always Inclusive.” This unit could also be a lifesaver.

SPOT is useful in its current version for those with good to fair visual acuity and fine motor skills. Given my conversations with representatives of the GEOS Travel Safety Group and Engineered Travel LLC I suspect that we will see modifications. These in turn will show concretely how the consumer power of the disability community is coming of age and once again demonstrate the “Curb Cut Effect” of Universal Design to the benefit of us all.

* Engineered Travel LLC provides a promotional/discount code for purchasing SPOT but only here (https://www.geosalliance.net/geoslogin/orderspot.aspx ) through their direct relationship with the GEOS Travel Safety Group: etllc4d (a seven character alpha/numeric code)

(Full Disclosure Statement: As a result of meeting Julie Jones I have joined Engineered Travel's Disabled Advisors Board. In that role I field test products on loan to me such as SPOT but receive no financial compensation or free product and provide design, usability, and market analysis to Engineered Travel LLC- as well as early product reviews for readers of the Rolling Rains Report.)

TripWolf is Live With 200,000+ Destinations and all MairDumont's Content

OK, this site could be a big development for sharing travel information in the disability community.

Now is the time to determine that for yourself. If you like it share it with your friends. Where you see it needs improvement share that directly with TripWolf.

Or, as soon as you register, add me as a Friend. I'm on the site as Rolling Rains. This will allow us to compare evaluations of the site's usefulness. It will also allow us to better inform the site's staff on the needs of people with disabilities.

From their press release:

New York City, July 1, 2008. Today tripwolf.com (http://www.tripwolf.com) is released publicly to the US market. tripwolf is a new social travel guide that covers the whole world, focusing mainly on Europe. tripwolf combines professional editorial content with user-generated content from globetrotters worldwide.

tripwolf is backed by MairDumont, Europe’s largest publisher of travel guides
including Baedeker, Dumont and Marco Polo. Through collaboration with
tripwolf, MairDumont has taken the unprecedented step of putting all of its
content - covering more than 200,000 destinations and points of
interest - online for free.

Note the recent post on the Sydney for All online travel directory and observe how different approaches to online travel information and directories are evolving to serve the disability community.

Sri Lanka: IDIRAYA and CEAT Tyres Team up for Inclusion

Dr Ajith C S Perera has worked tirelessly to promote Inclusive Destination Development in Sri Lanka through his organization IDIRAYA. Below is an article from Lanka Business Online noting his new sponsor CEAT Tyres.

Sri Lanka access for disabled campaign gets corporate support

June 05, 2008 (LBO) - Only two percent of the public buildings in Sri Lanka have easy access to the disabled, CEAT Tyres which is backing an organization that is campaigning to improving access to public buildings by the disabled, has said.

"Statistics show that less than two per cent of all buildings, private or public, have access for the mobility impaired," Oscar Braganza, managing director of CEAT Sri Lanka , was quoted as saying in a statement.

"Wittingly or unwittingly we are discriminating against this increasingly large sector of the community."

The tyre maker is supporting 'IDIRIYA', an organization of professionals that is campaigning to improve access of public buildings to the disabled.

“Very often what is needed is very simple. For example, access to each and every public and private building and its facilities," Braganza said at a ceremony to launch a book called ‘Access Ability For All - Why You?’ by the IDIRIYA organization.

"We know this to be a fact instinctively, but somehow our corporate plans and strategy do not factor in this basic human right.”

Activists say the true extent of the disabled in Sri Lanka is not known.

"Decision makers should not be misguided by the published figures on disability, which are often underestimated," IDIRIYA secretary general Ajith Perera said.

"For numerous reasons, disability in both visible and invisible forms is on the rise in Sri Lanka. Today, the risk of becoming disabled has become a grave social problem afflicting a wide range of people."

"By the way we continue to design our buildings, man is creating more physical barriers to man in attending to normal daily activities. This is wholly unacceptable in modern day Sri Lanka.

Activists are promoting ‘designing for inclusion’ in Sri Lanka’s construction industry to accommodate the increasing numbers of people who are physically or sensorily disadvantaged.

Sydney: Inclusive Tourism Portal Opens

The inclusive tourism market incorporates people with disabilities and those who are ageing and who have access needs (mobility, vision, hearing and communication). Significant numbers of Australians and people from overseas have disabilities – 600 million worldwide. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 4 million Australians have a disability [1]. Based on the National Visitor Survey 88 per cent of these people travelled within Australia in the previous year, 7 per cent travelled overseas and most travelled in independent groups with an average size of 4.1 people. The accessible tourism market has recently been valued at $4.8 billion to the Australian economy [2] with significant latent demand.

Yet, finding tourism experiences and day trips that are accessible has been a major issue for people with disabilities and those with access requirements. Many disability organizations provide member created word of mouth lists, tips and stories to help others plan their day trips and holidays more easily. However, these information systems are incomplete and problematic.

A prototype Web “portal”, www.sydneyforall.com, aims to make it easier to find accessible destination experiences around Sydney for those with access needs.

The portal reflects the findings of a research project and seeks to provide accessibility information about key tourism experiences that people can enjoy when they are in Sydney. The area covered by the portal includes The Rocks, Circular Quay, The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain. It also includes the Sydney Fish Markets, a ferry trip to Manly and a visit to North Head.

The research project was sponsored by the Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre, Tourism NSW, the Tourism and Transport Forum and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change. The project was led by Associate Professor Simon Darcy of the University of Technology, Sydney.

One key feature of the portal is its ability to provide information to people with vision impairment. The portal has been developed to meet international W3C Web Accessibility standards and was independently assessed by Vision Australia to verify compliance with those standards.

The information provided on the portal was gathered by people with disabilities actually experiencing the attraction and documenting that experience. Information was also provided by the attraction, many of which have implemented strategies to improve their access for people with access needs. For example, the Sydney Opera House has not only started to improve mobility access but also access for people with vision and hearing impairment.

The web portal offers information by icon, text, photographs and links to additional information. It embraces ‘wayfinding’ maps, transport, parking, toilets and most importantly the experience itself. The portal will also help providers within the tourism industry plan to market collaboratively, improve their services and encourage more tourists with disabilities to visit them.

As this is a test site and will be reviewed at the end of three months, feedback on the portal and suggestions are welcome. People can complete the independent survey that is linked to the portal, or you can contact either the researchers directly on accessibletourism@uts.edu.au or sydneyforall@tourism.nsw.gov.au

The long-term aim is to have a more expansive portal that will assist people to plan their holidays and will incorporate detailed transport, accommodation and disability support information.

[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2004). Disability Ageing and Carers Summary of Findings, 2003 (Cat No. 4430.0). from http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/

[2] Dwyer, L., & Darcy, S. (2008). Chapter 4 - Economic contribution of disability to tourism in Australia. In S. Darcy, B. Cameron, L. Dwyer, T. Taylor, E. Wong & A. Thomson (Eds.), Visitor accessibility in urban centres: Technical Report 90040 (pp. 15-21). Gold Coast: Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (forthcoming).

Printable .pdf version:

Download file

________________________

Further Information, please contact:

Dr Simon Darcy, University of Technology, Sydney – 61 2 9514-5100 Simon.Darcy@uts.edu.au

Bruce Cameron, Easy Access Australia – bruce_eaa@bigpond.com

Web Portal Front Page http://www.sydneyforall.com/

Bicycle Technology: Testbed for New Wheelchair Design

Behind the scenes (sorry, Nondisclosure Agreements in effect), some interesting "Green Wheelchairs" are in development. Take some hints from bicycle designers:

Cardboard Bike
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/06/17/cardboard.bike/

Bamboo Bikes
http://www.bamboobike.org/Home.html

From The Natural Standard web site:

http://www.naturalstandard.com/index-abstract.asp?create-abstract=/monographs/herbssupplements/patient-bamboo.asp

Cane and bamboo may be alternative basic construction materials for orthotic and prosthetic appliances. Bamboo night splints and upper limb splints are believed to be effective, and bamboo walkers, crutches and wheelchairs are remarkably useful, inexpensive and lightweight.

Accessible Hiking Trails?

Several readers specialize in outdoor access and even maintain public web sites on the accessibility of trails. The following grant offer from the American Hiking Society might be enough to convince a hiking-oriented non-profit to do something significant to improve trals accessibility:

The American Hiking Society ( http://www.americanhiking.org/ )
2009 National Trails Fund is open for applications. The National
Trails Fund is the only privately funded, national grants pro-
gram dedicated solely to building and protecting hiking trails.
Now in its eighth year, the fund has awarded nearly $382,000 to
105 grassroots organizations all over the United States working
to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails in America.

American Hiking will be awarding two different types of National
Trail Fund grants in 2009:

1) American Hiking Society Trail
Grants, which will range from $500-$4,999 each; and
2) Nature Valley Trail Grants, which will be for $5,000 each. Twenty
applicant organizations for the Nature Valley Trail Grants will be
selected as prospective grant recipients and will be featured on
Nature Valley's Web site ( http://www.wheresyours.com/ ). Nature
Valley Trail Grant award winners will be chosen by public vote
from October 1 through 31, 2008. The top ten projects will each
receive $5,000.

Hiking Society Seeks Applications for Trail Grants

Deadline: August 15, 2008

The American Hiking Society ( http://www.americanhiking.org/ )
2009 National Trails Fund is open for applications. The National
Trails Fund is the only privately funded, national grants pro-
gram dedicated solely to building and protecting hiking trails.
Now in its eighth year, the fund has awarded nearly $382,000 to
105 grassroots organizations all over the United States working
to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails in America.

American Hiking will be awarding two different types of National
Trail Fund grants in 2009: 1) American Hiking Society Trail
Grants, which will range from $500-$4,999 each; and 2) Nature
Valley Trail Grants, which will be for $5,000 each. Twenty app-
licant organizations for the Nature Valley Trail Grants will be
selected as prospective grant recipients and will be featured on
Nature Valley's Web site ( http://www.wheresyours.com/ ). Nature
Valley Trail Grant award winners will be chosen by public vote
from October 1 through 31, 2008. The top ten projects will each
receive $5,000.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Projects
that will be considered for the 2009 grants are as follows: proj-
ects that have hikers as the primary constituency, though multi-
ple human-powered trail uses are eligible; projects that secure
trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors
and the costs associated with acquiring conservation easements;
projects that result in visible and substantial ease of access,
improved hiker safety, and/or avoidance of environmental damage;
and projects that promote constituency building surrounding
specific trail projects -- including volunteer recruitment and
support.

Visit the American Hiking Society Web site for complete program
guidelines and the online application system.

RFP Link:
http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15013896/americanhiking

TIA Campaign: Media Reports On Benefits of Travel

To the extent that the Travel Industry Association takes seriously the disability community as a travel market the following letter from Roger Dow, TIA President and CEO, is a hopeful sign:

As you may know, TIA has been sharing information in recent months on the personal benefits of travel and taking a trip. I am happy to note that the media is beginning to report on the contributions travel makes to individuals, as illustrated in articles in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

I was also introduced recently to a blog called Sure To Meet, which provides tips and information on business and social networking. It highlighted how face-to-face meetings are still best for building relationships. I want encourage you to help us get the word out by passing along the articles and the information we’ve compiled.

Through the Benefits of Travel, TIA provides a one-stop shop for survey results and facts that demonstrate how travel benefits everyone personally in the areas of:

* relationship building,
* career success and productivity, and
* health and wellness.

In addition, there is an interesting "Other Important Facts" section. All of this information is also available online at www.tia.org/Benefits.

Let’s work together to help everyone better understand that when we travel, the benefits are everywhere.

Best regards,
Roger Dow, TIA President and CEO
Travel Industry Association

Autistic Toddler and Family Removed from Plane

Coverage of plummeting airline service continues to include excellent case studies revealing the details of counterproductive social responses to disability. Here an incident involving intimidation combined with physical overstimulation by the flight crew resulted in a predictable panic response from a passenger with autism. There appears to be some disconnect occurring in American's customer service training regarding the simple facts of certain disabilities.

Julie Deardorff tells the story behind an American Airlines flight departing from the Raleigh- Durham International Airport. Here she reports:

But the mother, Janice Farrell, told Crump that the flight attendant made matters worse.

"She kept coming over and tugging his seatbelt to make it tighter, 'This has to stay tight'. And then he was wiggling around and trying to get out of his seatbelt. And she kept coming over and reprimanding him and yelling at him," Farrell said.

One of the pilots came back to the cabin with a stern warning and Farrell says the frustration level escalated.

She says Jarrett picked up on that and things only got worse.

"He just melted down. He saw me getting upset. He was upset. He was on the floor rolling around," she said.

Deardorff's advice is sage:

But the prevalance of autism is increasing and society must learn how to handle the special needs of people who are on the spectrum.

For the full article:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2008/06/autistic-toddle.html

Australia: Renovating a House for Disability Access

Following Universal Design Renovations blog gets more and more interesting as the construction process progresses. The title of one post, Starting to Look Like a House, captures the sentiment.

Revolução no turismo -- O Poder do Consumidor (Portuguese)

Para diretor do Ministério do Turismo, Diogo Demarco é preciso que grandes empresas, governos, entidades e consumidor final exijam empresas certificadas no setor.

O consumidor irá impulsionar uma verdadeira revolução no setor de turismo quando começar a exigir a certificação das empresas das empresas do setor, acredita Diogo Demarco, diretor do Departamento de Qualificação e Certificação e Produção Associada ao Turismo, do Ministério do Turismo.

Revolução no turismo passa por consumidor exigente

Segundo ele, a certificação dos estabelecimentos e das empresas que trabalham com turismo só acontecerá de fato à medida em que grandes empresas, governos, entidades e o consumidor final exijam que empresas sejam certificadas para a aquisição de produtos.

“Quando uma Petrobras exigir que seus funcionários só se hospedem em hotéis certificados, será uma correria pela certificação”, diz. Demarco lembra que o Rio de Janeiro está vivendo uma situação parecida provocada por uma exigência do Comitê Olímpico Internacional. “Eles querem uma lista de hotéis por classificação. Todo mundo começou a correr atrás para conseguir uma classificação”. Atualmente no Brasil há apenas 18 hotéis classificados por classe no País, segundo o representante do Ministério do Turismo.

De acordo com o diretor, a proximidade com a Copa do Mundo de 2014 já está fazendo com que algumas empresas estejam procurando as certificações necessárias. “Não é fácil certificar o setor de serviços. Quando falamos de produto é fácil conseguir uma padronização por tamanho, tipo, etc. Mas o serviço prestado é subjetivo”.

Dival Schmidt, consultor do Sebrae Nacional, lembra as dificuldades nos anos 80 para implementação da ISO. “A Europa restringiu a compra de produtos que não tivessem a ISO. Foi uma correria e tanto no Brasil”. Segundo ele, a certificação no turismo exige campanhas de esclarecimento à população, nos moldes das campanhas sobre epidemias, como Aids e Paralisia Infantil.

Os dois especialistas participaram no último sábado (21) da palestra 'Certificação no Turismo: Desafios e Perspectivas', durante a terceira edição Salão do Turismo, realizado entre 18 e 22 de junho no Parque de Exposições do Anhembi, em São Paulo.

Normas no turismo

Atualmente existem 67 normas técnicas em vigor no setor de turismo, sendo que apenas 10 não foram publicadas. Desse total, 28 foram elaboradas a partir do apoio direto do MTur a projetos de formulação dessas regras.

A consulta às normas pode ser feita pelo endereço http://www.abntnet.com.br, pelos sites do MTur e da ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas). Para realizar a consulta, o usuário terá que fazer um cadastramento, prestando informações como nome completo, CPF e RG e motivo de interesse.

Desde 2003, o Ministério do Turismo aposta em programas de capacitação e certificação para pessoas, produtos e empreendimentos nos segmentos do turismo, mais especificamente em turismo sustentável, turismo de aventura e competências profissionais. Vale lembrar também que o Brasil conta com 40 mil profissionais certificados nos diferentes ramos do turismo. A maioria deles é de garçons e cozinheiros.

Projetos

Um acordo de cooperação técnica assinado no ano passado entre Sebrae, Ministério do Turismo (MTur) e Instituto Brasileiro de Turismo (Embratur) prevê investimentos de cerca de R$ 21,5 milhões para o turismo nacional, com foco no desenvolvimento das micro e pequenas empresas. As ações têm prazo de dois anos, com a possibilidade de renovação pelo mesmo período.

O convênio se baseia no Plano Nacional de Turismo 2007/2010 e pretende utilizar a capacidade do setor para promover inclusão social. Pela parceria, serão realizadas ações como capacitação dos profissionais, incentivo para adoção das melhores práticas de gestão e fortalecimento do trabalho desenvolvido pelos órgãos estaduais de turismo e pelas empresas do setor.

O acordo também terá investimentos para a criação de um banco de dados do setor turístico e para a produção do Guia do Empreendedor do Turismo, entre várias outras iniciativas.

O trabalho conjunto do Sebrae e do MTur ainda aborda a questão ambiental, com o objetivo de promover a sustentabilidade no entorno das áreas de preservação e dos parques nacionais. Os especialistas em turismo hoje chamam a atenção para a necessidade de conciliar o potencial turístico com o respeito à ecologia e à preservação ambiental.

Fonte: Portugal Digital

Post War El Salvador

Former guerrilla fighters in El Salvador are helping to boost the
country's income through tourism. Claire Marshall reports on BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7452192.stm

Renovando con Diseño Universal (Spanish)

Desde PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE:

Más de 21 millones de personas, en su mayoría adultos mayores, visitan al médico cada año como consecuencia de accidentes en el hogar. Con la intención de reducir esa cifra, el "Home Safety Council" declaró a Junio como el Mes de la Seguridad en el Hogar, que insta a las personas a crear un ambiente más seguro en el hogar y evitar caídas, incendios, o envenenamientos.

(Para ver este reporte presentado por AARP dirígete a: http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=35276)

Cada vez más contratistas están incorporando -tanto para la construcción como para la renovación de las viviendas- los principios del "Diseño Universal", que promueve simplificar la vida de las personas utilizando artículos electrónicos y productos de fácil uso para todas las personas, sin importar sus edades o capacidades.

Una reciente encuesta de AARP reveló que unos 70 millones de "boomers" planean vivir en sus casas el mayor tiempo posible, por lo que AARP junto a la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Casas decidió comenzar a certificar a especialistas en "Envejecimiento en el Hogar".

Para obtener más recomendaciones acerca de cómo renovar su vivienda y hallar un especialista en "Envejecimiento en el Hogar" visite www.aarp.org/homedesign, o visite www.homesafetycouncil.org para consejos acerca de cómo aumentar la seguridad en sus hogares.

Fuente:
http://media.medialink.com/WebNR.aspx?story=35276

Trip Wolf & Travolution

Travolution is a valuable information source for those who watch the travel industry and trends like "travel 2.0" (think Web 2.0 + travel).

TripWolf.com is a travel 2.0 "social guide" to travel - especially the growing trend toward independent travel.

Here Jennifer at the TripWolf blog interviews Kevin May of Travolution in a piece called Travel Trends.

And, as an Easter egg for those who read "below the fold," here is the URL to the secret backdoor entrance into TripWolf while it is still in private beta:

http://www.tripwolf.com/invite/backdoor

Look for me there as "RollingRains" and add me as a Friend.

Sneak preview: Jennifer is also preparing an interview on the Rolling Rains Report

Related story: http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/002303.html

Follow-up on Story of Trapped Wheelchair Users

This news item by Matt Kersten apears in the Greymouth Star. It follows th story of Shirley and Roy Dyer whop were trapped for 11 hours on a Tranz Alpine train in New Zealand:

The owner of the Tranz Alpine passenger train has promised to better accommodate disabled people in the future — if and when it introduces new carriages on the Christchurch-Greymouth service. Taylorville man David Brooks filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission in February after his cousins — Shirley and Roy Dyer, from Rolleston — were left on the Tranz Alpine train for 11 hours because there was no facility for them to disembark at Greymouth.

Mr Dyer suffers severely from multiple sclerosis and Mrs Dyer is a double amputee paraplegic. Mr Brooks was not happy with the facilities for disabled people on the train. Representatives of Tranz Scenic, which runs the Tranz Alpine, the Human Rights Commission, Mrs Dyer and Mr Brooks met last month to discuss the experience.

At the meeting, Tranz Scenic representatives assured the pair that any new rolling stock for the train would contain many of the features present in recently introduced carriages operating on the Wairarapa rail line, between Masterton and Wellington. Toll NZ general manager of corporate affairs Sue Foley said that was a “No 1 priority”. “Out of any of our long distance trips, that is definitely our main focus.” Facilities would include a wheelchair hoist, dedicated positions for wheelchairs to be located and secured, and easily accessed toilets.

Tranz Scenic representatives also said a number of changes had been made to the ticket booking process to ensure passengers with special needs were clearly identified prior to their travelling. Mr Brooks said he found the meeting had been “constructive”, noting that the problem had never been with the staff involved.

Source:
http://www.greystar.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2140&Itemid=43

Hilary Lister Sails

At national Public Radio Melissa Block interviews sip and puff sailor Hilary Lister.

Have a listen here "Quadriplegic Attempts Solo Sail Around British Isles"

Marta Gil (English; Portuguese)

Marta Gil is president of Amankay Research Institute (Amankay Instituto de Estudos e Pesquisas)

She will become host of the popular Brazilian radio program Breaking Down Barriers - Access for All (Derrubando Barreiras - Acesso para Todos). She replaces current host Mara Gabrilli as Mara assumes her city council responsibilities for São Paulo taking a 3-month hiatus from the program.

Parabems (Congratulations) to my friend Marta! We hope to hear lots of reporting on inclusion in tourism.

The following announcement on the change in host is in Portuguese.

Na próxima segunda-feira, 16 de junho, o programa Derrubando Barreiras - Acesso para Todos, apresentado pela Mara Gabrilli, recebe o nutricionista Alfredo Galebe. Este é um programa muito especial, pois Mara se despede - temporariamente, de acordo com a lei eleitoral - do comando do programa. Nos próximos 4 meses, quem fará uso do microfone do Derrubando Barreiras - Acesso para Todos é a socióloga e consultora na área da pessoa com deficiência, também uma das fundadoras da Rede Saci e do Amankay, Marta Gil.

"É uma responsabilidade e tanto que estou assumindo. Vou manter o programa seguindo a mesma linha mantida pela Mara. Espero que os ouvintes gostem", afirma a nova apresentadora. Para Mara Gabrilli, é difícil se despedir deste que considera um filho seu. "Eu entendo que posso ajudar mais as pessoas com deficiência atuando na Câmara Municipal. Mas é muito difícil me despedir dos ouvintes, mesmo que temporariamente", concluiu.

Mara diz tchau ao programa - ao qual deve retornar depois de 3 de outubro - fazendo sua última entrevista com o nutricionista Alfredo Galebe. Em comemoração ao dia dos namorados, Mara traz aos estúdios da Rede Eldorado AM, Alfredo, seu namorado, com a proposta de derrubar mais uma barreira: mostrar que as pessoas com deficiência namoram, sim, e têm vidas afetiva e sexual ativas.

Esse programa vocês não podem perder!

Derrubando Barreiras - Acesso para Todos / Apresentação: Mara Gabrilli

Todas as segundas-feiras, às 16 horas. Reprise aos sábados, 13 horas.

Rádio Eldorado AM (700 kHz)

Ouça também pela internet www.radioeldoradoam.com.br .

Para participar, mande e-mail para o derrubandobarreiras@redeeldorado.com.br .

Mais informações:

Claudia Carletto

Assessora de Imprensa

Vereadora Mara Gabrilli

55 11 3396-4899

55 11 8385-3443

claudiacarletto@camara.sp.gov.br

www.vereadoramaragabrilli.com.br

A Sneak Preview: TripWolf.com

You can huff and you can puff and you still can't get in at TripWolf.com -- well, not unless you got one of the limited pre-beta invitations.

But don't worry. It won't be very long at all now until the site's front door opens and Rolling Rains blog readers can see what the travel pack at this new " travel 2.0" site out of Germany has created.

Expect the unexpected.

You will find the usual Friends, Favorites, Photo upload options, Google mashups, user-generated reviews, ratings, private messaging, and almost wiki-like freedom of access to content creation.

However, this is some sophisticated stuff. The site makes good use of the Marco Polo resources. You will also find a unique workspace/workflow metaphor using Scrapbooks. Scrapbooks hold media that you want to drop into your personal Journal entry or Trip report (not yet implemented) and can be shared as .pdf in a JIT ( just-in-time) publication. Pretty foxy!

I recommend orienting yourself to the site's features and workflow with the video on the homepage. Then head on over the entry for Glacier Bay National Park and see what has been going n behind closed doors.

Then, give TripWolf.com an accessibility shakedown cruise and send your feedback to their IT team.

Reportaje Sobre RollingRains.com y Tour Watch (Spanish)

Por la Jorgelina aparecia noticias en España al sito TermómetroTuristico.es hoy sobre el movimiento de turismo que incluye todos.

Tour Watch: una red social dedicada al turismo y a la discapacidad cuenta de nuestro red social para professionales, professores y estudiantes de turismo.

Gracias Jorgelina!

Porque no vienes disfrutar nuestro "Day on the Beach" en Santa Cruz, California dia 19 de julio:

http://www.dayonthebeach.org/

The GADA* (Go Anywhere, Do Anything™) Belt

I stayed with Craig and Andrea Kennedy during the 2008 SATH Congress in Florida. It has been an act of discipline but I have kept quiet about their new product the the GADA (Go Anywhere, Do Anything™) Belt. Today they released the press release that follows.

Having fallen out of my wheelchair at some of the most unpredictable times I could certainly see the value of the non-intrusive protection and restraint system that Craig was testing at the congress. Especially in sports and outdoors situations this product make sense for even the most agile wheelchair users.

The GADA* (Go Anywhere, Do Anything™) Belt released June, 1st 2008
You GADA Have One!

Access Anything owners and renowned disability & travel experts and adventurers, Craig & Andrea Kennedy are set to launch their newest innovation, The GADA Belt, which is a side guard, clothing protector, and sports belt for manual wheelchair users that also improves seating posture, at the Southern California Abilities Expo in Anaheim, California on May 30, 31 & June 1.

Steamboat Springs, CO, (May 26, 2008): Beginning on May 30th, 2008 manual wheelchair users will be able to purchase the latest innovation in wheelchair seating products, The GADA Belt, at the Abilities Expo in Anaheim, California.

“The GADA Belt was born from ten years of personal experimentation after many falls and after ruining pair after pair of pants. As active as I am, I really felt like I needed a seat belt for my chair,” says Craig Kennedy, President of Access Anything.

The GADA Belt, named after the company’s motto Go Anywhere, Do Anything™, is a soft, secure, waterproof side guard set/clothing protector for manual wheelchairs that is also used as a sports belt, and is great for maintaining proper seating posture. This multi-functional device was designed to replace the hard-plastic side guards that typically come with manual chairs (and can cost as much as $300) and gets rid of the need for separate, single-strap lap belts often used by wheelchair athletes in sports such as tennis, basketball, and rugby. The GADA Belt’s soft canvas design reduces skin damage and breakdown, and actually improves the handling and performance of your chair while playing sports and recreating outdoors. This product is currently designed to fit all Quickie and Ti model manual wheelchairs. Design modifications for other models such as Invacare, Lasher Sport, Colours, Kushcall, and Flight Ultralight are underway and GADA belts will be available for these brands soon.

For active wheelchair users and business men and women that need to look professional, the GADA Belt also keeps clothing clean & dry, and is a great way to keep business jackets neatly tucked in. And for people with hip and/or pelvic alignment issues, the GADA Belt has been recommended by physical therapists to help correct and ensure good posture and alignment.

Craig and Andy Kennedy are travel consultants and writers specializing in marketing and education for all aspects of disability travel including recreation, adventure, eco travel, and ADA rights and interpretation. They started Access Anything in 2003 and have published two travel guides for people with disabilities, Access Anything: Colorado (Fulcrum Books, 2005), and Access Anything: I Can Do That! (Outskirts Press, 2007). They are considered the premier experts on adventure travel for people with disabilities in the United States today. For more information or to purchase your own GADA Belt, visit www.gadabelt.com, www.accessanything.net/onlinestore, and http://www.accessanything.net/text/AATraveler_0508.pdf .

Disability Right Fund Opens

From a press release:

BOSTON, MA – The Disability Rights Fund—a groundbreaking grantmaking collaborative supporting the human rights of people with disabilities—today announced its first grants competition.

The broad objective of the Fund -- which was launched by the Open Society Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and an anonymous donor on the first anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) -- is to empower disabled persons organizations in the developing world and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to effectively implement and monitor the CPRD.

In 2008, the Fund plans to give out a total of USD $700,000 in one-year grants ranging from USD $5000 - $50,000 and aimed at awareness-raising, strengthening coalitions and networks, and rights advocacy.

To be eligible for this year’s grants program, applicant organizations must be based in and conduct the majority of their activities in the following seven countries: in Africa, Ghana, Namibia and Uganda; in Latin America, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Peru; in Asia, Bangladesh. In these countries, the Fund will support Disabled Persons’ Organizations activities that advance the human rights of persons with disabilities at country-level.

Interested organizations are urged to review the full eligibility criteria and application details posted at the Fund’s website, www.disabilityrightsfund.org. Any questions on the proposal process should be directed to info@disabilityrightsfund.org by July 15. The deadline for applications is August 15.

Disability Rights Fund Steering Committee Co-Chair, William Rowland, President of the World Blind Union, stated "The Disability Rights Fund heralds an innovative partnership between donors and persons with disabilities. The flow of new resources to support our struggle for rights is a development of major significance."

####
Contact: Diana Samarasan, Director

Telephone: 617-261-4593

Email: dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org

El Fondo Sobre Derechos de Personas con Discapacidad abre su período de subvenciones a OPDs en 7 Países (Spanish)

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA:

BOSTON, MA – El Fondo Sobre Derechos de Personas con Discapacidad, una iniciativa colaborativa que apoya los derechos humanos de las personas con discapacidad – anunció hoy su primera competición por subvenciones.

El objetivo amplio del Fondo – que fue lanzado por el Open Society Institute, el Sigrid Rausing Trust, el Departamento para el Desarrollo Internacional del gobierno británico, y un donante anónimo, en el primer aniversario de la Convención Sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (CDPD) de las Naciones Unidas – es el de empoderar a organizaciones de personas con discapacidad en el mundo en desarrollo y la Europa del Este/antigua Unión Soviética, para la implementación y monitoreo efectivos de la CDPD.

En el 2008, el Fondo tiene planificado otorgar un total de USD $700,000 (dólares estadounidenses) en subvenciones de un año de duración que varían desde los USD $5,000 hasta $50,000, dirigidos al aumento de la concientización, el fortalecimiento de alianzas y redes, y la defensa de derechos.

Para poder optar al programa de subvenciones de este año, las organizaciones aplicantes deben tener su sede y realizar la mayoría de sus actividades en alguno de los siguientes siete países: en África, Ghana, Namibia y Uganda; en América Latina, Ecuador, Nicaragua y Perú; en Asia, Bangladesh. En estos países, el Fondo apoyará actividades de las organizaciones de personas con discapacidad que contribuyan al avance de la CDPD a nivel de los países.

Se alienta a que las organizaciones interesadas revisen los criterios de eligibilidad y los detalles para aplicar que se encuentran en el sitio de Internet del Fondo: www.disabilityrightsfund.org. Cualquier pregunta acerca del proceso para realizar propuestas deberán dirigirse a: info@disabilityrightsfund.org a más tardar el 15 de julio de 2008. La última fecha para enviar aplicaciones es el 15 de agosto de 2008.

William Rowland, Co-Presidente del Comité Coordinador del Fondo Sobre Derechos de Personas con Discapacidad, quien también funge como Presidente de la Unión Mundial de Ciegos, declaró “El Fondo Sobre Derechos de Personas con Discapacidad ha constituído una asociación innovadora entre donantes y personas con discapacidad. La canalización de nuevos recursos hacia la lucha por reivindicar nuestros derechos, es un desarrollo de importancia significativa.”

Contactar a: Diana Samarasan, Directora

Teléfono: +1-617-261-4593

Correo Electrónico: dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org

Progress in New Zealand: Research Results in New Outdoor Access

The Department of Conservation (DOC) on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is sitting up and taking notice of access tourism.

DOC manages more than 1.9 million hectares (about 4.7 million acres) of land on the West Coast, which is about a quarter of New Zealand's protected public land. Within its 600 km (373 mile) long West Coast boundary are two kiwi sanctuaries, five national parks, two Wilderness Areas and a World Heritage Area. The West Coast has remarkable collection of natural features which includes rainforests, glaciers, wetlands and an ocean habitat that is home to the world's stronghold population of Hector's dolphin. DOC also looks after more than 150 actively managed historic places on the West Coast ranging from historic buildings to mining sites. This richness of natural and made-made heritage attracts about 1.2 million visitors per annum to the region, but to date, little attention has been paid to tourism for PWDs.

A report by Dr. Sandra Rhodda of Tai Poutini Polytechnic on access tourism on the West Coast (http://www.tpp.ac.nz/taipoutini/report.asp?id=4#item) and a talk given by her at the New Zealand Eco Tourism Conference in 2007 highlighted the issues for people visiting the coast with some level of disability. The report highlighted specific design elements required at sites that need to be taken into consideration where tourism operations are providing facilities for people with mobility difficulty. These include ensuring appropriate surfaces in car parks and on footpaths, providing access through kerbing and channelling, having suitable access to toilets, and removing barriers at the entrance to tracks.

The examples of issues faced by people with mobility difficulties outlined in the report highlighted the need for DOC to have a whole of site design approach when carrying out upgrades to facilities and attention to detail. As a result, DOC has carried out some projects to improve access for PWDs and is planning to undertake further work at front country sites in the coming years.

Work completed in the last twelve months includes:

• Knights Point, South Westland: provision of parks for PWDs; sealing of the footpath to new viewpoint; provision of accessible toilets. The design brief included wheelchair access through kerbing and channelling (previously, footpath was gravel, there was no break in the kerbing, and no provision for PWDs parking).

• Pororai Walk, Punakaiki. New sealed car park at the eastern side of the State Highway now provides a safe access to the Pororari Walk and a picnic area which includes wheel chair access. A short walk up the Pororari River has been resurfaced providing people with limited disability the opportunity to enjoy this valley. Previously, people who use wheelchairs did not have access to this location.

Work planned for the future includes:

• Ship Creek, South Westland. Upgrade of short walks. Improve access for PWDs (mobility) to both the Dune Lake walk and Kahikatea Swamp Forest Walk. This will involve redesign of the car park, boardwalk to the beach, resurfacing of the swamp forest walk, and identifying any impediments to those who use wheelchairs e.g., lack of manoeuvrability on the track.

• Lake Matheson, South Westland. Development of a design for a new car park and toilets at Lake Matheson. Design elements in the brief are to cater for those with disability. The project also includes upgrading the walking track from the car park to the jetty viewpoint. Currently sections of the walk are to steep and the viewing area at the jetty needs to be improved.

• Cape Foulwind, Buller. Planned upgrade of the toilet facilities.

• Various short walks. Upgrade of two of the 6 kilometres (about 4 miles) of accessible walks to reduce grade, widen surface where required, compact surface, removal of loose material, and remove gated structures where present.

• Improving access to some of the DOC visitor centres, particularly doorways at the entrances to these buildings.

“Given that currently about 17% of Kiwis report a disability, and given that this number is probably going to rise steeply because of our ageing population, it is timely that DOC on the West Coast is improving access. Already about half of tourists in New Zealand are 45 years old or older. Because the worldwide population is ageing the same as here, these improvements can’t help but act as a draw card for both international and Kiwi tourists who need an accessible tourism product” said Rhodda.

Voyages Jules Verne

A website designed for a major luxury travel brand by digital design agency Fortune Cookie has cruised to success at two major design awards. Kuoni’s luxury travel brand Voyages Jules Verne (VJV) has received two prestigious awards for excellence in web design (www.vjv.co.uk).

Earlier this month, VJV and Fortune Cookie celebrated success at the 2008 Travolution Awards, where the luxury travel brand picked up the ‘Best User of Technology (Tour Operator)’ award.

Beijing Olympics: Isn't Cross-Cultural Communication Fun?!

This wonderful article on the Olympics and Paralympics appeared on NineMSN. So many potential training contracts and translation case studies revealed in one short expose!

And, as Eleanor Lisney appropriately points out over at Freewheeling.info, the author might benefit from similar deeper reflection on context and cultural diversity:

Disabled people can be unsocial, stubborn, controlling, defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority, according to an official Beijing Olympics guide set to spark outrage in the disabled community.

The Olympic manual for volunteers in Beijing is peppered with patronising comments, noting for example that physically disabled people are "often" mentally healthy.

Volunteers at the Olympics and Paralympics are instructed not to call Paralympians or disabled spectators "crippled" or "lame", even if they are "just joking".

The document, which indicates the Chinese hosts could use a swift education in political correctness, says the optically disabled "seldom show strong emotions".

"Physically disabled people are often mentally healthy," adds a copy of the guide, obtained by AAP.

"They show no differences in sensation, reaction, memorisation and thinking mechanism from other people, but they might have unusual personalities because of disfigurement and disability.

"For example, some physically disabled are isolated, unsocial, and introspective; they usually do not volunteer to contact people.

"They can be stubborn and controlling; they may be sensitive and struggle with trust issues.

"Sometimes they are overly protective of themselves, especially when they are called crippled or paralysed."

Volunteers are instructed never to "stare at their disfigurement".

"A patronising or condescending attitude will be easily sensed by them, even for a brain damaged patient (though he cannot control his limbs, he is able to see and understand like other people).

"Like most, he can read your body language," says the 2008 volunteer guide.

"Show respect when you talk with them.

"Do not use cripple or lame, even if you are just joking.

"Though life has handed many difficulties to them, disabled people are often independent and self-reliant.

"Volunteers should offer assistance on a basis of equality and mutual respect...

"Disabled people can be defensive and have a strong sense of inferiority."

China's treatment of the disabled has in the past angered swimming great Dawn Fraser, who cited it as one reason she won't be going to Beijing.

She said in April she had seen disabled athletes spat on in the streets in Beijing during university games in the mid-1990s.

Volunteers at the Beijing Games are also given some very specific instructions on how to sit, stand, walk and talk properly.

A handshake should last from three to five seconds, the manual states, and the body and arm should form a 60 degree angle.

An "appropriate" personal space on social occasions is from 1.2 to 3.6 metres, but for work colleagues it is 1.2 to 2.1 metres, and 2.1 to 3.6 metres is good for strangers.

When sitting, volunteers are told to avoid hooking the chair with one foot ("low-class and boorish"), stretching out their legs ("rough"), crossing the legs in a "4" shape ("cocky and impolite") and continually changing positions ("underbred").

When standing, the guide warns against shaking any part of the body ("careless"), putting two hands in pockets ("frivolous"), crossing both arms ("defensive"), standing with two arms or one arm akimbo ("offensive") and standing with two legs crossed ("too easygoing").

It says taking steps too large or too small looks "strained", though it does not specify how large the step should be.

The Olympics run from August 8-24, while the Paralympics follow from September 6-17.

Source:

http://optuszoo.news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=569510&rss=yes&_cobr=optus

Discrimination in Travel Insurance?

The following news comes from Only Finance.com:

Travel insurers have been accused of contravening the Disability Discrimination Act by unfairly treating 9 million sufferers of medical conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, and Parkinson’s disease etc in the UK.

Managing Director of karmainsurance.com, Brian Wright who made the allegation, said they flout the law which requires insurers to justify their action if they wished to differently treat people with medical conditions from others.

Reminding that premiums ought to be based on actuarial statistics and thorough knowledge of a condition, he said the opposite is usually what happens.

“As soon as people with pre-existing medical conditions ask for a travel quote, discriminatory assumptions are made and they’re faced with higher insurance premiums or no quote at all,” he explained.

In a recent survey by Parkinson’s Disease Society, in a sample of 10,000 respondents, it was found that 27 per cent of people had either been quoted increased premiums for travel insurance or refused cover.

This was in spite of the fact that Parkinson’s does not affect longevity.

Also, another study revealed that diabetics had been given quotes four times more expensive than the normal price.

For the full story see:

http://www.onlyfinance.com/Travel-Insurance-News/12749064-Travel-Insurers-Accused-of-Breaching-Disability-Act.aspx

<--!

Mr Brian said a situation whereby insurers stigmatise those with pre-existing conditions should be challenged. “They take a one size fits all approach, believing specific conditions present the same symptoms and are at the same stages.”

But their argument or judgement often crumbles under scrutiny as they have no statistical proof to justify their assumption, he said.

Although most people heading off on holidays and wanting to purchase cover do not see their condition as medical but a normal way of life, the expert said insurers often refuse to accept this position.

He thus called on the industry to reconsider its risk assessment, pricing strategies and intrusive medical screening processes so as to make insurance policy accessible and affordable to everyone.

--!>

Museum Accessibility News

On June 3, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the terms of a settlement agreement with the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., to make the museum more accessible to people with visual impairments. Ray Bloomer, director of education for the National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University, provided DOJ and the museum staff with technical guidance on the accessibility needs and expectations of visitors who may be blind or have low vision.

Ray Bloomer, a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service, said the settlement agreement requires the museum to provide for increased program access by including such design features as the provision of tactile maps of the museum and floor plan that visitors can borrow; qualified audio describers for any requested museum audiovisual presentations, computer interactives or exhibits; qualified readers to read labels in all exhibitions; and a representative sample of objects, models and/or reproductions of objects to communicate the main themes of the exhibitions for tactile examination, accompanied by audio description. Bloomer has advocated for such measures for the past 20 years and expects the agreement to result in design improvements in other museums.

"This is a wake-up call to other museums," Bloomer said. "It lets people with disabilities, in particular those who are blind or have low vision, know that they have a right to receive equal benefit and enjoyment of the museum experience."

Bloomer lost his sight at age 17 and has since become one of the nation's most prominent experts on museum access for people with disabilities. He has worked to improve access for people with visual impairments and advocated for universal design on projects such as the Statute of Liberty restoration, Trail of Tears exhibit at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, Okla., and the Yosemite Valley Visitors Center exhibit hall in California.

NCA, part of the IU Bloomington School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, provides training, technical assistance and research on the inclusion of people with disabilities in parks and recreation. To learn more, visit www.ncaonline.org/.

Bloomer can be reached at 812-856-4422.

Source:

Indiana University press release
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/8343.html

Documenting the Demand for a Solution to 'Wrap Rage' (Packages That Even Adults Can't Open!)

Future Food and Drinks Packaging: Emerging ethical, food safe and convenient formats is a new report on product trends. One key finding from this report according to the press release:

An ageing population in China, Japan, the US and Europe is driving demand for products suited to the older consumer, including easy grip and easy open packaging as well as smaller portion sizes for consumers with smaller appetites.

Socio-demographic shifts are creating demand for more convenient packaging solutions. Ageing populations in the US, Europe and Japan are placing new demands on packaging design. Easy open, easy grip and smaller portion sizes are all being developed with ageing populations in mind. More fragmented family lives, the growth in the number of women working, growth in single person households and a loss of cooking skills are all contributing to increased demand for more conveniently packaged food formats.

To order this report: Future Food and Drinks Packaging: Emerging ethical, food safe and convenient formats

http://www.reportlinker.com/p088571/Future-Food-and-Drinks-Packaging-Emerging-ethical-food-safe-and-convenient-formats.html

For more information, please contact
Reportlinker.com
Nicolas
(718) 887-3024
Email: nbo@reportlinker.com

One-fifth of Japanese Population Aged 65 or Older in Rapidly Aging Japan

In 2007 the senior population of Japan rose to more than 27 million in 2007. Since 2005 when the country's population peaked at 128 million population has been in decline. This "age-inversion" phenomenon is widely studied among aging and disability scholars but largely unknown to the public and not adequately addressed by policy makers. The Cabinet Office of Japan recently issued a report on the topic.

The annual report by the Cabinet Office showed Japanese aged 65 or over making up 21.5 percent of the population last year, while the so-called "late-stage elderly" — those 75 or older — accounted for nearly 10 percent.

"We have become a full-fledged aged society," the report declared.

"The pace of aging has reached the highest level (among advanced countries) at the beginning of the 21st century, and is expected to enter a phase that no other country in the world has yet experienced," the study added.

For signs of things to come read One-fifth of Japanese population aged 65 or older in rapidly aging Japan

Universal Desgn Moves to Vacation Homes (and a Half-Step Closer to Mainstreaming in the Outdoor Leisure Industry)

Yes, we have been tell you that it's coming:

Tim Goorbarry, a Port Hope-based building consultant with Viceroy Homes, says he's starting to see a demand for an unusual cottage luxury - an elevator.

"In the past two or three years we are starting to see more of a request for that, if [clients] like the idea of keeping bedrooms separate and you build one floor on top of another floor."

He notes that installing an elevator in a cottage (or urban home) isn't necessarily a costly venture. They cost $20,000 to $25,000, he says, noting that the expense of laying the foundation of a sprawling single-storey cottage would be the same as for a two-storey building with an elevator.

This article in the Globe and Mail by Katherine Laidlaw goes on to describe forward-thinking cottage owners John and Deb Douma:

The Brampton couple began researching different design options when they bought the plot of land on the Bruce Peninsula nine years ago. Accessibility eventually became the driving factor behind their cottage's design.

"Even though we're young, we thought if it were a place we would retire to some day, it would be a smart move to have the main level contained," says Mr. Douma.

For the full story see, On Lion's Head, the livin' is easy

On Lion's Head, the livin' is easy
Cottage owners like John and Deb Douma are wise to design their getaway homes with their future needs in mind, experts say

KATHERINE LAIDLAW

Special to The Globe and Mail

May 16, 2008

On the shores of Georgian Bay, in the village of Lion's Head, stands a two-storey cottage with tan siding, wooden front steps and a red door. A stroll around back in the early morning hours - with the waves lapping at the shore and the sun rising over the bay - reveals a basement walkout. In short, the cottage looks much like many others along the water.

Once you step inside, you see that the open-concept main floor - with 1,200 square feet - includes the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. And the cottage's two main-floor bathrooms have been enlarged so that lifts and handles can be installed, while the doorways are extra wide.

"You could manoeuvre around in [the two bathrooms] if you were in a wheelchair," says John Douma, 49, who owns the house with his wife, Deb, 48. "[The doorways] are wide enough that you could go through them with a wheelchair."

The Brampton couple began researching different design options when they bought the plot of land on the Bruce Peninsula nine years ago. Accessibility eventually became the driving factor behind their cottage's design.

"Even though we're young, we thought if it were a place we would retire to some day, it would be a smart move to have the main level contained," says Mr. Douma.

The 500-square-foot second level, with two bedrooms and a bathroom, is intended for the use of the couple's children and grandchildren. (The basement, at 1,200 square feet, houses the furnace and is used only for storage.)

The physical site of a cottage is also a major consideration when designing for accessibility. The Douma's property doesn't present any major difficulties, however.

There are three small wooden steps in front that could be easily converted into a ramp for wheelchair use, Mr. Douma says.

The back lot could easily be enjoyed by retirees, wheelchairs or not, he adds. It slopes gently as the property gets closer to the water, and there is a level terrace and rock garden behind the cottage. "There's a flagstone patio with a fire pit and a sitting area on one side," he says. Again, a ramp would make getting to the smooth patio and fire pit in a wheelchair relatively easy.

Both the Douma's builder and a real estate agent they consulted advised the couple to consider their later years in deciding on a design. The agent said greater accessibility would improve resale options if they decided not to retire there.

Mr. Douma says he and his wife sifted through a lot of plans to find the right shape and size for their recreational home, which is about 80 kilometres north of Owen Sound.

He says that building the master suite on the ground floor didn't increase the cost of the building, which was completed in 2005.

That the couple had accessibility requirements for their cottage isn't particularly unusual these days. With population aging, there has been a shift in the design and construction of vacation properties in Canada.

Blair MacKenzie, sales manager at Pan-Abode log home builders, based in Richmond, B.C., says that he asks his clients when he first meets them if they have considered how their cottage might meet their needs when they are older.

"Our primary customers are baby boomers - they're the bulk of the cottage customers," Mr. MacKenzie says. "Definitely people are planning longer. That's part of the process when we talk to them about what they'll use it for."

He says he has seen an increased demand for designs that position the necessities on the main floor for easy access and long-term use.

Mr. MacKenzie lists three basic elements of an accessible cottage. The first is having the master bedroom and, if possible, a second bedroom on the ground floor.

"Couples tend to sleep apart the older they get, so it gives someone the option to change rooms," he explains. "It also gives them an option for guests to sleep on the main floor, particularly friends who would be in the same age group."

A second element is an open-concept design. Combining the kitchen, dining and living areas means less travel through the cottage and simpler communication.

"It allows you not to have to travel throughout the house to talk to somebody," Mr. MacKenzie points out.

As well, "if somebody had to be in a wheelchair ... you're not dealing with hallways."

The third element: spacious bathrooms with enough room to manoeuvre a wheelchair or install added features for bathtub or toilet use.

"If you ever have to put extra handles or a lift system, you need more space for that."

Wide, easily mountable stairs from the outside to the main floor are also essential.

Tim Goorbarry, a Port Hope-based building consultant with Viceroy Homes, says he's starting to see a demand for an unusual cottage luxury - an elevator.

"In the past two or three years we are starting to see more of a request for that, if [clients] like the idea of keeping bedrooms separate and you build one floor on top of another floor."

He notes that installing an elevator in a cottage (or urban home) isn't necessarily a costly venture. They cost $20,000 to $25,000, he says, noting that the expense of laying the foundation of a sprawling single-storey cottage would be the same as for a two-storey building with an elevator.

"Some people look at it as an additional expense. The truth is ... the cost of the elevator can balance out the [one-storey cottage]."

Mr. Goorbarry also encourages customers to consider accessibility when planning for their future cottage life, but says many people aren't comfortable thinking about potential needs.

"It really doesn't take much change in the planning to make sure your doors are 30, 32, 34 inches wide ... if wheelchair accessibility is a concern," he says.

"[But] to look ahead 20 to 25 years is a long way for a lot of folks."

_!>

Make $2.7 Million in Six Months Selling ADA-Compliant Hotel Rooms?

Wheelchairtravel.us has a unique business concept: corner the market on ADA-compliant hotel rooms. The business plan won second place in the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge and "expects to sell more than 67,000 nights over a six-month period, which would produce a gross income of $2.7 million."

If nothing else, the "secret" is getting out about the consumer power of the rapidly-growing market that is the disability community.

"While many travel websites offer information for special needs travelers and allow customers to request such rooms, none guarantees that you will get such a room, explained Robert Holtzman, the founder of Wheelchairtravel.us."

That, of course, is the reality driving the legal action against Hotels.com (See also here.)

Creating a specialized channel (separate but equal?) for marketing adapted hotel rooms runs counter to the international move toward Universal Design, mainstreamining, and Minimum Guidelines for Hotel Accessibility but it does have a certain marketing logic. As web designers say, "Findability precedes usability."

Wheelchairtravel.us, which is still in the planning stages, would make its money the same way most travel sites do -- buying rooms in bulk and selling them at a mark-up.

Holtzman estimates that start-up costs -- including a $550,000, 180-day national marketing campaign -- would be about $1.8 million.

The story on Wheelchairtravel.us:

Website designed for wheelchair travelers
http://www.miamiherald.com/business_monday/story/537695.html

Cruiselines 'must make ships more accessible for disabled travellers'

This May 15, 2008 article from Travel Weekly demonstrates the kind of demand/supply bottlenecks caused by years of resistance to Universal Design on the part of port authorities and cruise lines.

A travel agent who specialises in selling holidays to the disabled has called on the cruise industry to make their ships more accessible or risk losing business.

Accessible Travel and Leisure agent and Travel Weekly Cruise Club member Tracy McFall said she had lost bookings worth almost £15,000 in the last three months as wheelchair-bound [sic] customers were uncomfortable about arrangements made to accommodate them.

Full article at Travel Weekly

Although cruise companies have no legal obligation to meet the needs of disabled customers, McFall, who uses crutches having contracted rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 18 months, is hoping improvements will be made.

She said: "The fantastic thing about cruises is that they cut out the flights if they are departing from a UK port. This is a huge help as there are people out there who can’t fly because of their medical condition. They can access the world on a cruise.

"Even with all the cruises in the UK we are still restricted on what we can offer disabled people."

McFall added two of the bookings she lost were on P&O Cruises’ Artemis worth up to £7,600 because it proved impossible to disembark the ship in certain ports. McFall also lost a £7,000 booking with Norwegian Cruise Line as the company would not accept a customer’s electric wheelchair.

A P&O Cruises spokeswoman admitted that while the ability to disembark a disabled person depends on the angle of the gangway in a port, problems are worse on smaller ships such as Artemis.

She added: "P&O Cruises has always excelled itself on facilities for those with disabilities and we make every effort to accommodate passengers with impaired mobility."

NCL UK sales director Nick Wilkinson said: "We appreciate feedback from our agent partners and will be contacting Accessible Travel and Leisure to resolve this issue. NCL welcomes all passengers onboard our ships, including those with disabilities."
-!>

One Post-Katrina New Orleans Home to be Retrofitted with Universal Design, Green Features

From press release:

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Senior Lending Network are joining forces with Rebuilding Together New Orleans to rebuild a home damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers from NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council will participate in a two-day community service project May 17-18 to help rebuild the home of displaced owners Hazel Tate, age 87, and Hilda Levy, age 67. On May 18, the three groups will host a media event featuring legendary actor Robert Wagner, spokesperson for the Senior Lending Network, to meet the homeowners and provide guided tours of the home and show its progress to date.

The purpose of the project, which is being sponsored by the Senior Lending Network, is to make the home, which is owned by an elderly daughter and mother, both age-appropriate and environmentally friendly through the inclusion of aging-in-place and green features. While a volunteer crew works on the interior and exterior, the turn-of-the-century shotgun home will be equipped with universal design components such as a no-step entrance, wider doorways, ADA-compliant grab bars, raised countertops, comfort-height toilets, ENERGY STAR appliances and other energy-efficient features.

Event --

WHAT:

The community service project is being held in advance of NAHB’s 2008 Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing Symposium,SM May 19-21 in New Orleans. Presented by the NAHB 50+ Housing Council, the Symposium is the premier educational and networking event for industry professionals who serve the growing 50+ housing market.

This event also kicks off the Senior Lending Network’s Senior Independent Living Month from May 15 to June 15. All mortgage originators affiliated with the Senior Lending Network will be asked to join forces to promote social responsibility and the ethical treatment of seniors and discuss the positive benefits of reverse mortgages.

Rebuilding Together New Orleans is a local affiliate of the national non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together, Inc. By utilizing volunteer labor and corporate sponsorship, Rebuilding Together New Orleans is able to rebuild the homes of low-income, elderly and disabled residents who are still trying to return home. Since Katrina, the organization has been able to completely rehabilitate 95 homes, with another 30 in progress.

WHEN:

Sunday, May 18, 2008

3:00-4:00 p.m.

WHERE:

1825-27 St. Roch St., New Orleans

*Directions available upon request.

WHO:

* Robert Wagner, legendary actor and Senior Lending Network spokesperson
* Joanne (Jo) Theunissen, Chair, NAHB 50+ Housing Council
* Kristen Gisleson Palmer, Director, Rebuilding Together New Orleans
* A volunteer crew of more than 40 NAHB members, including builders, developers, architects, remodelers, and experts in universal design and green building.

REGISTRATION:

Registration is complimentary for members of the working press for both the media event and Symposium. For more information, please contact Jeff Jenkins at 800-368-5242, ext. 8292, or jjenkins@nahb.com.

Visit www.nahb.org/build4boomers for more information and to download a copy of the Building for Boomers & Beyond: 50+ Housing SymposiumSM brochure.

For more information about the Senior Lending Network, visit

www.seniorlendingnetwork.com.

Comparative Analysis of Disability Laws in the United States to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

One way to understand the Rolling Rains Report - and the network thriving behind the published word - is to think of it as the Think Tank and resource archive for implementing Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

A new tool exists to help understand the impact of the CRPD with reference to US standards. The United States National Council of Disabilities has released a Comparative Analysis of Disability Laws in the United States to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). I encourage readers to facilitate similar studies in their own countries and disseminate them internationally. In particular I encourage analysis of Article 30 and contribution of those analyses to the Google group Article 30: The CRPD on Tourism, Sports, & Leisure

Here is the document's analysis of Article 30 of the CRPD as it relates to US Law:

Article 30 - Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure, and Sport

The United States’ approach to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport is based almost entirely on an antidiscrimination model. This means that to the extent that such opportunities exist for the general population, the federal government provides a legal right to people with disabilities to participate in such activities without discrimination. In terms of enforcement, the Department of Justice has made accessibility of cultural and recreation facilities a priority. But the larger project envisioned by Article 30, including enabling persons with disabilities to develop and utilize creative and artistic potential, establishing support and recognition of specific cultural and linguistic identities, and encouraging mainstreaming of sporting opportunities, is largely left to private actors and advocacy organizations. Accordingly, a gap exists between U.S. law and CRPD protection, albeit one that could be filled with aggressive implementation and/or additional Congressional action.

In the Appendix they further elaborate:

Coverage of United States Law

United States domestic law has several provisions that prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport. Many such activities take place at privately owned places of public accommodation – that is, privately owned businesses or establishments that open themselves up to the public – and are covered by Title III of the ADA. As such, the owners and operators cannot discriminate in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.

Title III’s reach has therefore extended significantly into recreation and cultural opportunities for people with disabilities. The organizers of sports and recreation activities must make reasonable accommodations unless such accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods or services being provided. Thus, for example, the Professional Golf Association had to provide a golf cart as a reasonable accommodation to a professional golfer to allow him to participate in tournament play. A requested accommodation also does not have to made if it causes a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Title III has been applied to sports leagues; i.e., its coverage is not limited to actual locations.

As discussed above, pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules requiring closed captioning of most, though not all, television programming.

Similarly, as with any Title III covered entity, facilities that house cultural and recreational opportunities have accessibility obligations. Facilities that predate the ADA must be accessible to the extent that doing so is “readily achievable,” and new facilities (and modifications to existing facilities) must be more fully accessible to people with disabilities in accordance with the ADAAG standards. The accessibility of entertainment venues (sports stadiums and movie theatres) has been a heavily litigated area. In particular, there have been several “line of sight” cases, involving the issue of whether people who used wheelchairs are entitled to seats where they can see over people who stand in the rows in front of them. Another frequently litigated issue is whether wheelchair seating in stadium-style movie theaters must offer choices of position within the theater, and to what extent wheelchair seating must be integrated into the stadium seating section of the theater.

Some of the parties that control and manage recreational opportunities are public entities; for example, public parks and high school athletic associations. Therefore, Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (to the extent these entities receive federal funds) are relevant as well. A public entities’ obligations regarding recreation opportunities under Title II and Section 504 closely track those of private operators of places of public accommodation: they cannot discriminate on the basis of disability in their operations (which includes a duty to provide reasonable accommodation), and must make their facilities accessible. One frequently litigated issue in this area involves public sports associations’ role as standard-setters for who gets to participate in high school athletics.

The (Sometimes) Walking Wounded

War creates casualties. So do ritualized battles. Civilized nations maintain humane systems appropriate for these facts of life.

While it is supremely tragic to endure the parade of death and disability that is the product of war there is a redemptive quality in the compassion and instinct for social reconstruction following war or natural disasters. We have seen it after events such as Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, or the Chengdu earthquake. Even as we have commented on the incompetence and bad faith efforts in response to Katrina and are now witnessing the absence of a fully human response in Myanmar we see Bruce Curtis at the World Institute on Disability (WID) recently returning from a tour of national redemption in Iraq.

I experienced a seismic wave of dissonance while scanning through my email today. Sequentially I learned:

• Bruce Curtis, with WID, is contributing to peacemaking in Iraq by empowering Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs)
• Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised a $100 million Federal Budget funding boost for families with disabled adult children "to help older carers of children with a disability to plan for the transition of their children to appropriate supported accommodation in the future."
• At 36, former NFL player Brian DeMarco walks with a cane because of a spinal injury from sports yet he and his family have been left homeless three times due to uncovered medical expenses.
  

Or to state it differently:

• Regular citizens with disabilities like Bruce Curtis step in providing global leadership in a conflict situation.


• National electorates reject political philosophies of unmitigated greed and the abdication of the governmental mandate to insure the common good.


• Heroes of the politically-anesthetizing war-substitute spectacle of professional sports are dumped on the street. Stripped of their role as warriors of the playing field they are shunted into the ranks of the untouchable ostracized -- the marginalized community of people with disabilities.



The solution is to be found in the political will to enact social inclusion.

This site revolves around implementation of Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, "Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure and Sport".

No individual, no government, no nation -- no sports team -- is exempt.

Article 30 of the UN CRPD:

http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Scott-Rains/tourism-in-the-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-crpd.html

Posted by rollingrains at 02:58 PM

New Zealand Recevies the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the Government and people of New Zealand, the recipient of this year's Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award, for their efforts to improve the lives of those living with disabilities.

The Award is presented by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute to a UN Member State that makes noteworthy progress towards the full participation of citizens with disabilities as called for in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In his remarks at the award ceremony, Mr. Ban noted that New Zealand is widely recognized for its leadership on disability issues, particularly as a leading proponent of the Disabilities Convention, which just entered into force on 3 May.

Ambassador Don McKay of New Zealand chaired the committed tasked with drafting the Convention, and his "inspired leadership ensured an open, transparent and inclusive process that led us to a successful outcome," the Secretary-General noted.

The Ambassador's leadership was a reflection of his country's deep commitment to disability issues domestically, Mr. Ban added, noting that the Government's comprehensive disability strategy led New Zealand to adopt Sign Language as its third official language in 1996. It has also promoted quality living for persons with disabilities within their communities.

"As a result of these many similar measures, New Zealand has become a model for the world on disability issues," said Mr. Ban. "Your example strengthens our resolve to ensure human rights and development for all – especially through the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in every level of society, from the local to the global."

The Secretary-General's own country, the Republic of Korea, was the first recipient of the Award, which was established in 1995.

Source: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26585&Cr=disab&Cr1=

Ministra Suplicy Lança Programa Viaja Mais Jovens (Portuguese)

A ministra do Turismo, Marta Suplicy, lançou ante ontem um novo programa de incentivo ao turismo no Brasil. Segundo reportagem "metade das vagas" dsse programa, Viaja Mais Jovens "serão destinadas a alunos das escolas da capital [da Acre] e o restante para estudantes de municípios com baixo desempenho nos Indicadores de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (Ideb). ´´Na hora em que você leva o estudante que não tem acesso a alguma coisa que faz parte da cultura, você está investindo no conhecimento, na oportunidade dele em olhar o mundo, mas não por aquela janelinha pequena que ele vê da casa dele´

E verdade pois sabemos que a deficiencia ocure mais com pobreza. Viaja Mais Jovens tem condicoes transportar jovems portadores de deficiencia? Tem planes atingir acessibilidade nos teatros, museus, e outros pontes turistico-culturais

Ministra lança programa Viaja Mais Jovens

Os jovens são o novo público-alvo dos programas de incentivo ao turismo no Brasil. A ministra do Turismo, Marta Suplicy, lançou nesta quarta-feira, 7 de maio, o programa Viaja Mais Jovens. A iniciativa faz parte do programa Viaja Mais, que desde o ano passado se dedicava à terceira idade. Segundo a ministra, o foco principal estará nas viagens de estudo, o turismo pedagógico. O projeto piloto começará com 600 estudantes de escolas públicas do Acre que visitarão o Vale do Acre. A ação terá início com alunos da 6ª série do ensino fundamental. ´´É um projeto do turismo, mas muito relacionado à educação, porque ele transforma aquela viagem em conhecimento´´, defendeu Marta. O ministério, em parceria com o governo do Acre, investiu R$ 400 mil no projeto. Em um primeiro momento, metade das vagas serão destinadas a alunos das escolas da capital e o restante para estudantes de municípios com baixo desempenho nos Indicadores de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (Ideb). As viagens serão integralmente custeadas pelo ministério em parceria com o estado. Segundo Marta, o Distrito Federal também manifestou interesse em aderir ao programa. ´´O projeto vai beneficiar o Brasil todo, mas principalmente o estudante que não teve a oportunidade de viajar. Você viajar, primeiro no seu estado, é você se apropriar da sua cultura´´, afirmou. De acordo com Marta, o ministério está à disposição de outros estados que queiram integrar o Viaja Mais Jovem. ´´Na hora em que você leva o estudante que não tem acesso a alguma coisa que faz parte da cultura, você está investindo no conhecimento, na oportunidade dele em olhar o mundo, mas não por aquela janelinha pequena que ele vê da casa dele´´, disse a ministra.

Agência Brasil
Fonte: Hotel On Line

My Green Map

GreenMap.org is a project that I have followed with interest for several years. I attempted to connect up with one of their projects in Brazil last week but scheduling did not allow it. Below is more on what GreenMaps is doing that's new:

Green Map System has promoted inclusive participation in sustainable community development around the world since 1995, using mapmaking as our medium. Over 450 locally-led map projects in 50 countries have successfully published 335 Green Maps, used by millions to connect with green living, nature, social and cultural resources near home and while traveling. While all use Green Map Icons to highlight both positive and challenging sites, each powerful guide is unique.

Now, we're taking our inclusiveness mission the next step by developing an open interactive Green Mapmaking tool that will help people worldwide quickly share their own selection of sustainability sites, pathways and resources online.

Merging local knowledge and our freshly updated iconography with a Google Map, the resulting interactive Green Maps will be viewable from our own and many other websites, starting in mid-2008. With open commentary, green ratings, multimedia elements, 'impacts index', mobile access, onsite markers and more, everyone will be able to get involved.

My Green Map (working name) will give voice to thousands and ensure that an enormous diversity of successful sustainability activities and models are shared with the broadest audience possible. Merging the booming ‘going local’ and green development movements with social networking and interactive mapping, My Green Map begins with our network's collective inventory of green sites. Each of their maps will be linked to the related profile and locally-designed full-scale Green Map already viewable at GreenMap.org. Once we have helped them overcome technical barriers to participation, we intend to phase in public mapmaking and behavior change assessment, mobile formats, thematic worldviews, and more.

To help people of all ages impact current conditions, My Green Map will encourage local participation that counters global climate change, supports vibrant biodiversity and heritage preservation while addressing social and cultural challenges. It will promote more diverse involvement by guiding newcomers to get involved in important greening activities, encourage long-time residents to make more sustainable everyday choices, build students' eco-literacy and leadership skills, provide visitors with best practice models to share back home, and motivate decision-makers to act for the common good.

See http://www.greenmap.org/greenhouse/en/news/ggm!

Publishing Disability Directories as a Revenue Source: CapeAbilities

The Cape Cod Disability Access Directory is a project of CapeAbilities.

When he learned last year that funding was desperately needed to continue publishing the Cape Cod Disability Access Directory, Larry Thayer, CapeAbilities' executive director, sought a grant from the Lyndon Lorusso Charitable Foundation.

The grant saw the directory through last year's publication, allowing JAM Specialists' Jean Ann McLaughlin to purchase hardware and software to produce the publication and CapeAbilities to train staff to assess potential sites to be included.

This year, Thayer and McLaughlin invited the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD), one of last year's sponsors of the directory, to join them as co-publishers. "We were able to use last year's advertising revenue to fund this year's directory," Thayer said.

Before CapeAbilities' involvement, McLaughlin was founder and sole publisher of the directory. "I made all the site visits myself," McLaughlin said. "That's becoming increasingly difficult for me to do."

Disabled as a result of a drunk-driving accident, in 1996 McLaughlin turned her disability into an asset for Cape Codders and the millions of visitors with challenges by founding JAM Specialists INC., which publishes the annual Cape Cod Disability Access Directory.

CapeAbilities' clients have taken over responsibility for delivering the directories to senior centers, libraries, chambers of commerce, the National Seashore, and increasingly, hotels and motels.

kedlocal.com/dennis/news/lifestyle/health/x1632299787

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.

Skype presenta un servicio de videollamada para sordos (Spanish)

Madrid. (EFE).- Las personas sordas podrán comunicarse a través de una aplicación de videollamada on line de alta calidad que se ha presentado hoy por Skype y Logitech en la Asociación de Sordos de Madrid.
Más información sobre enlace www.skype.com

Este sistema permite transmitir mensajes gestuales a cualquier parte del mundo descargando de la página web de Skype el software que permite establecer la comunicación de manera gratuita.

Sólo será necesario contar con un ordenador con conexión a Internet, el software de Skype y la vídeo cámara de alta calidad de Logitech por el precio de 99 euros.

El responsable de imagen y comunicación de Skype, David Málaga, apuntó en rueda de prensa que para las personas con disminución auditiva esta nueva aplicación tecnológica va a suponer un avance clave en el camino hacia el derrumbe de las barreras de la comunicación.

La vídeo cámara que se ha presentado hoy de Logitech ofrece una calidad de 30 imágenes por segundo y según el jefe de producto de Logitech, Max Valls, la cámara permite apreciar detalles y movimientos casi imperceptibles sin cortes ni saltos.

Accessibility Means More Than Entry for Wheelchairs

This article from the Cape Cod Times explores disability and citizenship. You can read the whole article here.

Every town on the Cape holds its town meeting in a location that at least meets the minimum standards to be accessible to voters who use wheelchairs.

But town meeting venues aren't always so accommodating for those who are visually or hearing-impaired.

The article goes on to document a lack of awareness of accessibility requirements by towns in the area. With financial pressures to save money this is not a hopeful sign.

The Independent Living Institute Launches New Version of its Accessible Vacation Home Exchange Service

This note from Sweden's Independent Living Institute:

The Independent Living Institute Accessible Vacation Home Exchange service has been greatly improved. It is now possible for you to add, delete, and revise your own entry, as well as add photos.

Swapping homes with other persons with similar needs, in other parts of the world, is a low-cost and practical alternative. You can find out in advance how accessible the vacation home is, since you can ask your swap partner relevant questions. And, unlike most other tourists, you’ll have an infrastructure of neighbors and local contacts in place as you arrive.

As the number of visitors to the Independent Living Institute website continues to grow, so will the exposure of your offer to swap homes.

Please take a look at www.independentliving.org/vacaswap.html and contact me, should you have any questions.

Thanking you,

Miles

miles.goldstick@independentliving.org

An Endemic Epidemic Gets the Media Coverge it Deserves

"Ludwig van Beethoven (the famous deaf composer) would not be allowed to fly alone on a Tiger Airways flight if he were alive today, because of the Singapore-owned airline's purported policy on deaf passengers."
.

A representative of Tiger Airways Australia told the group last month they could not make an interstate flight without a care provider who could hear. The group was allowed on the March 4 flight eventually, but was then sent a note by the flight attendant that they will not be allowed to fly alone on the airline again, the Herald Sun newspaper reported.

Source:
Airline Slammed on Deaf Policy

Airline Slammed on Deaf Policy

By ROD McGUIRK – 1 day ago

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Ludwig van Beethoven would not be allowed to fly alone on a Tiger Airways flight if he were alive today because of the Singapore-owned airline's purported policy on deaf passengers, a government minister said Friday.

Bill Shorten used the example of Beethoven — who famously continued composing until his death in 1827 despite losing his hearing — in condemning the treatment of deaf passengers by the Australian subsidiary of Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways.

The policy bars deaf passengers from flying unless accompanied by a fare-paying adult care provider, a Tiger Airways reservations agent who said she goes by only one name, Jinky, told The Associated Press.

But airline spokesman Matt Hobbs denied that the airline had such a policy, and said he was investigating why air crews and call center staff in the Philippines were telling passengers otherwise.

Shorten, Australia's parliamentary secretary for disabilities and children's services, said he telephoned the airline Friday to tell them that barring deaf people from flying alone was wrong.

"Under this, Beethoven would never have been able to catch a plane" on his own, Shorten told Sky Television. "Just because people are deaf doesn't mean that they're stupid."

A group of four deaf adults has lodged a complaint with the Australian government's anti-discrimination watchdog agency after a representative of Tiger Airways Australia told them last month that they could not make an interstate flight without a care provider who could hear, the Herald Sun newspaper reported Friday.

The group was eventually permitted to take their seats on the March 4 flight but a flight attendant told them they would not be allowed to fly alone again on the airline, the newspaper said.

Hobbs, Tiger Airways Australia's head of corporate communications, said the cabin manager had written the four a note saying: "In future, so you know, you'll need to travel with a carer for safety reasons."

"We're clarifying with all staff that deaf people do not require a carer to travel with them," Hobbs said, adding that he could not explain the widespread misunderstanding within his company.

"We are apologetic and very sorry that the people involved in this feel in any way that they've been discriminated against or upset by this in any way," he said.

Hobbs said his company's sister airline, Tiger Airways Singapore, had changed its policy that once required deaf passengers to be accompanied by a care provider.

The Australian subsidiary of Singapore-based Tiger Aviation entered the Australian domestic aviation market last November. Its Australian competitors allow deaf passengers to fly alone.

International Coalition Launches Groundbreaking Disability Rights Fund

Press Release:

BOSTON, MA – The Open Society Institute, The Sigrid Rausing Trust, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and an anonymous donor today announced a groundbreaking collaborative to support the human rights for people with disabilities.

Launched on the first anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD), the Disability Rights Fund will provide financial support for human rights advocacy in the developing world and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union. The broad objective of the Fund will be to empower disabled persons organizations around the world to effectively implement and monitor the CPRD.

“The Fund is a unique partnership among donors and the worldwide disability community,” said Emily Martinez, Director of Special Initiatives at the Open Society Institute. “It will directly support the human rights work of disabled persons organizations in the developing world.”

The CRPD recognizes that self-representation is essential to the enjoyment of human rights. It underscores the importance of including people with disabilities in the development of disability law, policies and programs. Through its unique governance structure, the Disability Rights Fund incorporates this principle.

A global advisory panel, made up of 12 individuals, most of whom are persons with disabilities, will provide recommendations on grantmaking strategies for the Fund; four of the Panel members will also serve on the Fund’s grantmaking decision body. The members of the panel come from five continents and reflect a broad cross-section of the disability community. The majority were nominated by international and regional disabled persons organizations.

The structure of the Fund not only reflects the international disability community’s slogan, “Nothing About Us Without Us,” it also reflects a growing trend within the grantmaking community to better listen to the communities they seek to serve and to redefine the relationship between grantmaker and grantee in the interest of more effective grantmaking.

Grants disbursed by the Disability Rights Fund will be centered on three major areas: increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in their communities through trainings and networking opportunities; developing awareness of the CPRD among stakeholders; and supporting advocacy projects that promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities. The Fund expects to make its first grants in late spring/early summer 2008.

“The broad, international support for the Disability Rights Fund is a remarkable characteristic of this grantmaking enterprise. It is our hope that this diversity in funding sources will expand as the Fund develops,” said Diana Samarasan, Director of the Fund.

####

MARCH 31, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diana Samarasan, Director
Telephone: 617-261-4593
Email: dsamarasan@disabilityrightsfund.org

Air Passenger Rights in the UK?

Richard Rieser, Director, Disability Equality in Education (DEE) has written the article at Inclusion Week entitled The Social Model of Disability. I think some of the ideas contained in it will gain some new press coverage as one of his travel companions textmailed me a moment ago with Twitter-like reflexes:

" Scott - Watch out for a press release. A member of Equality 2025 was taken off a plane and refused a flight by air france from london to belfast..."

Reiser begins his article with a review of the damage caused by the medical model and the absolution it promises to those who then fail to perceive any social responsibility to adopt Universal Design:

The 'medical model' of disability sees the disabled person as the problem.

We are to be adapted to fit into the world as it is. If this is not possible, then we are shut away in some specialised institution or isolated at home, where only our most basic needs are met. The emphasis is on dependence, backed up by the stereotypes of disability that call forth pity, fear and patronising attitudes.

Usually the focus is on the impairment rather than the needs of the person. The power to change us seems to lie within the medical and associated professions, with their talk of cures, normalisation and science. Often our lives are handed over to them.

Other people's assessments of us, usually non-disabled professionals, are used to determine where we go to school, what support we get and what type of education; where we live; whether or not we can work and what type of work we can do and indeed whether or not we are born at all, or are even allowed to procreate. Similar control is exercised over us by the design of the built environment presenting us with many barriers, thereby making it difficult or impossible for our needs to be met and curtailing our life chances. Whether in work, school, leisure and entertainment facilities, transport, training and higher education, housing or in personal, family and social life, it is practices and attitudes that disable us.

Read on at:

http://inclusion.uwe.ac.uk/inclusionweek/articles/socmod.htm

And watch for the press release. The Office of Her Majesty's Government Office for Disability Issues describes Equality 2025 as:

Equality 2025 is a big step forward towards the government meeting its commitment to implement the recommendations in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit report ‘Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People’.

Equality 2025 will carry out the promise to disabled people that they will have a direct voice into government to help us design polices and services that they really want.

Air France, are you creating the sort of "voice in government" that serves investors? Perhaps this pattern of treatment is part of a neatly conceived plan to "adjust shareholder value downward" on the order of the incident with passenger Adele Price:

Adele Price, 42, a British citizen, sued the airline in Manhattan federal court seeking unspecified damages.

Price, who was born without limbs because her mother took the drug thalidomide during pregnancy, said in the suit she is able to manipulate a wheelchair and has traveled by air many times.

The suit states that she had bought a ticket in 2000 for travel between Manchester, England and New York. After Price had checked her luggage, she alleged that she was stopped by an Air France agent who told her that "a head, one bottom and a torso cannot possibly fly on its own."

http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000156.html

The Trend Toward Meaningful Travel

Over at Conde Nast Jill Culora validates what we know about trends in tourism that are being drien by the aging of Boomers -- purpose-drive travel and travel for learning. Her article Twenty Trips doesn't make the obvious link to the principles of Inclusive Travel but that too is to be expected. In its current phase, with the explicit emphasis on the industry transformations necessary to accommodate those with disabilities, Boomers will not self-identify as disabled. They will demand the same transformations but shun the stigma of disability.

From Culora's article on the trend to meaningful travel:

Learning a new skill or delving into an area of interest—whether the French Resistance or Renaissance painting—while on vacation is the latest indulgence in travel. A recent Travel Industry Association survey reports 56 percent of travelers would like to take an educational trip—outranking interest even in spa and family travel—and ShawGuides.com, an Internet directory for travel learning opportunities, cites an increase in site traffic of between 10 and 15 percent annually. "More Americans than ever are looking for self-improvement," says Kristin Lamoureux, tourism studies director at George Washington University. "That's why we're seeing such growth in educational travel and experiential learning." The participants, she says, are mainly from among the 78 million baby boomers who make up more than 40 percent of all leisure travelers and who now have their families and finances in order and are eager to take up new challenges.

Source:

http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=12082

Universal Design Boom: REACT Survey

What happens in home trends gets carried over to hotels, resorts, and cruise ships:

Universal design booming: The baby boom generation and those planning for retirement are driving demand for easy-to-use features and floor plans. Sixty five percent of agents in the REACT survey said that the number of buyers looking for universal design features, such as a master bedroom on the main floor or a single story home, has increased in the last few years.

Source:
http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=6947&subcategory=140

The Benefits of Being Last to Market: AT&T Stumbles Onto UD

In an effort to catch up with the years of strategic advantage in product design enjoyed by world-class innovators in Universal Design in Japan, Korea, and other nations AT&T has released a simple restatement of Universal Design principles.

By branding UD as somehow proprietary to AT&T this cultural product of the Disability Rights Movement created and promoted by quadriplegic architect Ron Mace of North Carolina and further developed since its creation in the 1970's now seems to have achieved the same degree of ubiquity that leads to "greenwashing" marketing strategies.

Universal Design is a set of principles that launch the long hard process of good design not a "let-me-on-the-bandwagon-too" marketing campaign. The generation that invented Universal Design and the Disability Rights Movement - Baby Boomers - is well represented in the 36,200 references that come up when you Google the phrase "I hate my cell phone." AT&T, the future of your product line depends on getting UD right.

Botton line? Show us full lines of universally designed mobile phones operating on US networks - now!

"It is our goal that the concept of 'design for all' is not viewed as a constraint but as a catalyst for innovation across the industry," said Carlton Hill, vice president of Marketing for AT&T's mobile unit. "We believe that, by making our methodology on Universal Design available for all to see, we can show the importance and value of creating wireless products and services that are usable and beneficial to as many people as possible. The end result will be more choices for more consumers."

From FierceDeveloper:

AT&T announced it will publicly release its Universal Design methodology in an effort to encourage application developers and handset manufacturers to consider the needs of seniors and customers with disabilities when creating new mobile products and services. AT&T said principles of Universal Design--the practice of developing apps and products usable by the widest possible spectrum of subscribers--are employed in its fledgling Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier applications, which the operator released late last year to improve the user experience for customers suffering from impaired vision. AT&T said its methodology not only defines and explains the benefits of Universal Design but also several scenarios to further illustrate its relevance--the full document is available at http://developer.att.com/universaldesign.

Developers must first submit applications created via Universal Design principles to AT&T for certification if they wish for the apps to be available on the operator's Media Mall mobile site. Consumers who download premium applications will be billed by AT&T, which will split revenues with the developer. "It is our goal that the concept of 'design for all' is not viewed as a constraint but as a catalyst for innovation across the industry," said AT&T Mobility vice president of marketing Carlton Hill in a prepared statement. "We believe that, by making our methodology on Universal Design available for all to see, we can show the importance and value of creating wireless products and services that are usable and beneficial to as many people as possible. The end result will be more choices for more consumers."

For more on AT&T's Universal Design specs:
-read this release

Posted by rollingrains at 11:53 PM

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

Home Design Trends Survey of the American Institute of Architects.

Jenny Sullivan reports on the current Home Design Trends survey by the American Institute of Architects. The story continues to be that Universal Design and green design fit together:

Those consumers who are buying new or renovating their homes appear to be more budget conscious and environmentally minded than in years past. Renewable flooring and countertop materials ranked among most popular kitchen features in the latest poll (at 61 percent and 49 percent respectively), along with drinking water filtration systems (44 percent), and recycling centers (45 percent).

On the bathroom side, radiant heat flooring topped consumers' wish lists (at 60 percent), followed by multi-head showers (59 percent), doorless showers (59 percent), universal design elements (58 percent), low flow toilets (57 percent), hand showers (42 percent), and LED lighting (39 percent). These preferences indicate a similar greening of bathroom spaces, as well as mounting currency for accessible design features, no doubt fueled by the aging boomer population

ENAT: The European Network for Accessible Tourism

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

PRESS RELEASE

* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ongoing and future concerns include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Segway & Disability in San Francisco

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

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

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

Gordon Rattray on Disability Culture -- and Touring Africa

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

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

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

Brian Sterner on CNN Yesterday & the Today Show Tomorrow

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

Follow- up:

Dear Scott,

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

Sincerely,

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

“Working together we will make a difference.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

News on the Beijing Paralympics Games

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source:

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

Access to the Golden Gate National Recreational Area

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

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

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

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

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

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

Svayam Receives Pro Forma Apology from Jet Airways

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

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

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

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

Download apology from Jet Airways as .pdf

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

Fundaperdis de Caracas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Metas para 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Readings on a vision for inclusion in travel:

Waking Up to a Changed Travel Market

Defining the Market of Travelers with Disabilities

Theme Parks and Real Life

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

Vision Statement

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

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

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

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

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

Bluetooth as an Aid to Walking?

From the "What Will They Think of Next?" file comes this report at CNN on the use of Bluetooth technology as a substitute for the human nervous system. In effect, the technology that brings you hands-free cell phones frees a man without legs to walk. Here Joshua Bleill describes how his prosthetic legs work:

Bleill's set of prosthetics have Bluetooth receivers strapped to the ankle area. The Bluetooth device on each leg tells the other leg what it's doing, how it's moving, whether walking, standing or climbing steps, for example.

"They mimic each other, so for stride length, for amount of force coming up, going uphill, downhill and such, they can vary speed and then to stop them again," Bleill told CNN from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he's undergoing rehab.

"I will put resistance with my own thigh muscles to slow them down, so I can stop walking, which is always nice."

Hmmm, what do you get if you hit "redial" while you are asleep -- sleepwalking?

For the full story see, " Double amputee walks again due to Bluetooth Die to Bluetooth"
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/01/25/bluetooth.legs/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Around the World on a Skateboard!

Beth Haller has a blog called Media dis&dat. She has done a post on Kevin Connolly. Kevin traveled around the world on his skateboard. That's unique enough but Kevin was born without legs -- and he took along his camera to document people staring at him. From her site:

Connolly took 32,000 photos and has created an online exhibit, called The Rolling Exhibition at http://therollingexhibition.com/. It's a wonderful exhibit, which allows the viewer to see the world from a unique perspective. Many of the images are visually stunning because of the upward angle that captures aspects of the scene that one usually doesn't experience. I know its theme is the staring but the composition and subjects on the street make many of the images pure artistry. If this is any indication of his documentary abilities, I will be there to buy tickets to his first film.

http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com/2008/01/man-without-legs-photographs-staring.html

Kevin's personal site:
http://www.kevinmichaelconnolly.com/

Steak & Shake: Where ADA Compliance has Been Taken Off the Menu!

Americans with disabilities spend more than $13.6 billion annually on travel. The Open Doors Organization calculated that in 2003, persons with disabilities or reduced mobility spent 35 billion dollars in restaurants. According to the same study, more than 75% of these people eat out at restaurants at least once a week. But Karen at A Deaf Mom Shares Her World tells a story that gives these mind-numbing numbers some texture and reality.

Can it really that be that hard to spend our money? Maybe the misguided narratives about "plucky" super-crips "overcoming" their disabilities and achieving heroic feats that inspire TABs (look it up) have some validity. Buying a milkshake and completing the transaction with dignity intact rates high on the heroic achievement scale in this story of an encounter with Steak 'n Shake -- but her equanimity to the bile evident in the public comments about her post is where Karen's true strength of character is revealed. Insult added to injury:

So I told him about the Americans with Disabilities Act and I explained that taking orders through the window is an accommodation that I need because I can't use the speaker to place an order.

He kept insisting that orders need to be taken at the speaker. "If you had just let me know at the speaker that you needed accommodations then I could take your order through the window."

"But I'm DEAF! I can't hear on the speaker! When I drove up, the first thing that I told you was that I couldn't order back there because I can't hear through the speaker."

Read about her descent down Alice's Rabbit Hole here at Steak and Shake Denies Service

ASTA Files Comments with the Department of Transportation on Oversales and Denied Boarding Compensation

Press release:

ASTA, [the American Society of Travel Agents] filed comments today with the Department of Transportation (DOT) on the issue of Oversales and Denied Boarding Compensation. ASTA provided the DOT with numerous recommendations for updating the more than 20-year old rules that currently govern the process of Denied Boarding Compensation practices.

“This is unfortunately an issue that affects most passengers at one time or another,” said Cheryl Hudak, CTC, ASTA president and CEO. “ASTA’s recommendations, if implemented, would reduce the number of instances in which airline passengers are involuntarily bumped and, in the event that an airline is forced to bump a passenger, create a more stable and acceptable process for doing so.”

In its comments, ASTA:

• Stated that it is in favor of doubling the ceiling on compensation for involuntarily bumped passengers.

• Suggested that ceiling caps should be adjusted automatically every five years and based on the Consumer Price Index Consumer-Price-Index Oct-07 (CPI).

• Objected to the DOT permitting airlines to establish, without any control, preference as to who will be involuntarily bumped when they are unable to secure volunteers. The DOT currently allows airlines to decide who will be involuntarily bumped based on the price of a passenger’s ticket.

• Argued that anyone with a confirmed seat assignment should never be bumped. ASTA also suggested that if an airline reserves the right to bump passengers based on the price of their ticket, the airline should warn the passenger of this risk at the time of purchase.

• Argued that compensation practices for international and domestic travel should be treated identically and based on a combination of length of delay and distance.

• ASTA recommended that the rules abolish the use of vouchers in favor of cash payments, stating that only cash payments will create a full incentive for airlines to closely manage Denied Boarding Compensation.

For additional information or to read any of ASTA’s filed comments on Oversales and Denied Boarding Compensation, please visit, ASTA.org.

The mission of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable and growing and a rewarding field in which to work, invest and do business.

Contact: Kristina Rundquist/Sarah Wilhite, Phone: 703-739-8710

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

One Person, One Fare: Canadians in the Air

The Council of Canadians with Disabilities / Conseil des Canadiens avec Deficiences send the following press release:

Reaction to Landmark Canadian Transportation Agency Decision:
Disabled Canadians Jubilant to Have Transport Barrier Removed

Winnipeg, January 10, 2008 – Today the Canadian Transportation Agency
(CTA) released a landmark decision concerning the right of individuals with
disabilities to travel by air without having to pay for a second seat, for
an attendant or other use, to accommodate their disability. In a historic
decision in the “One Person, One Fare” case, the agency has recognized the
right of these individuals to have access to a second seat when traveling
by air in Canada without having to pay a second fare.

“Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today,” said Pat Danforth,
Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities Transportation
Committee. Joanne Neubauer, one of the principal complainants in the
case, agreed. “We hope that this decision sends a strong message to all
transportation carriers,” she said. “Access is the rule.”

The CTA decision acknowledged the importance of a number of established
human rights principles underlying the arguments of the complainants in
the case, noting that these principles dictate that persons with disabilities
have the same rights as others to full participation in all aspects of
society and that equal access to transportation is critical to their
exercise of that right.

“The Canadian Transportation Agency recognized the fundamental soundness
of our arguments, which have a strong foundation in existing human rights
jurisprudence,” said David Baker of Bakerlaw, legal counsel for the
complainants in the case. “While the number of people who will benefit
and the actual cost to the airlines are larger than in any previous case, the
principles applied by the Agency in its decision were clearly established
by the Supreme Court of Canada in its March 2007 CCD v. VIA Rail decision,”
said David Baker.

Disabled Canadians said the decision had the potential to make an enormous
difference in their lives. “This is about independence,” said Sandra
Carpenter of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. “It’s about
our
ability to be part of Canadian society and to have barriers to our
participation removed.”

The decision was many years in coming – the late Eric Norman, Joanne
Neubauer, and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities filed the
original complaint with the CTA in 2002, seeking to establish a situation of
equality for passengers with disabilities who travel with attendants.

For many years, Canadians with disabilities traveling by train, bus or
marine service have been permitted to use a second seat without cost when
one was required. But airlines such as Air Canada, Westjet, and Jazz have
not been bound to obey this policy, meaning that many Canadians with
disabilities have been forced to effectively pay double what others pay to
fly.

Now that all seems set to change.

“We have been looking for some good news in the transport industry for
some time,” said Claredon Robicheau, a member of the Council of Canadians with
Disabilities (CCD) Transport Committee. “This decision gives us enormous
hope that we are once again moving to build an accessible and inclusive
Canada.”

- 30 -

For More Information or Comment on the Decision Contact:

Mr. David Baker, Legal Counsel

Ms. Sandra Carpenter, Acting Executive Director,
416-533-0040 Ext 222 Centre for
Independent Living in Toronto 416-599-2458 Ext 36

Ms. Joanne Neubauer Mr. Jim
Derksen, CCD Policy Advisor
250-881-1936
204-781-4187

Ms. Pat Danforth, Chair, Mr. Laurie
Beachell, National Coordinator CCD
Transportation Committee 204-947-0303
250-595-0044

Mr. Claredon Robicheau,
Member CCD Transportation Committee
(available for French interviews) 902-769-2474

The Year Ahead - Clearer Skies?

The end of 2007 saw the ENAT and ICAT conferences on Inclusive Tourism. Early January 2008 will be the SAT conference and may 2008 will see the IIDI Turismo para Todos conference. At the same time ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities continues at a rapid pace.

With so much progress on the stabilization of human rights for persons with disabilities the actions of the Federation of Indian Airlines to subvert the ' Carriage by Air of Disabled Persons or Persons with Reduced Mobility' proposed by India's Office of The Director General of Civil Aviation is especially out of step with the global consensus on the value of travelers with disabilities as a market. One would think that no one in the industry is doing their diligence on market forecasting.

Dear Kiki and Friends,

I would like to thank you for your responses...and I will go through the attachment you have sent.

In the meanwhile there has been a new development in India on the 30th Dec 2007 - this time by the FIA - Federation of Indian Airlines.

The FIA are not ready to accept the new guideline on ' Carriage by Air of Disabled Persons or Persons with Reduced Mobility' proposed by DCGA (Office of The Director General of Civil Aviation). The same was to come into force from 1st Jan 2008. I have attached the draft guideline with this mail for your reference. And in the last few months we had strongly lobbied for many changes before this final draft.

FIA says "Free help to disabled can't be enforced" - kindly read on for the article that was published in yesterday's news paper for your reference.

Kind Regards

Mahesh

'Free help to disabled can't be enforced', Times of India, 30th Dec 2007

NEW DELHI: The government's first attempt to regulate pricing policy of airlines could come to naught and add to the costs of physically challenged passengers.

Following several complaints from disabled rights groups, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had about a month back issued a draft civil aviation requirement (CAR) on the subject. Among other things, it asked airlines to mandatorily provide free assistance to such passengers. The rule was to go into effect from January 1.

While most airlines currently provide wheelchairs, stretchers and ambulifts free, they have strongly opposed making the free service compulsory. The Federation of Indian Airlines — a joint body of Air India, Jet, Kingfisher, Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo, Paramount and SpiceJet — has said that the industry must be free to recover any extra cost that's incurred in the process of providing assistance to handicapped passengers.

Saying airlines are aware of their responsibilities towards physically challenged passengers, FIA has submitted its reply to the CAR to the ministry and DGCA.

"FIA believes that the issue of costs and cost-recovery for such special facilities cannot be mandated through the CAR. In our consultation with members, all carriers have expressed their strong opposition to airlines being denied the right to charge and recover costs for service provided," it said.

It goes on to add: "No other passengers are provided services free of charge. Any additional service should necessarily come at a charge to the passenger using the service, else the increased costs will need to be borne by the other airline passengers which is unfair. Airlines should be allowed to independently decide the charges, which certainly should be communicated clearly to passengers."

It has pointed out that the earlier CAR of July, 2005, allows airlines to charge for any additional service provided to passengers with special needs.

The new CAR stipulated that no airline would refuse to carry persons on a stretcher if they are accompanied by an escort who would look after them in flight. While FIA agrees to this, it says: "However, the carriage must be paid for. For example, a stretcher requires displacing nine seats that would otherwise be sold as revenue. It must be clear that these seats must be reserved in advance and paid for."

Similarly, the new rules say that all airlines must provide assistance to persons with disabilities/reduced mobility from the departing airport terminal to the destination airport terminal without any additional charge. "The Airlines strongly disagree with this statement. It is one thing to provide service, another to do it for free. No other passengers are provided free-of-charge services," the FIA has said.

Asked about this stand, a member airline of FIA said that most carriers provide these services free of charge and may even continue to do so. "But the decision to charge or provide assistance free must be the commercial decision of airlines. It can't be legally mandated," he said. This is not the first time airlines are spurning government's moves on influencing their charges. While the aviation ministry strongly opposed the term "congestion surcharge", airlines continue to levy it.

saurabh.sinha@timesgroup.com http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Free_help_to_disabled_cant_be_enforced/articleshow/2661352.cms

****************************** Response to the Article **********************

31.12.07

Dear Mr. Saurabh,

Greetings and thank you very much for publishing the article titled "Free help to Disabled Can't be enforced"

This is a significant development and a new hurdle posed by The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) towards the new Civil Aviation guidelines by DGCA for "Carriage by Air of Disabled Persons or Persons with Reduced Mobility".

In the last few months, we as a group of disabled persons have been lobbying with the DGCA in drafting these guidelines and finally when it was to come into effect from 1 Jan 2008 - the FIA has sprung a surprise.

We as persons with disabilities are not asking for free service, we want to use the services like any other passengers. However the limitations posed by the procedures adopted by the different airlines further reduces our mobility and prevents us from using the airline just like any other.

Some examples that prevent us are highlighted below:

1. From the point of check-in - the airline asks us to use the wheelchair provided by them - these wheechairs cannot be self-propelled and therefore we need a ground staff.

2. The airline do not handle our personal wheelchair safely and many times they have broken my wheelchair because of their careless attitude.

3. Where ever there is an aerobridge facility passengers using wheelchair are not given access to use them and they are not alloted the first row of seats - because of which we physically lifted by 3-4 persons with our wheelchair up and down the stairs to the aircraft.

4. We cannot use the buses/ transport facilities provided by the airline on the tramac as there are steps and no ramps to get into the coach. Therefore we need assistance to be lifted up and down from the bus or wheeled on the tarmac till the aircraft.

5. There are no wheelchair accessible toilets in many of the airport, the ones that are built are not according to standard specifications therefore one needs assistance to access the toilets.

Who is to be blamed for creating such obstacles? Why should the passenger using wheelchair or a person with limited mobility bear the cost towards these procedural and architectural barriers created by the airlines and at the airports.

Closing with warm regards

Mahesh

****************** A Prior Violation of Rights ******************************

Dear Friends,

Greetings,

Through this mail I would like to highlight the practice adopted by some of the airlines where passengers using wheelchairs have to sign in the "APPLICATION FOR THE CARRIAGE OF MEDICAL PASSENGER".

The most offending paragaraph in the 'APPLICATION' that we as passengers using wheelchair are forced to sign reads as follows -

"I the undersigned .....hereby indemnify and hold harmless, DECCAN from any and against any liability arising out of any bodily injury, and / or death. damage or loss that I may suffer/ experience and also from any damages, payments, expenses, face and cost which DECCAN may incur directly or indirectly as a result of accepting me on its Flight No. .........from ....... to ...... on date.....

I hereby further indemnify DECCAN from any payments that DECCAN makes to meet any of my expenses towards damages, loss etc for the said purpose."

This I feel is both humiliating and discriminating towards persons with limited mobility.

Do passengers with limited mobility have to sign similar forms in other countries too before boarding the flight?

Please find below my letters written to both the Commissioner (Disabilities) and DGCA (Director General Civil Avaiation) highlighting this practice and with suggested changes.

Closing with best wishes for Christmas and New Year...

Kind regards

Mahesh

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24.12.2007
To
The Commissioner (Disabilities)
Office of the Commissioner Disabilities
Govt. of Karnataka
40, Thambuchetty Road, Cox Town
Bangalore. Email: discom@vsnl.net

Copy
Mr. R. P. Sahi
Jt. Director General
Office of the
Director General of Civil Aviation
Opp. Safdarjung Airport
New Dehli – 110 003
Tel: 011-24611504. Email: rpsahi@dgca.nic.in

Respected Sir,

Greetings,

This letter is to bring to your kind notice the prevailing discriminatory practice adopted by some of the airlines who force passengers who use wheelchairs to sign the "APPLICATION FOR THE CARRIAGE OF MEDICAL PASSENGER" before boarding the flight.

Although, I, as a passenger who uses wheelchair did clarify that I am not a medical passenger, the ground staff are in no mood to listen and we are left with no choice but to fill and submit the form if not we should be prepared to miss our flight.

In this connection, I would like to quote my recent experience:

During my recent return journey from Kolkata to Bangalore by AIR DECCAN on 18th Nov 2007, I was asked to fill the "APPLICATION FOR THE CARRIAGE OF MEDICAL PASSENGER" as I use a wheelchair. I did argue that I am not a "MEDICAL PASSENGER" but the ground staff were in no mood to listen. Therefore I filled in the form during check-in but deliberately did not submit the same while boarding the aircraft.

The most offending paragaraph in the 'APPLICATION' that we are forced to sign reads as follows -

"I the undersigned .....hereby indemnify and hold harmless, DECCAN from any and against any liability arising out of any bodily injury, and / or death. damage or loss that I may suffer/ experience and also from any damages, payments, expenses, face and cost which DECCAN may incur directly or indirectly as a result of accepting me on its Flight No. .........from ....... to ...... on date.....

I hereby further indemnify DECCAN from any payments that DECCAN makes to meet any of my expenses towards damages, loss etc for the said purpose."

Firstly, I personally feel that it is the duty of all the airlines to protect the safety of all passengers. But by signing the above form - the airline is not taking the responsibility to ensure the safety of passenger like me who use the wheelchair.

Secondly, the airline should make appropriate changes in the systems and built environment so that we can use our personal wheelchair (as much as possible) till we transfer to the seat of the aircraft. This procedure will assist us to be comfortably seated in our own wheelchair instead of sitting on the very small and uncomfortable chairs provided by the airlines for more than an hour.

Thirdly, passenger using wheelchairs should be give permission to use the aerobridge facility where available. These change will prevent the ground staff of the airline ground from physically lifting us up and down the flight of stairs to the aircraft. The practice that is both humiliating and extremely dangerous especially for the person who is being lifted.

Fourthly, in recent times DGCA has issued a new Guidelines on "Carriage by Air of Disabled Persons or Persons with Reduced Mobility" that is going to come into effect from 1st Jan 2008 and has taken into account some of the issues mentioned by me in my letter. However, I am not aware if any strategy for dissemenation/ training has been planned for all the ground staff of the different airlines at the airports on the need to "Respect the Rights and Dignity of Passengers with Disabilities".

Therefore, it my sincere appeal to your esteemed office to initiate appropriate steps to prevent this discriminatory and humiliating practice adopted by the airlines towards passengers with limited mobility.

Looking forward for your kind reply.

With kind regards

C. Mahesh

--
C. Mahesh
Advocacy Coordinator
CBR Forum
14, CK Garden
Wheeler Road Extension
Bangalore - 560 084
Tel - 080- 2549 7387 or 2549 7388
advocacy.cbrforum@gmail.com
cbrforum@blr.vsnl.net.in
cbrforum@gmail.com
www.cbrforum.in

Design for All Institute India

Design For All Institute of India and EIDD-Design For All Europe are jointly publishing December2007 Vol-2, No-12 issue of the Design for All Newsletter. From the editor, Dr. Sunil Bhatia:

Different eminent designers from different countries and those are the members of EIDD under the guidance of Mr. Pete Kercher have contributed the articles and our current issue is in front of your computer screen. Our December issue is very special and historic, reason is, we are celebrating completion of our two years of publication of newsletter. We have started a new section of CASE study for benefits of our readers. We have loaded a movie and those who wish to see the movie they can click the below given link
Kindly visit our web site www.designforall.in for our current as well as past publication of our monthly newsletter or click this link

http://www.designforall.in/newsletter_dec_2007.pdf (For Newsletter)

The download link for mechanical elevator

http://www.designforall.in/mechanicalelevator.zip
First unzip it by using winzip

Senegal: Disabled students fight great odds

Inclusion in higher education is one of the prerequisites for building the sort of diversity in a local tourism economy to make a place a destination of choice for travelers with disabilities. This story from Senegal is not one of the more hopeful in this regard.

SENEGAL: Disabled students fight great odds

Students recently protested a shortage of housing for the physically handicapped at Dakar's Cheikh Anta Diop University

DAKAR, 18 December 2007 (IRIN) - On the campus of Cheikh Anta Diop University in the Senegal capital Dakar, physically handicapped students can often be seen crawling unaided up concrete staircases or across dirty bathroom floors.

With a few exceptions - such as the main library and a new amphitheatre - buildings on the sprawling, sandy campus have no handicap accessibility.

"Users of hand-powered or motorised wheelchairs have to crawl to access certain buildings," the disabled students association said in a recent letter to the authorities. The association compiled a list of their grievances and proposed solutions and presented it to university officials at the beginning of the school year.

Serigne Diop, a government official, says he cannot erase from his mind what he calls an "unbearable" image. "I saw a severely handicapped student trying to make it up a spiral staircase on crutches. I think she did not want to crawl so as not to get her clothes dirty," he said. "Other students passed by her without bothering to help at all."

Given the difficulties of getting around, physically disabled students often arrive late to classes. That is for those who have on-campus lodging. For those who do not, commuting is a problem, as public transport vehicles have no accommodations for wheelchairs, the disabled students association says.

Abandoning school

In their dorm room, which also serves as the headquarters of the association, students lament two disabled female colleagues who had to abandon their studies for lack of on-campus housing.

They were not the first and likely will not be the last, say handicapped students.

"These two students, who had passed the university entrance exams, had to drop their academic ambitions and return to their home villages simply because they did not find housing on campus," Fulbert Manga of the association told IRIN.

Disabled students remaining at the university say they face the same struggle daily - lack of housing, lack of access to most school buildings and public transport, inadequate financial assistance and difficulty getting decent jobs.

Photo: Serigne Adama Boye
The social services building is one of few university buildings that have ramps for wheelchair access
While Senegal's constitution includes laws protecting the rights of disabled persons, and the country is a signatory to related international conventions, the daily reality is otherwise, students say. For the disabled, arriving at university means taking on a huge battle far beyond keeping up with studies.

Access

The handicapped students association in November staged a protest at the university, calling for better housing. For some 250 disabled students, at least 162 beds should be made available according to quotas agreed to by university officials, but only 107 beds are available, fourth-year sociology student Insa Sané said.

The director of housing, Makhtar Ndoye, says given the wider problem of housing at the university the housing department has had to fight to keep even 107 spaces for handicapped students. At Dakar's main university, only 5,136 beds are available with a student body of some 55,000.

Bathrooms also pose a constant problem for disabled students. "In not one single men's room will you find a sit-down toilet, and that's the case even in some women's restrooms," Yague Touré, a second-year physics and chemistry student, told IRIN.

"We are constantly protesting these inhumane conditions in the toilets." In many restrooms, inaccessible in a wheelchair, the floors are wet from faulty faucets. "Those of us who use wheelchairs are forced to crawl in dirty water." Housing official Ndoye says the university plans to install sit-down toilets and repair the faucets.

Regional problem

Djibril Sow, West Africa director of an African Union institute for the physically handicapped, said disabled people face such barriers in public places across the region. He said many more disabled students would likely be in university were conditions better.

"Certainly if conditions were improved, the number of physically handicapped students in Dakar would be multiplied by 10 or 20. From Dakar to [the Burkina Faso capital] Ouagadougou, the disabled face the same kinds of problems."

Press Release: Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention

Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua Ratify the UN Disability Rights Convention
RI Calls on Governments to Recognize the Human Rights of All by Ratifying the CRPD

(United Nations, New York, USA, 17 December 2007): RI congratulates the Governments of Mexico, El Salvador and Nicaragua for ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), bringing the number to 14 States Parties. Mexico also ratified the Optional Protocol today. RI calls on all governments which have not yet ratified the CRPD and its Optional Protocol to do so as a matter of priority and without reservations and declarations. Furthermore, RI urges all States Parties to begin the process of implementation by developing laws, programs and policies to ensure that ALL persons with disabilities, regardless of the type of disability, enjoy all of the rights in the Convention.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Libre Acceso President Federico Fleischmann said, “We recognize the great efforts of the Government of Mexico for being a leader in promoting the human rights of persons with disabilities, as embodied in the Convention. RI and its member in Mexico, Libre Acceso, are committed to working within its broad network to ensure that Mexican laws are strengthened to comply with the high standards set by the Convention.”

As part of its Global Advocacy Campaign, RI partnered with Libre Acceso, representatives of the Mexican government, the Mexican law firm Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa, S.C., the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and local disability experts to develop recommendations on how Mexico’s National Disability Law can comply with the Convention. These recommendations, presented to the Mexican Government on October 18, 2007, were formally adopted by Partido Accion Nacional (PAN), the political party of the Mexican President, as the official proposed amendments to this national law. The Senate and Chamber of Deputies will now discuss the amendments, which may be adopted as early as next year. This RI project has been made possible because of the generous support of an anonymous donor and Irish Aid.

“We are very happy today to deposit the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Setting up the legal framework is only the first step. The real challenge is to build a culture where the human rights of every person are fully respected,” said Senator Guillermo Tamborrel, President of the Commission on Vulnerable

Groups and a member of PAN. Senator Tamborrel, together with Senator Maria los Angeles Moreno Uriegas of Partido Revolucionario Institutional (PRI), were present when Mexico deposited its ratification instrument today.

The CRPD, the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, represents an essential legal instrument prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities in all areas of life, and includes specific provisions related to rehabilitation, habilitation, education, employment, health and access to information, public facilities and services, among others. The Optional Protocol concerns how individuals or groups can seek redress for violations of the CRPD once national remedies are exhausted. The Convention will become international law after 20 ratifications. (Attached is a current list of all signatories and States Parties to the CRPD and Optional Protocol).

# # #

For more information on the UN Convention and contact details of experts within the RI membership, please contact Tomas Lagerwall (sg@riglobal.org), RI Secretary General, or Shantha Rau (shantha@riglobal.org), Senior Program Officer, at +1-212-420-1500.

About RI

Founded in 1922, RI is a global and diverse organization bringing together expertise from different sectors in the disability field, to advance and implement the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. RI is currently composed of over 700 members and affiliated organizations in 93 nations, in all regions of the world.

RI works closely with other disability organizations, actively participating in the International Disability Alliance (IDA) – a network of eight global, democratic organizations of persons with disabilities – and was an active member of the International Disability Caucus (IDC) – a coalition of disability organizations and NGOs that participated in the negotiations toward the Convention. RI also maintains official relations with the United Nations and its agencies and institutions as well as with other international organizations, NGOs and universities.

For more information about RI, please visit our accessible website: http://www.riglobal.org.

AirSahara (Deccan): A Pattern of Bad Conduct

AirSahara, now known as Deccan, discriminates against passengers with visible disabilities.

The ongoing practice has been repeated, reports the Hindustani Times, in the case of Sanjeev Sachdeva despite warnings of the Directorate General of the Civil Aviation Authority of India (DCGA) that airlines not discriminate.

This practice is becoming so widespread in the industry that Australian authorities have had to issue similar warnings recently on top of the many lawsuits and complaints active in other parts of the world without similarly responsible action on the part of regulatory agencies.

See Airline Displays Callousness at
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=20_12_2007_003_015&typ=1&pub=47

In Support of Right Livelihood

Erica Barnett writes in "Making Travel More Ethical" at WorldChanging about hotel workers. First among her list of little-know-facts is this disturbing statistic about how being a hotel worker can actually be a path into becoming disabled:

Housekeepers in the hospitality industry report pervasive problems with job-related pain. In surveys compiled by Unite Here's Hotel Workers Rising campaign, which organizes and works on behalf of hospitality workers in the United States, more than 75 percent of workers report work-related pain; more than 80 percent report pressure to complete their work quickly; more than two-thirds report taking pain medication regularly; and nearly three-quarters report chemical irritation from exposure to cleaning supplies.

She continues:

Those are some alarming statistics. Fortunately, there are some innovative, accessible resources available to travelers that both provide information to people who stay in hotels and put pressure on hotel companies to improve pay and working conditions for those at the bottom of the travel food chain. Two I particularly like are Hotel Workers Rising's union hotel guide and The Jewish Funds for Justice's Ethical Travel Campaign.

For the entire article see:

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007694.html

Tourism Websites Fall Short On Accessibility

Almost all UK tourism websites are failing to meet basic acceptable
standards of accessibility, according to a new report from technology
access charity AbilityNet.

The report, the latest in a series of 'State of the eNation' surveys by the
charity, assessed ten websites at random from a list of the most popular
UK visitor attractions. The sites were rated using a five star scale from
'very inaccessible' (one star) to 'very accessible' (five stars), with
three stars representing an 'adequate' level of accessibility.

Only one of the ten sites examined - the Glasgow Science Centre - met
or exceeded this 'adequate' threshold. The centre's site
(http://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org ) has been improved in the past
year with accessibility in mind and as a result achieved four stars.

Of the other sites assessed, four achieved two stars (the Eden Project,
The Giant's Causeway, National Waterfront Museum and Portmeirion)
and five were deemed very inaccessible, receiving only one star
(Belfast Zoo, The Burns Heritage Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Kew
Gardens and the London Eye).

Sites which fail to meet the three-star level may be falling short of
service access requirements set out in the UK's Disability
Discrimination Act, AbilityNet says.

The report took into account sites' compliance with the international
World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines, as well as the practical difficulties that visitors with a range
of disabilities may experience. Among the features that cause problems
are small text that cannot be resized; unnecessary complexity; closely
clustered buttons; unlabeled images and over-reliance on visual clues.
Since the audit was taken at least three of the single-star-rated
attractions have expressed a commitment to improving the accessibility
of their websites.

Source:

E-access Bulletin, Headstar, Issue 96

Copyright 2007 Headstar Ltd http://www.headstar.com .
The Bulletin may be reproduced as long as all parts including this
copyright notice are included, and as long as people are always
encouraged to subscribe with us individually by email. Please also
inform the editor when you are reproducing our content. Sections of
the bulletin may be quoted as long as they are clearly sourced as 'taken
from e-access bulletin, a free monthly email newsletter', and our web
site address:
http://www.headstar.com/eab
is also cited.

+Personnel:
Editor - Dan Jellinek
Reporter: Majeed Saleh
Editorial advisor - Kevin Carey
Marketing Executive - Claire Clinton
Sales and Marketing - Jo Knell, Will Knox.

ISSN 1476-6337

Piso tátil orienta deficientes (Portgugese)

Para contribuir com projetos de acessibilidade, a Mercur traz ao mercado o Piso Tátil. Formado por placas de borracha antiderrapantes e superfícies de relevos direcionais, o produto tem por finalidade orientar pessoas com deficiência visual.

Na verdade, são dois os tipos de placas de Piso Tátil: os direcionais, que possuem linhas longitudinais em relevo para demarcar a direção; e os de alerta, compostos por superfície tipo moeda para indicar mudança de direção. Dependendo de como as placas são dispostas, indica-se a direção a ser seguida. A novidade da Mercur segue as orientações da NBR 9050:2004 da ABNT. Piso Tátil conta também com alta resistência a produtos alcalinos, ácidos, água sanitária e produtos de limpeza em geral. Dúvidas podem ser esclarecidas em www.mercur.com.br. O telefone de contato é (51)3719-9500.

Statement by Rosangela Berman Bieler – International Services Human Rights Award

Rosangela Berman Bieler, Executive Director of the Inter-American Institute on Disability & Inclusive Development, recently received the 2007 Human Rights Award from International Service. Rosangela's work includes disaility and development at the World Bank and an ongoing project on disability, tourism, and development linking Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Below is the text of her acceptance speech:

First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation to International Services for establishing this Human Rights Award and to including Disability Rights as a relevant area. I humbly thank the IS selection panel and supporters for considering my name amongst such a distinguished group of Human Rights Champions from around the world. It is for me a huge honor to be part of the IS partnership.

This award comes in a unique moment, when Disability rights advocates from all over the planet are working together to give visibility and to maximize the number of nations that ratify the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This twenty-first century's first human rights treaty was adopted by the United Nations a year ago and opened for signatures on March 30, 2007. To date, 118 nations have indicated support of the treaty and interest in ratification. As of today, 10 nations have ratified (Croatia, Cuba, Gabon, Hungary, India, Spain, Bangladesh, South Africa, Jamaica, and Panama). The treaty becomes legally binding 30 days after the 20th nation ratifies it.

According to the UN, approximately 10 percent of the world’s population has a disability. This translates into over 600 millions disabled people living around the world, being more than 400 million in developing countries. For every disabled person, there are at least three other members of the household indirectly affected by disability. The largest increase in the number of people with disabilities will happen in the age bracket of 65 years or more. And the world population is aging…

Today Disability is understood as the result of the interaction between people with different levels of functioning and an environment that does not take these differences into account. Disability is part of each and every individual’s life cycle. Beyond the typical areas of disability (motor, hearing, visual, and mental/intellectual), persons in general face “disabling” conditions in a society that is unprepared to recognize and respond to human diversity.

People with physical, sensory or mental limitations are often disabled not because of a diagnosable condition, but because they are denied access to education, labor markets, and public services. This exclusion leads to poverty and, in a vicious circle, poverty leads to more disability by increasing people’s vulnerability to malnutrition, disease, and unsafe living and working conditions.

According to the World Bank, it is expected that the number of people with disabilities will increase by 120%, in the next 30 years in developing countries. The increase is of 40% in more developed countries. It is estimated that 100 million people in the world acquired a disability due to malnutrition.

About 80-90% of disabled people in the Latin-American Region are unemployed or outside the work force. Most of those who have jobs receive little or no monetary remuneration. In my native country, Brazil, the 2000 Census shows that, of the 24.650.000 Brazilians with disability, 27% live in situation of extreme poverty and 53% are poor.

Universal inclusion is not only a human rights issue and a principle for equity, but also an operational strategy to general a better and sustainable society for all. To improve the efficacy of social and economic development actions and to reach all manifestations of human diversity, public policies, from design to implementation, must take all human characteristics and needs into account.

Human Rights are exercised in the mainstream society, in the daily life of each one of us. The means for this full exercise are provided by fair and equitable public policies for all. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a strong and effective instrument to orient and assist governments to implement policies and actions under an inclusive development approach.

The UN Convention recognizes the fundamental importance of getting disabled people ourselves involved in the process of our emancipation and reinforces the concept of “Nothing About Us, Without US”, used by the disability field to claim full participation. Under this premises, together with my peers and supporters of the Disability field, I would like to call all governments to immediately ratify the CRPD and start making the ideal of an inclusive Society, into a reality.

Thank you very much for this opportunity and let’s continue working together for a planet and a society where life is valued, diversity is celebrated and dignity is for all.

Inter-American Institute on Disability & Inclusive Development
Instituto Interamericano sobre Discapacidad y Desarrollo Inclusivo
Instituto Inter-Americano sobre Deficiência & Desenvolvimento Inclusivo

Rosangela Berman Bieler
Executive Director

Collusion: Airlines Warned Not to Bar Disabled

Steve Creedy, Aviation writer for the Australian reports [Editor's note, Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes access to transportation as a right. And Graeme Innes rocks!]:

LOW-COST carriers have been warned not to attempt to cut costs by discriminating against the disabled after two airlines recently sought exemptions from laws designed to grant handicapped travellers equal access to transport.

Singapore-backed Tiger Airways has applied to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for an exemption to the Disability Act so it can temporarily refuse to carry some passengers with limited mobility.

It says it needs to do this because it does not have the equipment to get wheelchair-bound [sic] people safely on to its Airbus A320 jets.

Disability groups are also fighting a move by Australia's biggest independent regional carrier, Regional Express (Rex), to introduce restrictions they say will make flying harder for disabled people in the bush.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre is pursuing court action against Virgin Blue to head off moves to require some people with disabilities to buy a second ticket for a carer if they want to travel.

"It's fine for low-cost or budget airlines to reduce services," human rights commissioner Graeme Innes said yesterday. "But not carrying passengers with disabilities can't be part of those reductions and to do so is against the law.

"As commissioner, I intend to ensure wherever I can that airlines meet their obligations to all passengers, not just passengers without disabilities."

Tiger is offering affected passengers a full refund and says the problem stems from the inability of its third-party ground handler to obtain special hydraulic devices capable of lifting wheelchairs on to planes. It did not expect the lifters to be available at all destinations until the end of February.

Tiger's application comes as a report, due to be released this week by the PIAC, says an analysis of the experiences of 110 airline passengers demonstrates a systemic failure of legislation introduced in 2002 to set standards for disabled access to public transport.

The report finds recent development and application of airline policy, and changes to baggage handling, have made disabled access more difficult, particularly for people with motorised or bigger wheelchairs.

"Some passengers who travelled independently for many years now find themselves barred from travel or facing the imposition of unreasonable conditions," it says.

Source:

The Australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22903033-23349,00.html

Leadership from Lansing with a UD/LEED Project

Peckham Inc. is a nonprofit providing employment and training services in Lansing, Michigan.

The Lansing State Journal reports that the organization is one of the growing number of businesses choosing the complimentary approaches of Universal and Green Design.

"Our old buildings have been cobbled together," said Mitch Tomlinson, Peckham's president and chief executive officer. "For us, it's been fun to start with a blank slate and design something that meets our needs."

The new headquarters is being built with universal design standards, which help ensure accessibility, and should be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, which rates a project based on its environmental friendliness.

Good design spreads. With the facility located near the Capital City Airport perhaps we will see Universal Design creeping into the design of the airport or sweeping through the hotels in DeWitt or clustered along Saginaw at Highway 96.

ENAT Moves Europe to Positive Action on Inclusive Tourism!

Following hot on the heels of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT)
conference, the European Parliament is registering some action on behalf of travelers with disabilities. Note in particular the emergence of an EC "Tourism for All" label at the same time we are writing the ASEAN standards in Thailand following ICAT 2007.

I was unaware how quickly the Inclusive Tourism scene would mature s I closed my presentation at UNESCAP last week with the following:

The next two years will be a surprise to those in the industry who have not yet prepared their profit-based approach to disability. Some will be asking you to help. You have an opportunity to contribute and to shape the travel industry. That may be with the rights-based emphasis through government, education, or policy. It may on the profit-based side through invention, construction, marketing, or business creation.

Whatever opportunity you choose, take your pride - and your money - on the road. Travel. Teach the industry and level the path for the ones who come after you!

For immediate release:

European Parliament Puts Accessible Tourism on EU Agenda

On 29 November 2007, European Members of Parliament passed a resolution on
a renewed EU Tourism Policy: "Towards a stronger partnership for European
Tourism", calling for Member States to make a united effort to support
Accessible Tourism.

MEPs gave their backing to Italian MEP Paola Costa, who provided a
wide-ranging report on the challenges faced by the European Tourism
sector, and a set of 22 concrete proposals for renewed action.

The keyword which runs throughout the report is "partnership" - for only
by working together, says Paolo Costa, can EU Member States tackle the
fragmented policies and practices which currently frustrate efforts in
the tourism sector.

Accessible Tourism

Actions for the future of accessible tourism in Europe are called for in
six specific paragraphs, declaring that the European Parliament:

"...Welcomes initiatives to coordinate at European level the information
on accessible tourism that would allow tourists with reduced mobility and
their families to find information about the accessibility of tourist
destinations; calls on all Member States, tourism providers and national
and local tourist organisations to join and/or to support this kind of
initiative;

- At the same time, calls on the Commission and the Member States to
consider the feasibility of drawing up a charter of the rights and
obligations of European tourists, in view of the riotous and violent
incidents caused by European tourists in European tourist destinations ,
and also a European code of conduct for tourist businesses;

- Calls on the Commission and the Member States to initialise an "Access
for all " EC label that would guarantee core accessibility facilities for
tourists with reduced mobility and would cover offers such as
accommodation, restaurants, leisure and natural sites, auditoriums,
monuments, museums, etc.;

- Stresses, furthermore, the need to protect, conserve and restore the
European cultural heritage; and calls for more stringent management of
such sites and of the conditions under which they are visited, and for
greater efforts to improve access for people with disabilities, growing
numbers of whom now travel for leisure purposes;

- Calls on the Commission to draft a Communication with an action plan on
the enhancement of such a label based on the work it has already carried
out , on experiences and best practices at national and local level and
taking stock of what has been achieved at EU level in the transport field;

- Notes that the accessibility of tourist destinations is a matter that
also has to do with the transport services provided or available; calls,
therefore, on the Commission, for the purposes of the new European tourism
policy and of developing European transport policy, to take due account of
the accessibility handicap affecting regions with specific natural or
geographical characteristics, such as the outermost regions, island and
mountain regions, and the sparsely populated northernmost regions..."

Moreover, the Parliamentary Report presents no less than twenty-two
suggestions for actions by the Members States, Regional and Local
authorities, including the need to:

"... protect, preserve and restore European cultural heritage assets and
[calls for] more rigorous management of cultural sites and their visiting
arrangements, as well as for greater efforts to improve access for
disabled people, an increasing number of whom are travelling for tourist
purposes..."

Responding to the Tourism Report on the European Day of People with
Disabilities, ENAT Coordinator Ivor Ambrose stated: "We welcome this firm
and forward-looking resolution by the Members of the European Parliament,
as it gives a timely and much-needed message for public authorities and
the tourism industry.

"All parties must work together across national and regional borders to
make accessible tourism a reality, both for European consumers and
international visitors. ENAT's members are ready to play their part in
fulfilling the ambitions that are contained in this resolution."

--

Ivor Ambrose, Coordinator
European Network for Accessible Tourism
c/o EWORX S.A.,
Rodou St., 22
GR-15122 Marousi, Athens
Greece.
Tel. 0030 210 614 8380
Fax. 0030 210 614 8381
E-mail: enat@accessibletourism.org
Web: http://www.accessibletourism.org
SKYPE name: ambroiv

ENAT: The European Network for Accessible Tourism is
a voluntary association of organisations and individuals
from the private, public and NGO sectors. Our mission is
to make European tourism destinations, products and
services accessible to all visitors.
>From December 2007 ENAT will be established as an
international NGO with its head office in Brussels.

New Uses for Wheelchair Ramps

Listening to presentations citing the positive secondary effects of wheelchair ramps and Universal Design this week I noticed some similarities. Whether the presenter comes from Turkey, the US, Mongolia, Korea, or the UK the standard justification is that ramps also help "people on bicycles, with shopping carts, and people with prams (strollers)"

Maybe we should add one more type of user to the lift -- Rollerman!! (See frames at -4:52)

Promoting the UN Millennium Development Goals in the Tourism Industry

Imtiaz Muqbil writes the Travel Impact Newswire. Coincidentally his recent commitment to using this widely-read tourism industry publication to promote the UN Millennium Development Goals parallels messages about the need for non-governmental collaboration given by presenters such as Theresia Degener at the World Assembly of Disabled Peoples International in Seoul and myself at ICAT 2007 as it pursues the theme of a rights-based approach to disability. Announcing his campaign Muqbil writes:

The eight Millennium Development Goals are: 1: Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger; 2: Achieve universal primary education; 3: Promote gender equality and empower women; 4: Reduce child mortality; 5: Improve maternal health; 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases; 7: Ensure environmental sustainability; 8: Develop a global partnership for development.

The year 2007 marks the half-way point of the 2015 target set for attainment of the goals by the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. With a mere seven years left, and time time running out, the travel & tourism industry can and should put its shoulder to the wheel. Because of its relationship with each of the eight MDGS, the travel & tourism can be a major contributor to facilitating the success of the MDGS.

As a responsible member of the travel industry media, Travel Impact Newswire is proud to contribute to the process by becoming a conduit for a) raising awareness of the MDGs; and b) providing a one-stop service for information about the many ways companies, institutions and organisations worldwide are helping. This will save my readers valuable time in keeping up with global developments in this effort, and provide a useful platform and reference point for brainstorming ideas and initiatives that can be taken by like-minded companies, institutions and individuals.

The MDGs are all about helping to improve the human condition. We can all play a role. Let’s get on with it.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

ABOUT TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE

Set up in August 1998, Travel Impact Newswire is the Asia-Pacific’s first email travel industry news feature and analysis service. Mission Statement: Dedicated to reporting with Integrity, Trust, Accuracy and Respect the issues that impact on the Asia-Pacific Travel & Tourism industry. Distributed every week to 40,000 senior industry readers worldwide, mainly in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East.

Advertorial sponsorship messages cost 750 Euro per dispatch. Please contact: Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, 24 Soi Chidlom, Bangkok, Thailand 10330. T: (66-2) 2551480, 2537590. Fax: (66-2) 2544316. Email: imtiaz@travel-impact-newswire.com

Inaccessibility Challenged in Mexico

Architect José Luis Gutiérrez Brezmes of Mexico's Universidad Iberoamericana reminded attendees to attend to Universal Design and diversity at the Jornada Académica de Ingeniería Biomédica Espacio Biomédico 2007. Recognition of the diversity in human size and capacity as well as inaccessibility as a societal, rather than an individual, problem are key to achieving a solution he indicated.

MÉXICO, PAÍS INACCESIBLE A LA DISCAPACIDAD

México, DF.- Las instalaciones urbanas de México son en general inaccesibles para las personas con discapacidad –motriz, sensorial o intelectual-, señaló José Luis Gutiérrez Brezmes, profesor del Departamento de Arquitectura de la Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México al participar en la Jornada Académica de Ingeniería Biomédica Espacio Biomédico 2007, donde brindó la ponencia Accesibilidad y diseño universal en los entornos construidos, tema en el que nuestro país tiene un rezago de más de 30 años.

La razón es que no forma parte de nuestra sensibilidad reconocer que no todos somos físicamente iguales, lo que deriva en que los entornos materiales no estén pensados para la diversidad, sino hechos para estándares, y construidos para seres humanos idealizados, algo que no se cuestiona en las escuelas de arquitectura mexicanas.

Gutiérrez aseguró que la accesibilidad no es un problema del individuo, sino de la sociedad. Y en el caso de la Ciudad de México, ésta resulta crítica, presenta una falta de recursos, estudios específicos y de sensibilidad entre los profesionistas para reconocer la discapacidad, informó la Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA).

Fuente:

http://www.cimacnoticias.com/site/07111411-BREVES-DE-CIMAC-14.31068.0.html

Detroit Free Press: Travel Becoming More Accessible

Ellen Creager of the Detroit Free Press did a little research on trends in accessible travel:

Good news. The world is getting friendlier for travelers who use a wheelchair, scooter or who just walk slowly.

"It is getting better," says Candy Harrington, an accessible travel expert who has monitored the scene for more than a decade.

For a more in-depth look or to plan your own vacation take a look at Candy's latest book "101 Accessible Vacations" at bookstores or online at www.emerginghorizons.com.

Source:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071111/COL21/711110540/1032/FEATURES07

Grabs Bars as Elements of Style?

It may seem a far-fetched claim but Sally Ann Sullivan, CKD, of Showcase Kitchens and Baths, Inc. in Tulsa, OK captures the sea change in attitude toward style taking place as Boomers age and redefine standards around themselves. They are starting to more and more like what the disability community has been saying for over three decades with Universal Design:

“Grab bars are now quite attractive to people and they can be done in a very sophisticated way, [especially] since the showers are so huge.”

Here is an excerpt from The Simple Life by John Fillipelli:

He concludes: “Time spent in master baths is becoming more and more precious, combining practicality and indulgence. The ‘spa at home’ feel and the efficiency needs required when in master baths are often gathered under the same roof.”

Curbless Enthusiasm

[Carlene] Anderson sees curbless showers as another growing factor in the bath.

“We’re eliminating the threshold at the shower, so the bathroom floor slopes right into the shower drain. So, if anyone is in a wheelchair, they can get in and out quickly,” she says.

[James R.] Dase agrees: “Curbless showers are very popular right now. I am even doing one in my home. While it does take up more space, people love them because you don’t have glass to clean.”

He continues: “If they are not doing a steam shower, it is a much cleaner and sanitary way to do a shower because it also dries out faster, especially when natural materials are used.”

And, this ties into the growing impact of Universal Design, the designers point out.

Anderson offers: “By doing Universal Design, we are trying to make people want to stay in their homes.”

Most bath designers agree that accessible design elements, such as grab bars, are beginning to be accepted universally by clients of all ages for the tub and shower.

http://www.kitchenbathdesign.com/print/Kitchen-and-Bath-Design-News/Poughkeepsie-Bath-Showroom-Seeks-to-Wow/2$4206

VibeAgent Unveiled

This afternoon I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at VibeAgent just 24 hours after its public launch from Adam Healey, VibeAgent’s co-founder and CEO.

We know that the travel industry has not yet built the "killer travel research & reservation app" for the market of people with disabillities. We also know, from studies by the Open Doors Organization, that this market depends on the advice of trusted sources - usually other PwD - because it looks for very specific data. Simon Darcy and Bruce Cameron in Australia have published reports on the importance of visual documentation of hotel accommodations in the decision making of people with disabilities. That is one of the reasons I found TripTV.com to be so promising.

I think VibeAgent surpasses them in usefulness to the disability community right out of the box -- and they don't even offer video yet. Rather than write a definitive review of VibeAgent at the moment I am going to invite readers to register. Play with it and join the group that I have started: Disability & Travel.

Press Release:

Features Personalized Hotel Recommendations and Booking at Best Available Rates

Orlando, FL, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 – Pushing the envelope in online travel, VibeAgent (www.vibeagent.com) announced today at the PhoCusWright Travel Conference the general availability of a new online resource for travelers to save time and money when researching and booking hotel accommodations. VibeAgent is the first travel site that combines user-generated content, meta-search, and social networking to deliver personalized, trustworthy hotel recommendations and booking at the best available rates, all in one convenient place. VibeAgent is addressing an unmet need that helps travelers simplify the hotel research and booking process by providing hotel recommendations based on the reviews of friends, colleagues, and like-minded travelers.

PhoCusWright, the leading travel research firm, estimates that online hotel bookings will total $86.6 billion in 2007 and grow by 20% in 2008. When researching accommodations online, consumers are increasingly turning to travel community sites for objective advice. While these sites provide feedback, their trustworthiness and relevance to the user often falls short. There are few reliable mechanisms in place to keep hotel operators and businesses from posting biased reviews. Feedback is presented in a cumbersome way with minimal information provided about the review writer. Some sites take advertising money from hotels to prioritize their placement in search results, limiting their value for consumers and creating mistrust about their relevance. Lastly, because the source for the best available hotel rates fluctuates so widely, travelers typically visit 4 different web sites before booking a hotel room.

VibeAgent improves the hotel research and booking process by being the first site to offer travelers personalized hotel recommendations, for more than 120,000 hotels, based on the content and connections within a traveler’s social network. VibeAgent then “meta” searches a multitude of travel and hotel web sites in real-time to find all the available room rates for each hotel, so users know they are booking their chosen accommodations at the best available rate. VibeAgent’s features include:

VibeIndex – VibeAgent has developed a proprietary algorithm that combines demographics, site behavior, and the concept of six degrees of separation to rank hotels based on the likelihood they will appeal to each individual traveler. This “VibeIndex” incorporates how the members and groups in each user’s network have rated and tagged hotels to create personalized recommendations for each search. By mining the content and connections in each user’s social network, VibeAgent provides two people conducting the same hotel search with two different sets of recommendations.

Meta-Search – When a hotel search is conducted on VibeAgent, the site gathers rates and availability in real time from multiple online travel agencies (OTAs) and directly from the hotels’ web sites. In total, VibeAgent provides rates and availability for over 120,000 hotels, making it the fifth-largest collection of bookable hotel inventory in the world. VibeAgent users frequently have access to the best rates available online for each of these hotels.

Hotel Tagging – VibeAgent helps travelers make informed hotel booking decisions via a unique tag-based tool that quickly personalizes a search via three categories: Ambience, Activities, and Recommended For. These categories drive the customization of hotel preferences, such as a hotel with a romantic ambience, a day spa, and gourmet dining for food lovers. Registered users can tag a hotel from any search or hotel page without writing a review, for easy reference later.

Groups & Forums – VibeAgent enables registered users to create custom groups or join groups of like-minded travelers, to exchange stories, tips and recommendations with people that share similar travel interests. VibeAgent features a broad array of groups, ranging from Marathon Travelers, to Napa Valley wine lovers, to company groups for business travelers. Once users have joined a group, they have access to the group members' reviews and can create and post messages in group-only forums. Groups can be open or closed for added privacy.

“My Map” - My Map is a customizable dashboard that presents a personalized map of one’s friends, reviews, and groups. Using “My Map,” a traveler can do a quick geo-search of their network to pull up any city in the world and see all the hotels where people in their network have stayed. They can also read reviews, view hotel photos, check room availability, and book a hotel room ─ all without leaving the dashboard.

“My Trips” – The My Trips feature lets travelers keep track of their planned trips while updating their friends, family and colleagues. Conversely, they can also stay informed of their friends’ adventures or planned trips. A status bar gives users a dynamic snapshot of where the friends within their personal network are traveling to at any given time.

“My News” – My News is a personalized news feed of all the activity occurring in one’s travel network. Users are informed whenever their friends, family and colleagues write reviews, plan trips, post questions, or expand their network. VibeAgent also gives users the option to customize what news is presented in their personalized news feed.

“VibeAgent has strived to create a best-of-breed site that provides travelers with trustworthy hotel recommendations, personalized to their individual tastes and preferences, at the best available rates,” stated Adam Healey, VibeAgent’s co-founder and CEO. “VibeAgent users can be confident they’re making the best accommodation choice possible.”

VibeAgent’s formal launch comes on the heels of announcing a round of financing and the appointment of Trip Davis, President and CEO of TRX Inc. (NASD: TRXI), to the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Davis is recognized as a travel technology industry leader and has received numerous honors and awards, including Business Travel News magazine’s 2007 “Top 25 most influential executives” in the travel industry.

About VibeAgent Inc.

VibeAgent.com is a new online resource for travelers to research and book hotel accommodations. It is the first and only site that combines user-generated hotel reviews, meta-search, and social networking to provide its users with personalized hotel recommendations and booking at the best available rates. VibeAgent’s unparalleled meta-search engine assembles rates and availability for more than 120,000 hotels worldwide from leading sites and providers such as Priceline, HotelBook, InterContinental Hotels, Holiday Inn, Skoosh, Reserve Travel, Venere, Booking.com, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, TravelWorm, and Travel Intelligence. Founded in 2006, VibeAgent is based in Charlottesville, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vibeagent.com.

Sweden Pays Attention to How Seniors Travel

Travel Daily News reports:

“Senior travellers are one of the most interesting sectors in Sweden right now,” says Johan F Lundberg, ITTFA President and Exhibition Manager for TUR. “In a few years there will be more than 3 million people over 55 years, which represents 30% of the total population in Sweden.”

Lundberg continues, “As well as an increase in numbers, there are also notable changes in the behaviour and demands of this market segment. These days Seniors now spend more money on themselves than before, not just on their own trips but also together with their families and grandchildren. They are also very experienced travellers, most of them having travelled for many years. “

“Recognising this new market, the Swedish Exhibition Centre started a specialist senior exhibition two years ago, where travel is the biggest product sector at the fair... “

In order to succeed, it is therefore essential that holiday companies adapt to provide the over 50s market with opportunities that are appealing, accessible and original. Trips that reflect their wanderlust, capture their imagination but also meet their specific needs in a mature and uncomplicated manner. This Third Age of travellers can only get bigger and more powerful. In order not to miss the boat, train or plane, companies need to get on board now and embrace a whole new generation.

Up Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro has racked up a growing reputation as a backdrop for some extraordinary accomplishments by people with disabilities.

* Michele Norris talks to Nicolai Calabria, 13, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro this summer. He climbed the 19,000-foot mountain on crutches, braving arctic temperatures. Listen to the interview on NPR.

*Jimmy Goddard on Kilimanjaro.

Seniors Travel Back to Campus?

The travel and leisure industry is abuzz with the question, "What are the trends to watch coming out of the Boomer generation?" One may be new ways of forming community.

Campus Continuum LLC, based in Newton, Mass., organizes residential 55+ Active Adult Communities for life-long learners on or near college campuses. The firm plans to develop a network of communities across the country boostrapping on each other's best practices. Will this include Universal Design?

Gerard Badler, Campus Continuum's managing director, says many Boomers are finding a sense of place that bypasses more conventional retreats such as beaches or golf courses: they're looking for a retirement -- or semiretirement -- lifestyle different from that experienced by their parents. They're looking for stimulating intellectual, social and volunteer opportunities.

In Campus Continuum's vision, residents will have access to the programs and facilities of the university, as well as seminars and other programs they organize themselves. Depending on their interests and backgrounds, some might become part-time lecturers, advise student clubs and organizations, act as tutors, mentors, or career advisors, and be an enthusiastic audience for music, theater and sports.

http://www.thematuremarket.com/SeniorStrategic/dossier.php?numtxt=9278&idrb=5&titre=SurveyShows:%2055+%20Residence%20Concept%20Is%20Catching%20On

Prospect Endangering Passenger's Safety at SFO?

On October 1,2007 the San Francisco International airport (SFO) passed a regulation that staff may not push two wheelchairs at the same time when assisting passengers. The instruction seems clear enough. However, reports have come in that the regulation has been ignored in some cases. If you have observed or experienced this, or other, unsafe practices at SFO please contact the Rolling Rains Report.

Unfortunately, the union reports that as of October 26, 2007 none of the workers in the agency responsible for this service at SFO, Prospect, had been formally notified of this new rule. In addition, they characterize Prospect management as engaged in stalling contract negotiations leaving workers frustrated and ready to take on major actions.

At the same time, the Prospect web site offers one of the most insightful observations on the importance of this service. In describing this demanding time-critical work environment faced by those who assist airline passengers with disabilities Prospect signals its best intentions:

How important are these services to the image of any airline? From skycap service to wheelchair assistance to baggage service personnel, they are often the first and last impression that customers receive when traveling. These representatives also frequently spend the most time of any personnel interacting directly with the passengers.

This high level of interaction is particularly true of passengers requiring physical assistance in navigating through the airport. As the fastest growing segment of the traveling population, the number of those requiring a wheelchair or electric cart continues to rise dramatically.

The SFO situation is similar to Los Angeles LAX.

Troubling reports circulate that Prospect workers there have been working with 1 or 2 trainings in
the past 5 years on this topic - some never received any since they started working in
2004 - and they're still working with broken wheelchairs, even though
the company has new wheelchairs that they're not letting the workers
use.

At one level situations such as this are complicated involving the interests of individual workers, their union, multiple airlines, contract services, airport management, regulators, travelers with disabilities, and disability advocates. At another level, as I have said previously, it is too frequently the service industry worker who takes the brunt of a traveler's dissatisfaction - even while they may be quietly serving to improve services for people with disabilities within their own organization at work.

If you encounter unsafe equipment or practices, report them. If you experience good service, tip generously! The good service you reward today will result in safer service for everybody tomorrow.

For previous coverage see:

LAX Compromises the Safety, Security and Health of Passengers
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001736.html

Due Diligence on the Part of Airport Assistants for People with Disabilities
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001690.html

Open Social: Social Networking Goes Open Source?

As social networks like My Space and Facebook proliferate - and get relevant as in the case of Disaboom and others under production - Google has placed itself in the Open Source camp with Open Social announced today. Early reporting in Tech Crunch here coverage of the announcement, and a Ning site on Open Social offer background. How will developers utilize this new initiative to the benefit of the disability community?

Reaching Consumers With Disabilities: The Silver Economy

Over at New Mobility author Mark E. Smith notes that demographics of aging and disability have penetrated into product design thinking. Not just NTT DoCoMo's cell phone but Honda's Monpal and Porsche's P'Gasus represent the maturity of mainstream manufacturer's knowledge about PwD as a market.

Honda Motor Company - known for its automobiles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles - has entered the mobility market, launching its Monpal mobility scooter. As a mobility device, the Monpal is a bold move for Honda, reaching out to a consumer demographic that other mainstream transportation manufacturers haven't yet addressed: those of us with disabilities.

What's intriguing about the Monpal is that Honda approached the mobility market from an automotive perspective rather than a clinical one, integrating aspects like automotive-style lighting and bold body design that obviously take cues from the motorcycle market.

For the full article:
http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=11019

Disabled Teacher, Students Thrown off Bus Near Esplanade District in Kolkata

The following is not the sort of story likely to improve tourism:

Kolkata, October 29: Disabled teacher and her two students, both hearing impaired, were thrown off a private bus by the conductor near Esplanade today.

The victims, who were injured in the incident, later lodged a complaint at the New Market police station, after which the driver and conductor were arrested.

Nandini Sengupta, a national award–winning teacher at the Behala Deaf School, and her two students - Satyabrata Mukherjee and Bapi Mukherjee - boarded a private bus on route 241A from Taratolla crossing around 11 am. They were supposed to get down at Esplanade.

A few minutes after boarding the bus, the trio showed their special concession passes for disabled people to the conductor Tapan Das.

But he reportedly demanded money and an argument ensued. The trio later bought tickets to avoid confrontation.

When the bus reached Esplanade around noon, the driver did not stop the bus while the conductor pushed her off, alleged Nandini in her complaint. Satyabrata and Bapi were allegedly pushed off next.

The teacher and her students, who sustained minor injuries, were rushed to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital where they were treated and discharged subsequently.

"We have arrested the driver Swapan Mondol and conductor Tapan Mondol," said Vinit Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).

Nandini is a resident of Budge Budge while Satyabrata and Bapi are residents of Tollygunge and Haridebpur respectively.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com

Marketing Jerusalem

The Tourism Ministry and the Jerusalem Tourism Board are embarking on a national campaign to promote and make the capital city more accessible as a tourist destination for senior citizens.

"Jerusalem represents a major destination for pensioners but the potential of this growing population visiting the city has not yet been realized," the Tourism Ministry said Sunday. "The main reason why pensioners are not coming to Jerusalem are lack of knowledge about Jerusalem, its abundance of attractive sites and the activities available."

According to a survey conducted for the Tourism Ministry, about 50 percent of pensioners (over the age of 65) in Israel, which make up 676,000 people, travel the country on a regular basis, while 180,000 are able to go on a vacation but didn't.

The NIS 200,000 campaign, which starts in November to February 2008, will offer pensioners reduced tour packages tailored for their needs and interests including hotel stays, special night-time events and entertainment activities in addition to the regular sites. The ministry will launch an advertising campaign in the national press this week with details of the vacation packages.

Source:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1192380677433

Friends in the Sky: Good Work United Airlines!

While discount airlines continue their efforts to balance their books on the backs of passengers, Carl Kole from United Airlines has done important work on behalf of passengers with disabilities.

Following a change in CFR power wheelchairs and scooters that have gel batteries and are secured on the device will no longer have to be disconnected. Work is underway to standardize it internationally with both IATA (International AirlineTransport. Assoc) and US DOT.

The text of the regulation: Download file

Indian Airlines Inch Toward Inclusion

Here is the latest version of the Indian Civil Aviation Requirements on Carriage by air of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility. Finalization is scheduled to take place on October 29, 2007. Download file

Universal Design Meets Green Design = Good Design

In 2004, at Designing for the 21st Century III, a group of Latin American visionaries crafted the document known as the "Rio Charter" or the "Rio Charter on Universal Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Development." They built upon a foundation laid by conference sponsors Adaptive Environments who clearly link Green and Universal Design:

Universal Design is also called Inclusive Design, Design-for-All and Lifespan Design. It is not a design style but 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.

LEED building certification awards points for Universal Design as sustainable green practice and the tourism industry accelerates the convergence between Universal Design and green building with the Davos Declaration. While MIT's House Research Consortium was preparing homes through their Open Prototype Initiative, Access Living in Chicago was applying good design with readily available materials to its offices as described below.

Universal Access Meets Green Design by and Melissa Schmitt Oct 16, 2007

The height of Jennifer Thomas' desk at Access Living, a Chicago non-profit outreach organization, adjusts to accommodate her wheelchair. She rolls effortlessly across non-toxic carpet to her recycled filing cabinet under energy-efficient indirect lighting. There are no doors to struggle with at the restroom entrances. Once inside, all the faucets are automatic, a benefit to both Thomas and the environment.

Best of all, Thomas said, the features "are seamless. They don't look like they're marked for people with disabilities. As other members of the population age, they can use these features as well."

Access Living's new building at 115 W. Chicago Avenue is touted as the only one in the city where both universal design and green design meet. The building, which has a LEED certificate for energy and environmental efficiency, recently won the Barrier-Free America Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America. The city most recently won that award for the design of Millennium Park, which opened in 2004.

Access Living staffers, city officials and experts in universal design held a workshop and tour at the building Tuesday entitled "Leadership in Action: Universal and Green Design For All."

"A building without barriers--it's a perfect example of what this building stands for," said Mayor Daley. "This building represents the future of construction in the city of Chicago and around the world."

The recently opened facility was built over five years on land donated by the city. The architect was Jack H. Catlin of LCM Architects in Chicago.

At some point in their lives, most Americans experience a functional limitation, such as arthritis, back problems or heart disease. They find themselves unable to navigate effectively in their homes, offices and public spaces.

The World Health Organization wrote a new definition of disability in 2001, classifying it as a predictable, universal experience. More than 190 member nations recognized the new definition, which will apply to a majority of the world population at some point in their lives.

Universal design offers a framework for creating places, products and communication systems that anyone can use, regardless of physical ability. They can range from can openers with large, comfortable handles to adjustable desks and easy-access cars.

The twin values of universal design and green design are at the centerpiece of Access Living's new building. It has energy-efficient heating and cooling systems and a green roof, which is accessible to people with disabilities.

Workstations accommodate a wide array of disabilities. Deaf workers communicate with a Video Relay System, allowing them to use sign language over a video screen with a specially trained operator. Elevators have front and back doors, which prevents people in wheelchairs from having to navigate to the front of a crowded space.

Some at the workshop said the need for universal design is especially acute today.

"Universal design is for all of us, especially the aging population," said Valerie Fletcher, executive director of Adaptive Environments, a non-profit that focuses on universal design."By 2050, over 25 percent of the population will be over 60 years old."

Faceless on Facebook: Inaccessibility in Web 2.0

Youreable.com argues that Facebook has instituted a serious design flaw that results in the exclusion of people with disabilities. Their analysis provides some useful detail on how to make digital information accessible:

Facebook is excluding users with poor vision and reading difficulties from its social network, through recent changes to its accessibility options, according to usability and accessibility specialist Foviance.

The online community has removed an accessibility feature that enabled people to verify themselves by mobile phone, instead of by visual CAPTCHA, and replaced it with an audio CAPTCHA that is not visible or keyboard accessible.

The move is likely to prevent many disabled communities from accessing Facebook. Visual CAPTCHAs are graphics with distorted or obscured letters or numbers used to determine if a user is human, to prevent spam and automated postings to blogs and communities etc.

They cause significant problems for people who are blind, visually impaired or dyslexic.

Continue to the full article:
http://www.youreable.com/TwoShare/getPage/01News/01Current/October2007/facebook

Disabled Advocates Push Disney World, SeaWorld to allow Segways

The JFA Daily (10/15/07) cites an Orlando Sentinel report that Disney World and SeaWorld will not allow Segway users. This turns out to be a difficulty for visitors like James Nappier.

When James Nappier, a petty officer in the Navy Reserve, first rode his new Segway scooter out into his Loxahatchee neighborhood, he felt emotions that were rare since he got home from Iraq.

On the two-wheeled, electric scooter, he could get around easily.
That felt like personal freedom. Standing on the upright vehicle,
he could look neighbors in the eyes, not the belt buckles. That
felt like equality.

"It's been a godsend, because I can get out and get around on it,"
said Nappier, 49, who suffered leg- and arm-nerve damage in a May
2004 mortar attack in Ramadi, Iraq.

"I try to take it all the places here I can."

But he can't take it everywhere. Disney and SeaWorld Orlando won't
allow visitors to use Segways, citing safety concerns.

"We're not turning people away," Disney World spokeswoman Kim
Prunty said. "We're turning away a particular form of
transportation."

...

To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.aapd.com/News/transportation/071015os.htm

More on the popularity of Segway travel:
http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/6518

Inviting to All - Good Writing on an Exemplary UD Project

Freelance writer Robin Avni has succeeded in writing a type of story about Universal Design in homes that I don't believe I have seen before. Intelligent, excellently illustrated, and personal without being mawkish or drawing on stereotype this is definitely an article worth reading.

Designer and builder Sanjay Soli transcended the sterility of simple "accessible design" and retrofitting to achieve striking stylishness through Universal Design. Avni has written a piece on disability lifestyle worthy of New Mobility magazine. Kudos to the Seattle Times Pacific Northwest magazine for bringing to mainstream readership both the concept and the heart behind good design.

See Inviting to All .

Seattle has come a long way since we founded the Disabled Students Commission and launched the campus Architectural barriers removal Project at the University of Washington in 1974 when Ron Mace was pioneering this work! What was once a marginal design philosophy is now core design and architecture curriculum - and lives are fuller as a result.

Next step? Full adoption of Universal Design with style by the hospitality industry in hotels, resorts, and on cruise ships.

Survey: How Designed Environments Affect Individuals' Activities

A research team from the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Design and the Built Environment at the State University of New York at Buffalo is conducting online surveys examining how designed environments affect individuals' activities. The environments being studied are public buildings, streets and residences.

The study is interested not only in the experiences of individuals with cognitive, hearing, mobility or sight conditions but also in the experiences of individuals with none of those conditions. Widespread participation is very important to the goal of this study to identify environmental design features that are useable by everyone.

This study employs anonymous surveys to examine three build environments' influences on routine activities:

-Public Buildings (for example: using entrances, restrooms, etc.)

-Public Streets (for example: using sidewalks, intersections, etc.)

-Residential Environments (for example: using kitchens, bathrooms, etc.)

If you think you might be interested in participating or would just like additional information, go to the research study's website at http://www.udeworld.com/research/index.php. The surveys will be available online through January 2008.

Inaccessible Telephone Technology? AAPD Answers the Call!

Here is Silicon Valley I have the privilege of meeting with technology designers who are in residence or just passing through. Not long ago I had the opportunity to discuss NTT DoCoMo's universally designed phones with their engineering team. One of the problems we lamented was the lack of communication between people with disabilities as consumers of phones and telecommunications companies.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is taking up the challenge. Because the size of the problem is expanding geometrically with the aging of Baby Boomers the failure of AARP to be a full partner in this work is disappointing. However, it demonstrates once again that the disability community is pioneering the new definition of retirement by being "beta testers for aging."

Consumer Complaint Campaign: People with Disabilities Fed Up With
Poorly Designed Phones

Over the past several months AAPD, and several other national disability organizations, have been assisting consumers with disabilities with their complaints about phones that are not accessible or usable. These complaints are from persons with vision loss, physical disabilities, hearing loss, and in several cases multiple disabilities. Several of the complaints involve aging boomers who expect the same usability they used to have when younger. Complaints range from lack of access to the information on the cell phone screen, such as not being able to navigate through the menus or being able to enter caller information from the keypad, lack of hearing aid compatibility, keypad buttons that are too small or keypads with no indicators, missing calls because the ring tone and vibrate function cannot be turned on simultaneously, customer service reps ignoring disability concerns, bills and product materials unavailable in alternate format, and other barriers to making and receiving calls like everyone else.

AAPD believes that most of these concerns are readily achievable
and we remain puzzled why the services providers are not insisting
on more usability from the device manufacturers, particularly as
the product life cycle is short and many of our design needs help
America's aging population. The Section 255 phone accessibility
and usability law was passed in 1996. Yet, eleven years later,
people with disabilities are putting up with clumsy workarounds
and barriers to making and receiving phone calls that mean they
are overpaying for their phone devices and services. It's time to
make sure the phone companies hear from you!

AAPD will continue to assist consumers with informal complaints
involving cell and other phones. Please contact Jenifer Simpson,
AAPD staffer, if you have just such a concern. Alternatively you
can file your complaint directly at the FCC using their online
Form 475 at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm

Jenifer's Email is aapdjenifer@aol.com. Put "phone complaint" in
the subject line for faster handling.

Press notices about this consumer campaign can be seen at:

Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology at
http://www.aapd.com/News/telecomm/070814coat.htm

Hearing Loss Association of America at:
http://www.audiologyonline.com/news/news_detail.asp?news_id=2834

American Foundation for the Blind at:
www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=
/www/story/07-26-2007/0004633567

SOURCE: AAPD

More on Cell Phones
http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/001538.html

"Reality TV" in India : Sound of the Silent

Part of the reason transportation and hospitality infrastructure and practice remains inhospitable is because the reality of the lives of people with disabilities is not accurately portrayed. K. Murali of Deaf Leaders in India has a proposal to begin to remedy that.

A tele–serial exclusively for the hearing impaired will soon capture the aesthetic interests of the hearing impaired country–wide.

A brainchild of K. Murali, Director of Deaf Leaders, an organisation working for the empowerment of the hearing impaired in Coimbatore, "Sound of the Silent" would feature success stories of hearing impaired individuals.

Speaking to The Hindu before his visit to Japan for a "Leadership Training for Deaf Persons," Mr. Murali said that he had met Government officials in New Delhi and Doordarshan to get a 28–minute slot once a week on the national channel. Mr. Murali was expecting a positive response from the Centre in two to three months.

A compact disc on the lives of two hearing impaired people from Madurai and Coimbatore had also been released by him, which would be used as material for the programme.

Insufficient funds were slowing down the process. The camera and related equipment w