Learning Zone - Overcome Barriers to Access

Many disabled people are keen to travel and the provision of improved accessibility will result not only in economic benefits to a business but assist a move to social integration.
So what can YOU do?
Have a look around your tourism offer, be it hotel, bar, cafe, travel agency etc. Ask yourself these fundamental questions...

Can I move around easily within the existing physical layout?

Are there any barriers to access such as steps, stairs, narrow doorways, hard to push open doors, surfaces that when wet become slippery, etc?

Are special facilities offered such as induction loops for the hard of hearing, large text signs or menus offered to those with sight issues, braille options in the lift/menus/room welcome information packs/fire evacuation instructions, etc?

How do you actually deliver or offer your service? eg. Via internet - how does the viewer see your webpage? Colour contrasts, size of type, too cluttered page? Check it out!

Now you've made a start lets suggest an experiment in empathy.

Go to the door leading into your travel agency, hotel reception area, cafe, restaurant etc. Sit on a seat in front of the door and now try to open it from a seated position without standing up or using your legs as a form of leverage. Can it be done? in more than 90% of cases you will fail this task and voila you have a physical barrier to overcome!

The message then in this Learning Zone Post is try to empathise with disabled clients and you will find immediate ways to improve your service.

This post is brought to you by http://www.disabledaccessibletravel.com/ visit our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/disabledaccessibletravel