Disabled Accessible Travel in Barcelona and Spain

Wheelchair transfers from Airport to Barcelona

2011-05-27T16:36:00.000+01:00

Most travel articles about Barcelona related to wheelchair accessible access wax lyrical about its accessibility and skip over those essential ‘insider’ bits of information that make the life of the international visitor that bit easier, forewarned is forearmed as the saying goes. This article aims to introduce you to Barcelona ‘warts’ and all from the perspective of an ‘ex-pat’ disabled person living and working in Barcelona since 2004.

Your first reality check is on arrival at the new El Prat International Airport Terminal 1 where the majority of international flights land or on arrival at Terminal 2 for many of the European low-cost carriers.
The policy across the board seems to be all wheelchair users will be the last to be disembarked from a flight so you can expect a lengthy delay of anything from 45 minutes to 2 hours (seriously) before exiting into the arrivals area.
Now unless you have pre-booked accessible transport (recommended) your options for travelling into the City are limited to say the least. There are no accessible taxis at the public taxi rank at either terminal so a pre-booking is required to be made with a minimum of 24 hours notice, also you need to be aware that you will be charged a double fare (the taxi company charges a fare from Barcelona to the Airport and one for picking you up for the trip into Barcelona) for your transfer.
Its worth noting that the principal taxi company is Taxi Amic and that they have around 52 Citroen C8 adapted vehicles, however these vehicles (which have rear ramped access, 3 rear seats and one up front) have very limited baggage space so in reality if there’s more than 2 of you in one vehicle and you have even a normal amount of luggage this is going to be squeezed in around the wheelchair user making life less than comfortable. When making a reservation with Taxi Amic you will have to be able to speak Catalan or Spanish (no English spoken) and be able to provide exact address details including building numbers. Expect to pay around €60 for the one-way transfer.
Option 2 then is to catch a train into the City, well, actually no, that’s not possible from Terminal 1 unless you take the shuttle link bus which is fully accessible to the RENFE train station at Terminal 2. Your problem then is how to actually get onto the train (which by the way are 100% wheelchair friendly & fitted with wheelchair accessible toilets) as there is a big gap between the platform and the train and the floor level of the train is approximately 2 feet higher than the platform so it’s a pretty steep step up into the carriage and absolutely impossible for a) power chair users, b) scooter users and c) anyone who has no walking or climbing steps capability. At less than €2 for a single journey it is however a very cheap option.
If you can get into the train you are faced with another problem at Plaça Catalunya station that is in the heart of the City and where most people leave the train to find their hotels. The step down from the carriage is even worse than that at the Airport. There are 2 lifts to take you to the concourse level one of which is almost always out of action and all too frequently neither work. Once at concourse level the one and only lift to the street level is not working more often than working so all in all using RENFE to arrive into Barcelona loaded down with your luggage is not a great option.
Not all is doom and gloom as there is the option of using the airport to City shuttle bus all of which have ramp access (when they work) and run into the City around every 15 minutes or so. A cheap and cheerful option that has only the drawback of limited space for wheelchairs so you may have some waiting to do before journeying into Barcelona. These shuttles terminate at Plaça Catalunya so are convenient for most hotels and hostels.
It would be remiss of me not to mention our own service, which is a private transfer from either Terminal in accessible transport. We provide English-speaking drivers and a greeting service in the Terminal and have vehicles with ramp and hydraulic lift options. Our smallest vehicle carries 1 or 2 wheelchairs and 4 other guests with luggage and room to spare whilst our largest accommodates 6 chairs and 34 more guests. Sit back and enjoy a short DVD on our plasma screen for the trip into town. A standard price for this service is €70 just a few more euros than a taxi but with much more on offer.
If travelling from Canada and going on a cruise from Barcelona our transfer prices are roughly 20% lower than most travel agencies will quote you on behalf of cruise companies.
Contact me directly dat@disabledaccessibletravel.com

Travel agencies do not understand the needs of the Accessible market

2011-05-04T14:27:00.000+01:00

Travel agencies do not understand the needs of the Accessible market
“I’ve been in the industry 20 years and used to be an agent. If someone with a disability came in, we used to run a mile,” Wendy Takman.TTGLIVE.COM Thursday, March 12, 2009
Now a training consultant for Good Access Guide, which provides access and disability-related training, marketing and consultancy services to the leisure and hospitality industry, Takman says little improvement has been made since she was selling holidays.
“It’s a sector that’s neglected across the board. There’s still a lack of training and knowledge because it’s undervalued as a target market,” she says.TTGLIVE.COM Thursday, March 12, 2009
February 22nd 2010; a new study carried out by Co-operative Travel with the assistance of Tourism for All, a British-based charity that specialises in travel for the disabled, found that "85 per cent of respondents did not believe travel agents understand the needs of disabled travellers, and 78 per cent did not feel they were catered for by high street agents. The survey also found that 35 per cent would not consider booking with a mainstream travel agent."
And 2011, has the situation improved? From my own experience I can say the answer is no, the situation has not altered much which is surprising when one considers this is a multi-billion dollar market. There is however a clearly identifiable cause and effect situation at play, namely highly fragmented sources of reliable and accurate information that is available to travel professionals. Poor information leads to customers having expectations built that they are to experience an 'accessible' holiday (airport transfer, shore excursion etc) only to find the information used by the travel professional was flawed and 'accessibility' was not available. A very common experience on both sides of the sales equation.
So whats the solution? What are travel professionals lacking? What do they need to satisfy private, agency and corporate clients looking for accessible facilities?

Gibraltar, access for the disabled visitor

2011-04-26T12:11:00.000+01:00

Hidden in the long gone past I came across information regarding access on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Rock remains difficult for access if only for the reason that there are no accessible vehicles to hire for private tours (if anyone can correct that statement please let me know!!)

●●● Clear access / ●● some difficulty / ● Difficult access

Upper Rock Nature Reserve attractions

St Michael’s Cave Entrance accessible, bridge and steps ●●

Apes Den Accessible ●●●

Great Siege Tunnels Accessible half way, steep hill and set of steps ●●

Military Heritage Centre Access difficult due to uneven ground condition ●●

City under Siege Exhibition Set of steps and heavy door ●

Moorish Castle Access difficult, steps and narrow corridors ●

Whilst steps are being taken to meet the special requirements of some of our visitors, some of Gibraltar’s major attractions face particular difficulties in providing access for those who are in wheelchairs. However, to compensate in some small measure for this, the Gibraltar Tourist Board has arranged for free access to disabled persons into the Upper Rock.

Other attractions:

World War II Rock and Fortress Tunnel Tour: Accessible ●●●

Nelson’s Anchorage: Access to exhibition only, steps and narrow corridors leading to gun ●●

Gibraltar Museum: Access to lower floor only ●●

Cable Car: Difficult access, a number of flights of steps ●

Alameda Botanical Gardens: Accessible ●●●

Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park: Partly accessible, some flights of steps ●●

Trafalgar Cemetery: Partly accessible ●●

Gibraltar Crystal Glass Factory: Step into factory, assistance provided by staff ●●

Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Exhibition : Good access, lifts to upper floor ●●●

Parson’s Lodge : Difficult access, a number of flights of steps and uneven paths ●

John Mackintosh Hall ( library & cultural centre ) : Good access, lifts to first floor ●●●

Shrine of Our Lady of Europe : Good access, ramp at entrance ●●●

Flat Bastion Magazine : Partly accessible, narrow corridors ●●

We hope that the friendliness, helpfulness and attention of local people can go some way towards compensating for any deficiencies in the physical provisions in buildings and amenities some of which are difficult to satisfactorily adapt.

Has Accessible Travel Caught Up with the 21st Century?

2011-04-26T12:04:00.000+01:00

Has Accessible Travel Caught Up with the 21st Century?

There are two aspects to the question I feel
Firstly the perspectives of supply into the market place of accessible travel facilities. In this respect I have to say that I believe that the past year has seen a very interesting growth pattern of new entrants into the market who are brand new start-up SMEs and also well-established companies who have introduced elements of access travel services to their existing portfolios. So one could say that in this respect Accessible Travel is making its presence more prominent in the 21st Century.
Secondly one has to consider if access to this market has improved via the sales channels available from supplier to the consumer. The answer is that there has been little significant change from 30 years ago to the present day even with the introduction of the World Wide Web and the associated growth of information available to the consumer. There remains an enormous gap in the knowledge centre at the heart of the travel market, I refer to the travel agent, regarding the needs of disabled clients despite tools being provided to address this issue such as the UK’s ABTA training course, free, regarding working with disabled consumers.
I would pose the question also ‘is accessible travel’ suffering through not being seen as fashionable, by this I mean it has not been taken up by the media nor the travel industry as a whole in the way that ECO tourism and RESPONSIBLE tourism or SUSTAINABLE tourism have been. There seems to be little willingness by major industry bodies to promote Accessible Tourism for instance the leading Industry Show, the World Travel Market placed accessible travel on the seminar list in 2009 and 2010 but prior to that? The response from the professionals attending was mediocre with less than 50 people attending in both years out of more than 50,000 attending the show over 4 days.

Is Accessible Tourism an Investment That Pays?

I think this heading needs qualifying, as there are two aspects that can be applied to it.
Firstly if taken from the perspective of SMEs I would say that for the majority of service providers who work solely in the Accessible Travel market few would say that its an industry that provides significant financial rewards and that investment costs are significantly higher than other aspects of the travel market in general thus requiring longer ROI times than one might otherwise be looking for as an entrepreneur.
What do I mean by this? Well if one looks at the fundamental problem that faces a user of a wheelchair wishing to travel in a foreign country almost always the key issue is transport. Accessible transports with ramps or hydraulic lifts are expensive to purchase (50,000 euros upwards for a car seating 1 wheelchair and 3 other passengers) for use in commercial situations and tend to be the domain of public service transport providers. For the SME the issue is how to generate sufficient sales to cover the cost of purchase, maintenance, insurance and operating licence, all of which are higher than standard transportation costs across Europe. With the general lack of transport that is accessible in many European towns and cities for tourism one has to assume that these costs are barriers that few SMEs are willing to bear.
Secondly if taken from a GDP perspective for local, regional and national economies then yes Accessible Tourism is to be encouraged as spend increases exponentially with the numbers of visitors who are disabled. Having said that there is a finite point at which growth will level out without sustained investment in the infrastructure of ports, towns, and cities and in SMEs who provide services. Barcelona has seen a significant investment in creating an infrastructure that is accessible primarily to users of wheelchairs with 100% accessible public buses, city tour buses all have wheelchair access, the majority of metro stations a tourist is likely to use are accessible as are the trains themselves, and slowly sites of interest are being adapted for wheelchairs. Note the focus is on wheelchairs so there is a lack of investment in Braille related services, loop induction systems etc. The result overall though has been an increased awareness that Barcelona is one of the most accessible cities to travel to in Europe.

Do Tourism Providers Adhere to Their Legislative Responsibilities?

The key is twofold, lack of knowledge and misinterpretation of the rules and regulations pertaining to Access.
One has to recognise firstly that there is a diversity of laws that cross over legislative boundaries and create confusion that all to frequently have to be resolved in a court of law. So what are these boundaries?
■Federal Laws,
■State Laws,
■Local Laws and
■Local ordinances.
Within the framework of many pieces of legislation there lie terms that allow for wide degrees of (mis-)interpretation.
More serious is the lack of knowledge on the part of Accessible Tourism providers as to their responsibilities in relation to the law. Often the first a provider knows about having contravened a legal requirement is when a potential, existing or past client makes to them or against them a complaint.
‘Ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law’ is a maxim that is a mainstay of most legal systems so why do so many providers not know what is expected from them? Lack of training, and education are the two principal causes but when one investigates where to obtain that training and education there is a very large void so the onus lays squarely on the shoulders of each and every provider to obtain copies of all relevant legislation and learn the content a process few have the time or willingness to do. Let sleeping dogs lie and deal with problems when they arise seems to be the maxim and probably a fairly successful one as there is little significant investment in policing the application of legislation.

One mans fight to raise awareness of Alzheimers

2011-04-19T17:48:00.000+01:00

This is one mans incredible campaign to raise awareness of alzheimers, read on.....

As the world turns slowly round each day, life goes on. Everyday a new challenge is thrown up at us to adapt to and overcome. As we all know for some, one of those challenges is Alzheimer’s. So what can we do to “adapt and overcome” as I always say?
You will probably know by now that I passionately feel that Awareness is the key and will one day rid this awful disease of the terrible stigma that’s attached to it!! But what I want to talk about today from a personal experience is “Early Diagnosis”
I think that the key, not only to acceptance of this disease but the betterment and quality of life is an early diagnosis!! I was diagnosed at 50yrs old, went steadily downhill for a few months until I was given the drug Ebixa, and I can honestly say I have just spent the most wonderful 18 months with my incredible family and friends!! I shudder to think that I could have missed out on all this if I hadn’t been diagnosed or been misdiagnosed because I am “so young” for such a disease!!!
To make sure this happens many things have to be put in place and these things unfortunately take time. From making sure GP`s Dr,s, Consultants and all professional people don’t dismiss it as behavioural problems instead of a Dementia, to family being open and honest about what they are seeing happening to a loved one or friend. All these things need to be put in place to make sure the WORLD WAKES UP TO DEMENTIA!!!
Here come the “IFS” but just think about this for a moment. IF I hadn’t been diagnosed, IF I hadn’t seen a consultant, IF I hadn’t been prescribed the drugs I have been described I would have by now LOST everything I hold so precious, dear and close to me. I would have lost moments that I now cherish and will for too for the rest of my life. And here comes the big “IF”
“IF “I myself had DENIED having the disease and refused treatment I am fully convinced that the disease would have taken over my brain, and it would certainly be too late now to be treated!!!! That’s how serious it is, we are dealing with “LIFE OR DEATH” here, whichever way you want to wrap it up, that’s a fact!!!
So what can WE do?? The word I will always use and come back to is EDUCATE PEOPLE by RAISING AWARENESS!! YES ITS THAT SIMPLE!! I was told the other day that no matter what comes or goes in September I have still raised awareness to over 9,000 people up to now and still counting!!! Can you imagine the good we could do if we all do just half of that!!!
I wish you all so much happiness my friends and always remember
WHERE THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE!!!
Very best wishes, Norrms , Elaine and family xxxxxxxxxxxx
http://norrms.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

Disability Etiquette Part III

2011-04-15T13:55:00.001+01:00

DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED PERSONS, how should communication take place that’s good for everyone?

A general note is to be aware of a person’s body language and their reaction to you when speaking with them.
Many people are hearing impaired and may be unaware of this or do not inform you that they have problems with hearing. Remember also that with miniaturisation techniques hearing aids are not always visible.
So a useful tool is to change position when talking with someone you think may have an impairment and assess changes, if any, in body language as these may provide useful clues that the person is more comfortable with you talking from one position than another. Here are some general conditions to think about and practice.........

When talking to deaf or hearing-impaired people look directly at the person
Speak clearly, naturally and at a normal pace and maintain eye contact
If requested, raise your voice to an acceptable level for the person you're talking with
To get the attention of a person it is generally acceptable to tap the person lightly on the shoulder
Keep your hands and objects such as food and drink away from your mouth when speaking
Has what you wished to say been understood? Actions speak a 1000 words so if the reaction of the person is what is expected then understanding is clear, if not check and repeat what you wanted to convey
In some circumstances it might be helpful to offer brief and concise written notes

An aid that is useful for travel agencies is to install an induction loop system in your premises and display the "loop system available" logo sticker on your entry door or sales window. Hearing-impaired people who use hearing aids are able to use this system to hear what is being said very clearly. Its a cheap and beneficial system to both business and client.

Price v Expectations

2011-04-05T22:01:00.000+01:00

The other day I received an email that astonished me with one particular phrase from a potential client who decided not to make a reservation with us (it happens sometimes!!), this phrase being "your prices were jaw droppingly expensive", not a normal reaction to quotes we provide, so this set me to thinking about the gap between peoples expectations and what is in reality 'doable' in respect to price.

Lets be clear about one thing straight away, private tour services are expensive compared to per person prices for general groups as they are just that, private and for one group/family/couple/individual person with personal guide and personal transportation (where asked for). Regretably prices for private tour services for the disabled are much higher than for the non-disabled and there are many reasons for this, mostly bad it has to be said.
As this blog site is all about accessible travel for the disabled I'll just focus on this aspect of the preamble above.
So why is it more expensive for the disabled to have private tours? The answer almost 100% relates to transport. Accessible transport is by and large in short supply especially for cruise shore excursions and as any student of economics will confirm where demand exceeds supply prices are usually high (after all someone will pay them!!). As an example - in one city we work in there is just one accessible vehicle available for private hire and depending on the company quoting prices the range for this one vehicle is from €600 to €800, now remember this is for the SAME vehicle! As commercial companies have to have income these prices will increase by whatever margin an operator cares to add before retailing the service. So transport is expensive to hire for travel companies and doubly so for private non company clients who do not have the discount benefits enjoyed by travel companies. So the bad aspect is that many vehicle companies place premium prices on services to the disabled that are in many cases double the price of a standard non-adapted vehicle service. That is reality and makes life jaw droppingly expensive. Note that the example above does not include the cost of a personal guide.

Personal guides, the cost factor.
What many people do not realise is that prices quoted for licenced personal guides are often set by national, regional or local governments and are frequently based on a single guide working with a group of up to 25 people. This means that for a private tour with one person the cost to that person is the same for a day, lets say €300, as for a group of 25. From the maths we see that our one person on a private tour pays €300 for the guide, the group however pays €12 per person. There are few if any personal guides who have any training to work with the disabled and even fewer who are prepared, where possible within the legal framework, to adjust prices to cater for small private groups. So the price of a private guide is jaw droppingly expensive.
So lets return to the opening remark, the gap between expectations and reality. The reality is that accessible travel facilities for private tours and shore excursions is an expensive business if the numbers of people involved is small. Expectations are such that many clients ask for quotes and itineraries based on what they'd like and not on budget considerations nor taking into account that international money exchange rates can increase prices greatly. Reality is that travel agents and travel companies prepare many detailed quotes etc for clients which never translate into business as the price exceeds the expectations of people looking to enhance their holiday experience.
So the last question remains and I know that you, the reader of our blog are just dying to know the answer to this one, are we jaw droppingly expensive? I like to believe not and I feel that the clients we've enjoyed working with haven't felt that about us. We carry out indepth competitor research which leaves us to believe our prices are some of the most competitive available in Europe, but the real answer to the question is "where does expectation meet with the reality of cost and price?"

ADA accessibility compliance

2011-04-04T19:55:00.000+01:00

I am an architect and my practice for the last 18 years has specialized in ADA accessibility compliance. I do not consider myself smarter than my fellow architects, but when I spend 100% of my time and effort on ADA compliance it does make a difference. My fellow architects understanding of the ADA is maybe 35%, engineers are maybe 25%, and we here at ACCESS think it is 95%. I am asked why only 95% and the truth is that those are grey areas and we really are not sure of the correct answer. Civil rights laws in the USA are never well written, so as time goes on it gets better defined in the Federal Courts. Our work product is ADA detail of existing audits of buildings and ADA detail plan checks of new and remodeling of buildings.

For the past 3 weeks we have been posting information on our FaceBook board that will give the wheelchair community a wealth of information.

In summary, a year ago ACCESS was repositioned to bring our professional knowledge and experience in ADA compliance to the wheelchair community. ADA will always be a team effort and we need to mobilize the wheelchair community so that they join the team and become a part of the ACCESS program. We have given these wheelchair people the name of “Wheelchair Watchdogs”. This is a no cost program to the wheelchair person. The ACCESS program uses the Civil Rights Laws and the filing of ADA non-compliant buildings in Federal Court where the Federal Judge has the final say.

I have never seen a hotel, motel or timeshare in the USA that has been ADA compliant, so we use those properties for their first filing. This is a perfect fit for your membership and it is simple. Reserve one accessible room with 2 beds and a roll-in shower. Take 2-3 digital photos of the accessible bedroom, same for the bathroom, some for the lobby area, public bathrooms and outside showing building and accessible parking. Email to us those photos along with a copy of your lodging bill.

The ACCESS Wheelchair Watchdog program is setup as a self help program to assist wheelchair users in getting building ADA compliant.

ACCESS needs and wants wheelchair users to join our Wheelchair Watchdog program. The ACCESS motto is working together we can get buildings ADA compliant one building at a time.

Our goal is to be a part of a team that will be filing 100 ADA non-compliant cases a week in Federal Court by the end of 2011.

The program needs people like Disabled Accessible Travel with your large wheelchair membership to make this happen.

Sincerely,
Hank Falstad, AIA
ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES, INC.
Managing Senior Associate
hfalstad@accessts.net
Additional information can be found on our web site: www.accessts.net

Disability Etiquette part II

2011-03-28T19:58:00.000+01:00

Engage brain first speak afterwards, a familiar phrase that is applicable to working with the disabled as much as anywhere else.

Always speak directly to the person with a disability, not to his companion, aide or sign language interpreter. Making small talk with a person who has a disability is great; just talk as you would with anyone else, this applies in particular to the majority of hotel receptionists who have a really annoying habit of talking over the heads of wheelchair users and often refer to and talk to users as one would to a child. Respect an individual’s privacy. If you ask about his disability, he may feel like you are treating him as a disability, not as a human being. (However, many people with disabilities are comfortable with children’s natural curiosity and do not mind if a child asks them questions.)

One person’s fun is another person’s personal nightmare, do not prejudge what someone can or cannot do

People with disabilities are the best judge of what they can or cannot do. Don’t make decisions for them about participating in any activity. Depending on the situation, it could be a violation of ADA or DDA legislation, (don’t know the law? Remember in all legal situations not just to do with disability legislation, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law so find copies of the ADA if you are in the USA, or DDA if in the UK and read the content, time spent is money saved in the long run!!)

Respond positively to all requests, there’s always a positive not negative reasons for requests made by disabled people

When people who have a disability ask for an accommodation at your business, it is not a complaint. It shows they feel comfortable enough in your establishment to ask for what they need. And if they get a positive response, they will probably come back again and tell their friends about the good service they received. Remember, for every person with a positive experience they are likely to tell 5 others, who tell more friends as well (the world is a small place), for every negative experience they’ll tell 10 people etc. People who are disabled and have a positive experience are much more likely to repeat the experience with your business than a non-disabled person.

What’s in a name?

The longest running debate in the world of the disabled is what we call ourselves and the debate is fierce, and moreover remains unresolved but here’s some basic pointers. Avoid outdated terms like “handicapped” or “crippled.” (Surprisingly the word ‘handicapped’ is a word that scores pretty high on KEI SEO terms). Be aware that many people with disabilities dislike jargon and euphemistic terms like “physically challenged” and “differently-abled” Say “wheelchair user,” rather than “confined to a wheelchair” or “wheelchair bound.” The wheelchair is what enables the person to get around and participate in society; it’s liberating, not confining.

This post is by Alan Broadbent, Managing Director Disabled Accessible Travel

Making the web more accommodating and engaging

2011-03-21T19:38:00.002Z

Website designs for the future

Making the web more accommodating and engaging

When Chris Lona looks at a website he sees potential - potential for a better, more engaging and user-friendly website.

“Companies really do themselves a disservice by having a standard web presence,” Lona said.

Lona takes an innovative multi-media approach to website design and has been ahead of his time for years. His designs not only make websites more engaging, it also makes it easier to use for people with disabilities.

He uses voice narration, music, large type, and visual stimulation. He approaches a website like a presentation. A friendly voice presents the website to visitor guiding the visitor from page to page. Full-page images and limited text keeps the pages simple and visually stimulating.

“It’s an exercise on simplicity,” said Lona.

The narration can be turned off or the user can skip ahead or back at any giving moment. Lona said that visitors navigate through the pages without having to use the mouse which aids the visually impaired as well as quadriplegic people or people suffering from diseases like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

“It accommodates people with disabilities and engages everyone else in a more stimulating way,” said Lona, who himself wears an eye-patch as a result of a brain tumor and double vision when he was a senior in college.

Lona said his designs are relevant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Lona is on currently on contract with Seattle City Light to update their website.

“One day there was a blind man riding the bus so I mustered up my courage and asked him questions about being blind. I asked him if a website with audio prompts would help. He said ‘that would be nice’,” Lona said.

“I eliminated the need for a voice reader that talks like a machine. A human voice works so much better.”

Lona has a background in architecture and graphic design and specializes in branding. One of his current branding clients is Ballard Licensing.

While his designs benefit people with handicaps, Lona said his projects started of with the intend to make presentations more engaging and that his real niche is in tourism, travel, and spa and resort websites.

“The whole intent of a resort or a cruise is to enhance the experience but where does the visit start? - a standard, template based site when it could start with an interactive, immersive experience," he said.

“There are just so many practical, pragmatic uses for this design.”

But Lona stated he’s been having a hard time getting his business off the ground.

“Frankly, it’s been really frustrating to get people to see the benefits of this,” he said. Lona said that his designs are far from the template-form websites which means he spends a lot of time educating people on the design and its usage.

“The encouraging things is that whenever I show it to people, people never say ‘I don’t like it’,” Lona said.

Lona said he sees the internet moving towards full screen videos instead of text-based websites.

“The beauty of this project is that the still images only take a minute amount of bandwidth,” he said.

For more information about Chris Lona designs, please visit http://www.cldesignonline.com/projects_p1.htm

This article was first published http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2010/12/08/news/website-designs-future and is reproduced with permission from Chris Lona.

OK, so where DO I get information from for my accessible holiday?

2011-03-20T18:15:00.001Z

One of the greatest problems facing anyone going on holiday who has any kind of disability, hidden or visible, is where to get reliable and accurate information that will ultimately lead to a smooth trouble free holiday or travel of some kind or another.
Lets look at the cruise market to get a good idea of the problems facing the disabled by taking a snapshot of queries placed on cruisecritic.com message board Disabled Cruise Travel. Issues relate to travelling with medical sized suitcases; Cruising with a service dog; facilities for slow walkers; types of wheelchairs that are best; shore excursions - contact details, the list is endless but there is one common theme, many of the questions, if not 100%, are asking the same questions that others of the 3479 entries to-date have asked. Now thats pretty strange and the website offers a range of options to help and advise cruisers with headings such as..
Disabled Cruising Resources

Best Cruises for Seniors
Best Ships for Cruisers With Disabilities
Cruising With a Disability What do disabled travelers really need to know before booking a cruise
All really helpful stuff so whats the problem?
Where do we get the answers and why is a forum such as cruisecritic, and its not the only travel forum with this issue, so full of basic questions which have been answered many times over?
Lets see if the travel agent can help here, well from a number of surveys carried out over the past few years in Europe it seems that travel agents on the whole are asking pretty much the same questions and have less information to offer than maybe other resources can. There are a good handful of specialist agencies who only work in the Accessible Travel market area but how do we find out who and where they are and how to contact them. Good question as its one that the other Travel Agents often ask as well.
First port of call the internet but here another problem raises its head as the use of the most popular search words, travel; accessible and disabled produce over 19 million hits, where oh where to begin and who to trust?
Finally we reach the crux of the problem facing disabled people wishing to travel, lots of information available but in a fragmented form thats not readily 'accessible' easily, thats not always reliable (sure its an accessible hotel because the brochure says so, but not in reality when you arrive expecting to use the roll-in shower that actually is non existent), and is offered by a company you've never heard off.
So references and recommendations are what most people look for and here the forums are winners, indeed for some locations I visit these forums to see if any new names pop up that might prove to be possible suppliers to me.
What is really needed to help clean the up the mess and create some form of cohesion is for the travel media to wake up and be more responsible in highlighting accessible tourism. Eco tourism, responsible tourism, great buzz words that get yards of coverage in the printed media travel sections and on travel related TV shows but accessible travel??? ummm, yup, basically zip.

As a resource base for worldwide information please do contact me to see if in my extensive database I have a connection that can help you out or I may even be able to service your requirements directly.
This post is by Alan Broadbent, from Disabled Accessible Travel who can be reached at dat@disabledaccessibletravel.com Their website can be visited at http://www.disabledaccessibletravel.com/ and for regular information on accessible travel issues and links visit the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/disabledaccessibletravel

Learning Zone - Overcome Barriers to Access

2011-03-09T16:08:00.000Z

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

EU Regs -travel by AIR know the rights of disabled travel

2011-03-01T18:19:00.000Z

All too often people complain about the small print in contracts that they never read but should have so as to avoid any future problems, now the truth is that in most cases it really doesn't matter that we haven't read the small print as everything is 'hunky dory' and everything works OK. So why do we not apply the same logic and common sense when it comes to travel? Why do we let advocates fight on our behalf to improve the lot of the disabled for us to then ignore the very things created for us? The answer lies once more in the small print only this time its small print in the form of legislation. Don't let this put you off, the information available is readable, understandable and manageable. Below is the abridged version of the EU Regs as they apply to air travel for disabled passengers, read it at your leisure, dont try all at once as its long and with some legal speak thats a bit of a pain in the neck, but overall its pretty straightforward stuff. I've omitted a few sections as you can see from the numbering before each element.
Happy reading!!!

Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air
(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 80(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee [1],
Having consulted of the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty [2],
Whereas:
(1) The single market for air services should benefit citizens in general. Consequently, disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, whether caused by disability, age or any other factor, should have opportunities for air travel comparable to those of other citizens. Disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility have the same right as all other citizens to free movement, freedom of choice and non-discrimination. This applies to air travel as to other areas of life.
(2) Disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility should therefore be accepted for carriage and not refused transport on the grounds of their disability or lack of mobility, except for reasons which are justified on the grounds of safety and prescribed by law. Before accepting reservations from disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility, air carriers, their agents and tour operators should make all reasonable efforts to verify whether there is a reason which is justified on the grounds of safety and which would prevent such persons being accommodated on the flights concerned.
(3) This Regulation should not affect other rights of passengers established by Community legislation and notably Council Directive 90/314/EEC of 13 June 1990 on package travel, package holidays and package tours [3] and Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to air passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights [4] . Where the same event would give rise to the same right of reimbursement or rebooking under either of those legislative acts as well as under this Regulation, the person so entitled should be allowed to exercise that right once only, at his or her discretion.
(4) In order to give disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility opportunities for air travel comparable to those of other citizens, assistance to meet their particular needs should be provided at the airport as well as on board aircraft, by employing the necessary staff and equipment. In the interests of social inclusion, the persons concerned should receive this assistance without additional charge.
(5) Assistance given at airports situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies should, among other things, enable disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility to proceed from a designated point of arrival at an airport to an aircraft and from the aircraft to a designated point of departure from the airport, including embarking and disembarking. These points should be designated at least at the main entrances to terminal buildings, in areas with check-in counters, in train, light rail, metro and bus stations, at taxi ranks and other drop-off points, and in airport car parks. The assistance should be organised so as to avoid interruption and delay, while ensuring high and equivalent standards throughout the Community and making best use of resources, whatever airport or air carrier is involved.
(6) To achieve these aims, ensuring high quality assistance at airports should be the responsibility of a central body. As managing bodies of airports play a central role in providing services throughout their airports, they should be given this overall responsibility.
...........
(13) All essential information provided to air passengers should be provided in alternative formats accessible to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, and should be in at least the same languages as the information made available to other passengers.
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HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Purpose and scope
1. This Regulation establishes rules for the protection of and provision of assistance to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility travelling by air, both to protect them against discrimination and to ensure that they receive assistance.
2. The provisions of this Regulation shall apply to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, using or intending to use commercial passenger air services on departure from, on transit through, or on arrival at an airport, when the airport is situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies.
3. Articles 3, 4 and 10 shall also apply to passengers departing from an airport situated in a third country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, if the operating carrier is a Community air carrier.
4. This Regulation shall not affect the rights of passengers established by Directive 90/314/EEC and under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
5. In so far as the provisions of this Regulation conflict with those of Directive 96/67/EC, this Regulation shall prevail.
6. Application of this Regulation to Gibraltar airport is understood to be without prejudice to the respective legal positions of the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with regard to the dispute over sovereignty over the territory in which the airport is situated.
7. Application of this Regulation to Gibraltar airport shall be suspended until the arrangements included in the Joint Declaration made by the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 2 December 1987 enter into operation. The Governments of Spain and of the United Kingdom shall inform the Council of the date of entry into operation.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "disabled person" or "person with reduced mobility" means any person whose mobility when using transport is reduced due to any physical disability (sensory or locomotor, permanent or temporary), intellectual disability or impairment, or any other cause of disability, or age, and whose situation needs appropriate attention and the adaptation to his or her particular needs of the service made available to all passengers;
(b) "air carrier" means an air transport undertaking with a valid operating licence;
(c) "operating air carrier" means an air carrier that performs or intends to perform a flight under a contract with a passenger or on behalf of another person, legal or natural, having a contract with that passenger;
(d) "Community air carrier" means an air carrier with a valid operating licence granted by a Member State in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992 on licensing of air carriers [7];
(e) "tour operator" means, with the exception of an air carrier, an organiser or retailer within the meaning of Article 2(2) and (3) of Directive 90/314/EEC;
(f) "managing body of the airport" or "managing body" means a body which notably has as its objective under national legislation the administration and management of airport infrastructures, and the coordination and control of the activities of the various operators present in an airport or airport system;
(g) "airport user" means any natural or legal person responsible for the carriage of passengers by air from or to the airport in question;
(h) "Airport Users Committee" means a committee of representatives of airport users or organisations representing them;
(i) "reservation" means the fact that the passenger has a ticket, or other proof, which indicates that the reservation has been accepted and registered by the air carrier or tour operator;
(j) "airport" means any area of land specially adapted for the landing, taking-off and manoeuvres of aircraft, including ancillary installations which these operations may involve for the requirements of aircraft traffic and services including installations needed to assist commercial air services;
(k) "airport car park" means a car park, within the airport boundaries or under the direct control of the managing body of an airport, which directly serves the passengers using that airport;
(l) "commercial passenger air service" means a passenger air transport service operated by an air carrier through a scheduled or non‐scheduled flight offered to the general public for valuable consideration, whether on its own or as part of a package.
Article 3
Prevention of refusal of carriage
An air carrier or its agent or a tour operator shall not refuse, on the grounds of disability or of reduced mobility:
(a) to accept a reservation for a flight departing from or arriving at an airport to which this Regulation applies;
(b) to embark a disabled person or a person with reduced mobility at such an airport, provided that the person concerned has a valid ticket and reservation.
Article 4
Derogations, special conditions and information
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3, an air carrier or its agent or a tour operator may refuse, on the grounds of disability or of reduced mobility, to accept a reservation from or to embark a disabled person or a person with reduced mobility:
(a) in order to meet applicable safety requirements established by international, Community or national law or in order to meet safety requirements established by the authority that issued the air operator's certificate to the air carrier concerned;
(b) if the size of the aircraft or its doors makes the embarkation or carriage of that disabled person or person with reduced mobility physically impossible.
In the event of refusal to accept a reservation on the grounds referred to under points (a) or (b) of the first subparagraph, the air carrier, its agent or the tour operator shall make reasonable efforts to propose an acceptable alternative to the person in question.
A disabled person or a person with reduced mobility who has been denied embarkation on the grounds of his or her disability or reduced mobility and any person accompanying this person pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article shall be offered the right to reimbursement or re-routing as provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. The right to the option of a return flight or re-routing shall be conditional upon all safety requirements being met.
2. Under the same conditions referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (a), an air carrier or its agent or a tour operator may require that a disabled person or person with reduced mobility be accompanied by another person who is capable of providing the assistance required by that person.
3. An air carrier or its agent shall make publicly available, in accessible formats and in at least the same languages as the information made available to other passengers, the safety rules that it applies to the carriage of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, as well as any restrictions on their carriage or on that of mobility equipment due to the size of aircraft. A tour operator shall make such safety rules and restrictions available for flights included in package travel, package holidays and package tours which it organises, sells or offers for sale.
4. When an air carrier or its agent or a tour operator exercises a derogation under paragraphs 1 or 2, it shall immediately inform the disabled person or person with reduced mobility of the reasons therefor. On request, an air carrier, its agent or a tour operator shall communicate these reasons in writing to the disabled person or person with reduced mobility, within five working days of the request.
Article 5
Designation of points of arrival and departure
1. In cooperation with airport users, through the Airport Users Committee where one exists, and relevant organisations representing disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, the managing body of an airport shall, taking account of local conditions, designate points of arrival and departure within the airport boundary or at a point under the direct control of the managing body, both inside and outside terminal buildings, at which disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility can, with ease, announce their arrival at the airport and request assistance.
2. The points of arrival and departure referred to in paragraph 1, shall be clearly signed and shall offer basic information about the airport, in accessible formats.
Article 6
Transmission of information
1. Air carriers, their agents and tour operators shall take all measures necessary for the receipt, at all their points of sale in the territory of the Member States to which the Treaty applies, including sale by telephone and via the Internet, of notifications of the need for assistance made by disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility.
2. When an air carrier or its agent or a tour operator receives a notification of the need for assistance at least 48 hours before the published departure time for the flight, it shall transmit the information concerned at least 36 hours before the published departure time for the flight:
(a) to the managing bodies of the airports of departure, arrival and transit, and
(b) to the operating air carrier, if a reservation was not made with that carrier, unless the identity of the operating air carrier is not known at the time of notification, in which case the information shall be transmitted as soon as practicable.
3. In all cases other than those mentioned in paragraph 2, the air carrier or its agent or tour operator shall transmit the information as soon as possible.
4. As soon as possible after the departure of the flight, an operating air carrier shall inform the managing body of the airport of destination, if situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, of the number of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility on that flight requiring assistance specified in Annex I and of the nature of that assistance.
Article 7
Right to assistance at airports
1. When a disabled person or person with reduced mobility arrives at an airport for travel by air, the managing body of the airport shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of the assistance specified in Annex I in such a way that the person is able to take the flight for which he or she holds a reservation, provided that the notification of the person's particular needs for such assistance has been made to the air carrier or its agent or the tour operator concerned at least 48 hours before the published time of departure of the flight. This notification shall also cover a return flight, if the outward flight and the return flight have been contracted with the same air carrier.
2. Where use of a recognised assistance dog is required, this shall be accommodated provided that notification of the same is made to the air carrier or its agent or the tour operator in accordance with applicable national rules covering the carriage of assistance dogs on board aircraft, where such rules exist.
3. If no notification is made in accordance with paragraph 1, the managing body shall make all reasonable efforts to provide the assistance specified in Annex I in such a way that the person concerned is able to take the flight for which he or she holds a reservation.
4. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply on condition that:
(a) the person presents himself or herself for check-in:
(i) at the time stipulated in advance and in writing (including by electronic means) by the air carrier or its agent or the tour operator, or
(ii) if no time is stipulated, not later than one hour before the published departure time, or
(b) the person arrives at a point within the airport boundary designated in accordance with Article 5:
(i) at the time stipulated in advance and in writing (including by electronic means) by the air carrier or its agent or the tour operator, or
(ii) if no time is stipulated, not later than two hours before the published departure time.
5. When a disabled person or person with reduced mobility transits through an airport to which this Regulation applies, or is transferred by an air carrier or a tour operator from the flight for which he or she holds a reservation to another flight, the managing body shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of the assistance specified in Annex I in such a way that the person is able to take the flight for which he or she holds a reservation.
6. On the arrival by air of a disabled person or person with reduced mobility at an airport to which this Regulation applies, the managing body of the airport shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of the assistance specified in Annex I in such a way that the person is able to reach his or her point of departure from the airport as referred to in Article 5.
7. The assistance provided shall, as far as possible, be appropriate to the particular needs of the individual passenger.
Article 8
Responsibility for assistance at airports
1. The managing body of an airport shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of the assistance specified in Annex I without additional charge to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility.
2. The managing body may provide such assistance itself. Alternatively, in keeping with its responsibility, and subject always to compliance with the quality standards referred to in Article 9(1), the managing body may contract with one or more other parties for the supply of the assistance. In cooperation with airport users, through the Airport Users Committee where one exists, the managing body may enter into such a contract or contracts on its own initiative or on request, including from an air carrier, and taking into account the existing services at the airport concerned. In the event that it refuses such a request, the managing body shall provide written justification.
3. The managing body of an airport may, on a non-discriminatory basis, levy a specific charge on airport users for the purpose of funding this assistance.
4. This specific charge shall be reasonable, cost-related, transparent and established by the managing body of the airport in cooperation with airport users, through the Airport Users Committee where one exists or any other appropriate entity. It shall be shared among airport users in proportion to the total number of all passengers that each carries to and from that airport.
5. The managing body of an airport shall separate the accounts of its activities relating to the assistance provided to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility from the accounts of its other activities, in accordance with current commercial practice.
6. The managing body of an airport shall make available to airport users, through the Airport Users Committee where one exists or any other appropriate entity, as well as to the enforcement body or bodies referred to in Article 14, an audited annual overview of charges received and expenses made in respect of the assistance provided to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility.
Article 9
Quality standards for assistance
1. With the exception of airports whose annual traffic is less than 150000 commercial passenger movements, the managing body shall set quality standards for the assistance specified in Annex I and determine resource requirements for meeting them, in cooperation with airport users, through the Airport Users Committee where one exists, and organisations representing disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility.
2. In the setting of such standards, full account shall be taken of internationally recognised policies and codes of conduct concerning facilitation of the transport of disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility, notably the ECAC Code of Good Conduct in Ground Handling for Persons with Reduced Mobility.
3. The managing body of an airport shall publish its quality standards.
4. An air carrier and the managing body of an airport may agree that, for the passengers whom that air carrier transports to and from the airport, the managing body shall provide assistance of a higher standard than the standards referred to in paragraph 1 or provide services additional to those specified in Annex I.
5. For the purpose of funding either of these, the managing body may levy a charge on the air carrier additional to that referred to in Article 8(3), which shall be transparent, cost‐related and established after consultation of the air carrier concerned.
Article 10
Assistance by air carriers
An air carrier shall provide the assistance specified in Annex II without additional charge to a disabled person or person with reduced mobility departing from, arriving at or transiting through an airport to which this Regulation applies provided that the person in question fulfils the conditions set out in Article 7(1), (2) and (4).
Article 11
Training
Air carriers and airport managing bodies shall:
(a) ensure that all their personnel, including those employed by any sub-contractor, providing direct assistance to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility have knowledge of how to meet the needs of persons having various disabilities or mobility impairments;
(b) provide disability-equality and disability-awareness training to all their personnel working at the airport who deal directly with the travelling public;
(c) ensure that, upon recruitment, all new employees attend disability‐related training and that personnel receive refresher training courses when appropriate.
Article 12
Compensation for lost or damaged wheelchairs, other mobility equipment and assistive devices
Where wheelchairs or other mobility equipment or assistive devices are lost or damaged whilst being handled at the airport or transported on board aircraft, the passenger to whom the equipment belongs shall be compensated, in accordance with rules of international, Community and national law.
Article 13
Exclusion of waiver
Obligations towards disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility pursuant to this Regulation shall not be limited or waived.
Article 14
Enforcement body and its tasks
1. Each Member State shall designate a body or bodies responsible for the enforcement of this Regulation as regards flights departing from or arriving at airports situated in its territory. Where appropriate, this body or bodies shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility are respected, including compliance with the quality standards referred to in Article 9(1). The Member States shall inform the Commission of the body or bodies designated.
2. Member States shall, where appropriate, provide that the enforcement body or bodies designated under paragraph 1 shall also ensure the satisfactory implementation of Article 8, including as regards the provisions on charges with a view to avoiding unfair competition. They may also designate a specific body to that effect.
Article 15
Complaint procedure
1. A disabled person or person with reduced mobility who considers that this Regulation has been infringed may bring the matter to the attention of the managing body of the airport or to the attention of the air carrier concerned, as the case may be.
2. If the disabled person or person with reduced mobility cannot obtain satisfaction in such way, complaints may be made to any body or bodies designated under Article 14(1), or to any other competent body designated by a Member State, about an alleged infringement of this Regulation.
3. A body in one Member State which receives a complaint concerning a matter that comes under the responsibility of a designated body of another Member State shall forward the complaint to the body of that other Member State.
4. The Member States shall take measures to inform disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility of their rights under this Regulation and of the possibility of complaint to this designated body or bodies.
Article 16
Penalties
The Member States shall lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and shall take all the measures necessary to ensure that those rules are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. The Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.
Article 17
Report
The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council by 1 January 2010 at the latest on the operation and the effects of this Regulation. The report shall be accompanied where necessary by legislative proposals implementing in further detail the provisions of this Regulation, or revising it.
Article 18
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply with effect from 26 July 2008, except Articles 3 and 4, which shall apply with effect from 26 July 2007.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 5 July 2006.
For the European Parliament
The President
J. Borrell Fontelles
The President For the Council P. Lehtomäki
[1] OJ C 24, 31.1.2006, p. 12.
[2] Opinion of the European Parliament of 15 December 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal), and Council Decision of 9 June 2006.
[3] OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 59.
[4] OJ L 46, 17.2.2004, p. 1.
[5] OJ L 272, 25.10.1996, p. 36. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).
[6] OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003.
[7] OJ L 240, 24.8.1992, p. 1.
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ANNEX I
Assistance under the responsibility of the managing bodies of airports
Assistance and arrangements necessary to enable disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility to:
- communicate their arrival at an airport and their request for assistance at the designated points inside and outside terminal buildings mentioned in Article 5,
- move from a designated point to the check-in counter,
- check-in and register baggage,
- proceed from the check-in counter to the aircraft, with completion of emigration, customs and security procedures,
- board the aircraft, with the provision of lifts, wheelchairs or other assistance needed, as appropriate,
- proceed from the aircraft door to their seats,
- store and retrieve baggage on the aircraft,
- proceed from their seats to the aircraft door,
- disembark from the aircraft, with the provision of lifts, wheelchairs or other assistance needed, as appropriate,
- proceed from the aircraft to the baggage hall and retrieve baggage, with completion of immigration and customs procedures,
- proceed from the baggage hall to a designated point,
- reach connecting flights when in transit, with assistance on the air and land sides and within and between terminals as needed,
- move to the toilet facilities if required.
Where a disabled person or person with reduced mobility is assisted by an accompanying person, this person must, if requested, be allowed to provide the necessary assistance in the airport and with embarking and disembarking.
Ground handling of all necessary mobility equipment, including equipment such as electric wheelchairs subject to advance warning of 48 hours and to possible limitations of space on board the aircraft, and subject to the application of relevant legislation concerning dangerous goods.
Temporary replacement of damaged or lost mobility equipment, albeit not necessarily on a like‐for‐like basis.
Ground handling of recognised assistance dogs, when relevant.
Communication of information needed to take flights in accessible formats.
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ANNEX II
Assistance by air carriers
Carriage of recognised assistance dogs in the cabin, subject to national regulations.
In addition to medical equipment, transport of up to two pieces of mobility equipment per disabled person or person with reduced mobility, including electric wheelchairs (subject to advance warning of 48 hours and to possible limitations of space on board the aircraft, and subject to the application of relevant legislation concerning dangerous goods.
Communication of essential information concerning a flight in accessible formats.
The making of all reasonable efforts to arrange seating to meet the needs of individuals with disability or reduced mobility on request and subject to safety requirements and availability.
Assistance in moving to toilet facilities if required.
Where a disabled person or person with reduced mobility is assisted by an accompanying person, the air carrier will make all reasonable efforts to give such person a seat next to the disabled person or person with reduced mobility.
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Copyright permission is on the basis that the source of the material is recognised, in this instance EU publications
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006

An introduction to etiquette with a disabled person

2011-02-19T15:50:00.000Z

This is the first in what hopefully will be an extended series on how to work with clients who have either visable disabilities or those that are hidden. Definitions of these will appear through the series as required.

GUIDING PRINCIPALS

You do not have to feel awkward when you are working with a disabled client as you only have to ask that person what it is they need the same as any other client!

Its poor judgement to feel that just because someone has a disability they need help. If the place you are working at or in with a disabled client is accessible they usually can get around just fine. Adults with disabilities want to be treated as independent people. Offer assistance only if the person asks for it. (this applies to sales settings such as the agency point of sale through to on the ground travel, tours and excursions.

Wheelchair users are people. Obvious point but some folk treat wheelchair users as they would their favourite pet or child so please avoid patting a person on the head or touching his/her wheelchair, scooter or cane. People with disabilities consider their equipment part of their personal space. In the same breath please consider how you talk to the wheelchair using client, talk to and with them, not over their heads towards some far off distant horizon and not exclusively with any able bodied person present.

Do not ask about a persons disability, if they want to mention it, fine, if not leave the subject alone and respect the privacy of the individual. Exceptions to this are limited to necessary disclosure by a client to ensure suitable transportation, hotel rooms etc are available at a destination for a client.

La Sagrada Familia - some interesting facts

2011-02-17T20:42:00.000Z

La Sagrada Familia is one of the iconic symbols of Barcelona and perhaps one of the best-known religious buildings in the World but what does the casual visitor know about La Sagrada Familia if they visit without the wisdom and guiding hand of a Catalunya Licensed Guide?
Here are just some of the facts that will help further enjoyment of this amazing tribute to the architectural genius of Antoni Gaudi i Cornet. 1881 land purchased for the sum of €1034
1882 the first stone was laid and Francisco del Villar appointed architect
1883 Antoni Gaudi i Cornet takes over as architect
Josep Maria Bocabella was a bookseller and President of the Association of Devotees to Saint Joseph
Expiatory Temple – means the Temple has been paid for by alms of the faithful
The Temple contains all the symbols of Christianity and Gaudi intended his work to be an allegory of the Bible
When completed the capacity will be 14,000 people
The Temple is on 4,500m2 of land
There will be 12 bell towers in all representing the apostles, each reaching 103m tall and the Jesus Tower that will reach 170m.
Tours of Gaudi architecture can be arranged by following this link to the Barcelona page of Disabled Accessible Travel where a full range of itineraries can be seen. http://www.disabledaccessibletravel.com/barcelona.htm

EU Disability Strategy

2011-02-12T22:02:00.000Z

"On 15 November 2010 the European Commission adopted a new strategy to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis.
The strategy outlines how the EU and national governments can empower people with disabilities so they can enjoy their rights. Specific measures over the next decade range from the study on mutual recognition of national disability cards, the promotion of standardisation to a more targeted use of public procurement and state aid rules.
The main actions are:
Accessibility initiative: considering how to use standardisation, public procurement or state aid rules to make all goods and services accessible to people with disabilities while fostering an EU market for assistive devices ("European Accessibility Act");

Participation: making sure that persons with disabilities and their families exercise their EU citizenship rights on an equal footing through facilitating the use of sign language and Braille when exercising EU citizens' electoral rights or dealing with EU institutions; promoting an accessible format of websites and copyrighted works, such as books; studying the possibility of mutual recognition of disability cards and related entitlements;

Funding: ensuring that EU programmes and funds in policy areas relevant to people with disabilities are used to promote sound working conditions for professional and informal care providers and develop personal-assistance schemes;
More cooperation between Member States (through the High Level Group on Disability) and civil society: providing a forum for the exchange of data and policy coordination, in particular on the portability of rights, such as the right to personal assistance;

Awareness-raising such as through the European award for accessible cities;
Data collection and monitoring while also identifying and promoting successful support structures put in place by Member States at national level. "
This information was originally posted as a news item - European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion site http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=423&newsId=933&furtherNews=yes