2Hill Media

3.29.05 -- Cruisin' -- For an interesting take on the Norwegian Cruise Lines newfound desire to accommodate the disabled, read what rollingrains.com has to say (scroll down to March 19 entry). This is an excellent blog on travel for people with disabilities, by the way. And frequently updated (more than this one!).

3.29.05 -- Different methods -- quote from Peggy Martinez, a 44 year-old with visual impairment: "One of the biggest issues that a lot of us have is that [sighted] people get this idea that our lives must suck," she said. "Personally, I feel pretty dang lucky. I've got great things going on. I'm having more fun that most people out there. My sight impairment doesn't keep me from doing very much. I work, I walk all over the place [using a cane], I travel, I take the bus, I go hiking with friends. I have different methods for doing some of these things, but so do sighted people."

3.29.05 -- A little more universal -- The state of Washington has adopted The International Building Code requirements for barrier-free accessibility. This should help the state along the lines of encouraging the concepts of universal design, which calls for all to have common, intuitive paths through buildings – and more.

3.22.05 -- Made to or want to -- What works better when it comes to issues of accessibility in a travel setting – being compelled by the law or being nudged by the market? Hard to say, as proved by this article on the ongoing Supreme Court case regarding application of the Americans with Disabilities Act to foreign registered cruise ships operating out of the US. Norwegian Cruise Lines, in defending itself in a class action suit, argued that the ADA didn’t apply to its ships because of their foreign status. A lower court agreed and ruled in the company’s favor but the feds are pushing an appeal. Meanwhile, the line has replaced the subject ships, which didn’t have accessible public bathrooms or lifts for pool access, with newer vessels that have the right features. The company says the changes were “in response to competitive market dynamics in effect throughout the cruise industry.” So the question remains, what got the job done, market or mandate?

3.16.05 -- Ohhhhh Canada -- Think of the US and Canada as the same on most points of everyday living? Not quite when it comes to access for people with disabilities that are traveling. This article outlines some of the differences one traveler has found between accommodating disabilities in the US and in our northern neighbor.

2.22.05 – Air access -- The European Union is proposing regulations that would ensure equal access for disabled passengers to commercial flights, regardless of airline. The proposed regulations would ban air carriers from denying disabled passengers reservations or charging extra for added services relating to their disabilities. You might think that in this day and age such regulation would not be necessary. Regular readers of this blog know otherwise. (Just do a search on this page for “Ryanair” to see what I mean). According to this article on eupolitix.com, “Brussels estimates that wheelchair assistance for passengers costs between €20-€30 (about $25-$40 US) per flight per disabled passenger, a ‘modest cost’ when shared amongst the 590 million passengers who travel in the EU each year.” That diffuses Rynair’s whining about how serving disabled passengers cost too much. To become law, the proposals will have to be backed by the parliament and member states.

2.17.05 -- Hit the beach -- Are you a camper? Love the beach? If so, you might want to check out Mustang Island State Park in Texas. The 4,000-acre park that is part of a barrier island has two accessible camping sites and driving on the beach is allowed.

2.17.02 -- When pigs fly – You may be able to argue about how well we in the US are able to live up to the ideal of a diverse society when comes to our fellow human beings. But apparently all is secure in the world of diversity for service animals. Not so everywhere. In the UK, a service animal, to be allowed on a commercial flight, must be a dog. In the US, it just has to be a recognized service animal – any species that can do the job and not block the aisle is OK. Hopefully the UK can heed our call to relax their uptight ways.

02.16.02 – Taxi, then tiara -- “Advocates for the disabled have long lamented the lack of taxis for wheelchair users. But with the (Miss Wheelchair America) pageant just months away and Albany International Airport in the midst of negotiations for a new taxicab contract, advocates hope to gain momentum in their fight,” says this article in the Times-Union of Albany NY. Advocates there hoped to show that such service was economically viable. Why? As Simeon Goldstein, senior attorney for Disability Advocates Inc. in Albany said: “"People with disabilities are becoming more and more part of the productive mainstream of our community. In that light, they want to be able to travel like anyone else, which means being able to pick up a phone and say 'I need a cab in a half-hour.' "

2.2.05 -- Accessible space -- Americans probably think of space exploration as something us and the Russians do. We might even think other nations aren’t interested in it. We’d be wrong. The National Space Centre, situated in Leicester, UK is dedicated to bringing the space exploration experience down to earth. And it’s wheelchair accessible – including all levels of the Rocket Tower. And if you’re an American you can learn what the UK has done in space exploration while you’re at it.

1.27.05 -- Macro sponsorship -- The Microtel motel chain, which has shown a strong commitment to accessibility, is sponsoring the Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2005 contest. The idea behind the contest is to pick a spokesman for disabled issues to make appearances across the state. I bet she doesn’t stay in HoJos on her travels either.

1.27.05 -- Don't jackalope around with my dog -- A law that would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly hurt or kill a service dog that helps disabled people is pending in the Wyoming state legislature. HB 55 has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. In my opinion, this is a much more worthy bill than the one seeking to make the jackalope the official Wyoming state mythical creature.

1.27.05 -- Nowhere to go but up -- The restoration of the Belvidere Hotel in Claremore, Oklahoma doesn’t include an elevator yet. But it will.

1.25.05 - You gotta ask -- The credo of traveling with a disability is you gotta ask ahead of time. That and several other excellent points are outlined in this general article on accessible travel in the LA Times.

11.16.04. -- Done right -- University of Louisiana students have designed a human-powered vehicle that could be used as an alternate way of getting around crowded urban areas. The students not only designed wheelchair accessibility into their vehicle, but did it in a way that integrates a wheelchair using passenger into the regular seating area of the pedicab, not in some separate wheelchair rider space. Nice work.

11.16.04 -- My kingdom for a wheelchair -- Bob Ross, 54, who has cerebral palsy and arthritis, was in court recently for his case against an airline that charged him for the use of a wheelchair. Unfortunately the case was delayed for half an hour. Why? Because no one at the court could immediately find a wheelchair for Ross to use. The case, against airline Ryanair, is ongoing. I bet the court will have that wheelchair available next time though. By the way, Ryanair contends that they weren’t responsible for the charge – it was the airport’s fault.

11.01.04 – Where can I get spinach Florentine? -- The city of Florence has developed a database on accessible travel, which can be seen here.

11.01.04 -- Fair discrimination? – Nationwide Airlines of South Africa doesn’t think it discriminates against travelers with disabilities just because it charges people who need to use a lift extra. They say, hey, we’re just recovering our cost. I say, if you can’t afford to be in business for everyone, then I guess you just can’t afford to be in business. The airline’s stance is so hard to swallow. How often does this come up for them? Can it really be that expensive for them to need to use the lift once in a while. Spread that cost they incur among all their passengers and it probably becomes next to nothing. That’s how it’s really done in business after all. Or perhaps there’s a strategy here. Be so obnoxious about accomodating those with mobility limitations and maybe the word will get out, people with disabilities will just fly other airlines and you’ll never have to do anything. Don’t count on it. In fact it’s more likely the complaints will get plenty of press.

10.19.04 -- Form one island to another -- The Estate Concordia resort in St. John, Virgin Islands is getting an overhaul for accessibility. Fifteen students from the Rhode Island School of Design combed the site and made recommendations for improvements as part of a class project. "It was a really good match," said Maggie Day, general manager of all the Maho Bay Resorts. "We're not a large corporation with a strict timetable. We have plenty of time to implement these kinds of ideas." Construction on the common areas will begin next year.

10.19.04 -- Follow that baguette -- Getting around Paris is getting easier for the disabled. G7, a private taxi company, has begun offering minivans for disabled people. By the end of the year, they expect to have 50 such vehicles in place, with the hope to grow to 100 by the end of next year. If you speak French, here’s their website.

10.8.04 -- Badger state park pride -- Time for a little home state – and profession – pride. Jenni and Kyle Geurkink Park in Dane County (Madison) Wisconsin is adapted for individuals with disabilities to enjoy a fun day out in nature. The project came together through a cooperative effort between a private donor, government and one of the Madison newspapers.

10.1.04 -- When cruising in Rome ... --Should a foreign cruise ship that docks in the US and picks up largely US passengers have to comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act? The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on this issue. Apparently there are matters of maritime law and tradition (blah, blah, blah) that foreign cruise lines use to argue that they don’t have to comply in areas such as providing access to pools and not charging extra for accessible cabins. Personally, I’m thinking if they dock here and operate here, then they follow the law here. Perhaps the supremes will agree.

10.1.04 -- Big bucks not required -- This piece from a commercial property management expert in the UK gives a good overview of how to cope with the demands of complying with accessibility laws. “Satisfying these Disability Discrimination Act obligations need not cost a fortune,” our expert says.

10.1.04 -- Busting barriers -- Too often increasing accessibility is an outside job. Government enforces it upon businesses or others. Activists agitate for change in public places. But in Anacortes, Washington accessibility is getting done in a little different, more cooperative way. The Barrier Busters Committee, set up by the city government, is going to go consult with the city and then later businesses about how to make their places more accessible. "Making accommodations to serve the disabled doesn't always require making physical changes to a property; it may just require awareness of the issues for the disabled and a willingness by both businesses and customers to understand each others limitations," the co-chairman of the committee said in a statement.

8.11.04 -- Stop smiling – It seems like technological advances should be the savior of people with disabilities. Technology should allow us to do more for more people right? Maybe not. This article outlines how new internationally agreed to passport standards may make it difficult for people who cannot close their mouths or otherwise maintain a suitable “neutral expression” to get a passport photo taken. The hang-up is the need for a photo that works with face recognition technology. Other potential problems for these photos besides open mouths? How about hair that hangs in front of your face. Watch out old ‘70s rock stars and teenaged boys sporting that current hair in front of the face look.

7.27.04 -- The regulation that really isn’t -- Here’s the latest example of discrimination against disabled people by UK airlines: Some 23 deaf teens were headed from Berkshire to the Canary Islands for a celebratory trip. But Iberia Airlines staff booted them off the plane, claiming that regulations – that don’t exist according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority – required such a group to have hearing people acting as aides along too. "I am absolutely disgusted,” said a parent of one of the teens. “These young people have the courage to travel despite their disability but they have been embarrassed. A lot of them were crying and they have been made a spectacle just because of their disability." Interestingly enough, the travel agent, ebookers.com, apologized not to the students, but for booking this group in violation of the phantom regulation.

7.27.04 – The long way home -- The subway is "… the way people in New York City get around," said Michael Harris, who uses a powered wheelchair because of his dystonia. "It certainly is empowering getting around the way that most New Yorkers do." And frustrating at times too. This article outlines some of what wheelchair users like Harris go through to maintain the independence of using the subway system in New York. Something to keep in mind if you visit there; check out the facilities ahead of time if you can.

7.21.04 -- Good with the bad -- The world is getting more accessible. And you can see more of it than ever with the conveniences of accessibility. But if you’re going to experience as much as possible, there’s still going to be those times you will have to endure less than ideal conditions. This is illustrated by this article by Scott Rains, resident scholar, Center for Cultural Studies, University of California - Santa Cruz, about his experiences on a whale-watching cruise in Monterary. Sounds like it was worthwhile time, as the beginning of Scott’s article outlines. He saw diverse wildlife – whales, dolphins, otters – in a natural setting. At the end, Scott details the challenge of getting on and then off the whale watching vessel. But the tone of the beginning of the article shows he didn’t let it get him down.

6.22.04 - Did Juneau? -- It’s been a long journey for the Juneau airport to come from accessibility nightmare to so accommodating a place that it was recently recognized with a certificate of accessibility from the local chamber of commerce. Paths have been widened, ramps built, curbs marked and modern elevators installed. But a battle still looms – close in parking in this post-911 terrorist concerned world.

6.22.04 -- Discrimination, it’s the law -- Disabled People's International of Trinidad and Tobago have run into an interesting reason that an airline cannot accommodate more than one disabled passenger per flight – it’s the law. When DPI attempted to book fares for 50 members – 12 of which use wheelchairs – the airline Tobago Express said they only could take one wheelchair per flight according to air regulations requiring evacuations in a certain time period. A meeting to include DPI, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Works and Transport Ministry and airline officials was to be held.

6.15.04 – Whadda cute wittle baby – bullet train -- Caltrain’s Baby Bullet service was expected to begin the weekend of June 4. The new service, which should get passengers between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an hour, includes upgrades in the route and passing tracks that will allow Baby Bullets to overtake local trains. Each car has one accessible bathroom and can accommodate two wheelchairs.

6.15.04 – Motorin’ -- If you’re interested in one of the great American industries – cars – then you should check out the website of MotorCities Automobile National Heritage Area. The group coordinates educational programs, preservation efforts and tourism marketing for sites related to the auto industry. It is funded through grants and private donations. Among the nearly 1,000 sites related to the auto industry in Michigan, 30 are considered vistor ready. That means they have regular hours, rest rooms, accommodations for the disabled and all those other things visitors would expect.

6.15.04 -- Fairly fast ferry -- Fast ferry service seems to becoming a trend. The latest fast ferry is scheduled to go into service from New Bedford, Mass. to Martha’s Vineyard later this month. The description in this article makes this 95-foot long catamaran-style ferry sound like a smooth cruise. The lower of the two decks is handicapped accessible, including two bathrooms on that level. A round-trip costs $40. The ferry will be able to haul 149 passengers and 14 bicycles.

6.8.04 -- Green scene -- I don’t know squat about British politics. But I found this part of the London Green Party platform interesting: “An end to travel discrimination against disabled people. Seamless bus/rail/tube transfers for the disabled, with at least 50 per cent accessibility by 2015 and full access by 2020.”

6.8.04 -- South West access -- If you’re heading for South West England, or ever hope to, there’s a website for you: accessiblesouthwest.co.uk. This site has information that travelers with disabilities can use, form the lowdown on accommodations to which beaches have disabled toilets and parking. Who’s responsible for such a useful site? The enlightened folks at South West Tourism, the regional tourist board for the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. “Accessible South West has been produced with funding from the South West Regional Development Agency as part of a wider accessible project undertaken in 2003, the year of the disabled,” the site’s About Us further explained.

6.8.04 -- From the old, new -- A former printing plant site is becoming a new hotel and restaurant in 2005. “The Brewers Fayre restaurant and bar and Travel Inn Hotel will create at least 85 full and part-time jobs,” according to the Watford (UK) Observer. Facilities for the disabled are to be included.

6.3.04 -- Shop ‘til you stop, being able to move -- It may not exactly be a travel issue, but this story on the hazards of shopping in a wheelchair hit home for me. Modern merchandising display can make maneuvering a wheelchair a pain, and as the article points out sometimes even a real health-threatening hazard. Accessibility isn’t all ramps and wide doors. Seemed like some stores, once upon a time, used to eschew piling a lot of stuff in the aisles and cramming racks close together. They did this is the name of making their stores easy to get around – for all their customers. But even those stores, to my experience, have resorted to the fill up the aisles techniques now. Bummer. Well I guess if you can't get around their store, you can't spend your money there can you?

6.3.04 -- Costly assistance -- Be careful of which South African airline you book with if you use a wheelchair. Nationwide Airlines, according to this article, has a policy of charging disabled passengers for each time they are assisted on or off their airplanes. The cost of the assistance can easily be more than the cost of the original fare. How does the airline justify this? "This is an unfortunate situation but we do not have a lift of our own. It is a direct cost to us and we are passing it on to the passenger,” lamely explained Nationwide Airlines operations manager Johan Borstlap Well, now I understand. If it is costing you some money, please by all means discriminate against a whole class of paying customers.

6.3.04 -- Meeting of the rivers -- Missouri's newest state park is open and has a wheelchair accessible path. Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park was opened in May. “The 1,118-acre day-use park gives visitors an opportunity to see firsthand the image of these distinctive rivers becoming one. The park’s location along the Mississippi River flyway makes it an excellent place to observe waterfowl and other birds, and wetland restoration planned at the park will increase these opportunities. Exhibits at the confluence point interpret both rivers and give an overview of the natural and cultural history of the area. Exhibits also explain the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,” says the park system’s website. That site also includes rather detailed accessibility info on a number of system facilities.

5.26.04 -- Getting better?-- The US Department of Transportation is receiving fewer complaints about disability issues and airlines. The DOT received 263 such complaints in 2003, down from 365 in the same period in 2002. Now whether that’s a good sign or not depends on your perspective. Lex Frieden, the National Council on Disability chairman, says the airlines deserve credit for improving access, especially given the post 9-11 financial and security picture faced by air carriers. ``Given the challenges that they face... they have done a remarkable job of improving overall service to people with disabilities,'' Freiden said. Jeff Rosen, general counsel and director of policy for the National Council on Disability, says the decline may be due to people’s frustration in dealing with the reporting bureaucracy. But a key point that both men can agree on is that fines are up, and that’s because the DOT is cracking down on violators like never before.

5.26.04 -- Bring your own help -- Despite the item above this, it’s my observation in writing this blog that airlines often seem to be looking for a way to roll back accessibility. The latest example comes from a new Air New Zealand policy. The new policy states anyone needing help from two people to move between a wheelchair and a seat when boarding or disembarking must have their own support person to lift their upper body while airline staff lift their legs. The airline says they are responsible for limiting staff exposure to injury, and they think this policy helps that objective. For perspective, Quantis or Origin Pacific Airways don’t require passengers with disabilities to bring a helper, so this is not a region-wide policy. New Zealand Disabilities Minister Ruth Dyson is going to write the airline explainng ways it can accommodate solo disabled passengers. Not exactly a shock and awe type response, but it’s good to see the issue is not being ignored. This later article says the commission has launched an inquiry. Otago District Health Board Chairman Richard Thomson has the word for this policy -- "bullshit."

5.18.04 -- Fish hunt -- Are you angler in search of catfish? Missouri Department of Conservation-managed impoundments, including urban lakes in Kansas City, St. Louis and several smaller towns, “will be the best bet for consistent channel cat action in 2004” according to this Missouri Game & Fish Magazine article. And the good news if you have disabilities is that many of these lakes have handicapped-accessible floating docks or flat-topped jetties.

5.18. 04 -- Oh water taxi! – undefinedRegular readers of Getting Around may remember the item about NYC having something like 10,000 taxis and only five (or three depending on your source) that were wheelchair accessible. But there is a taxi in NYC that is much more accessible – the water taxi system. The New York Water Taxi company operates 54-foot catamarans that make stops around Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. The boats accommodate 74 passengers and are wheelchair-accessible. Unfortunately, the company’s website points out that some of the docks are not accessible. But they’re working on it.

5.18.04 -- Fishing stories -- Michael Vanderveen and Ernie Stacy have to overcome some obstacles to pursue their twin interests of travel and fishing. Vanderveen has two artificial legs; Stacy is paralyzed. But travel the duo does, largely through an attitude reflected best by this quote from Stacy: “You just do what you have to do. And if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it done.” Adds Vanderveen: “If you're disabled, you just have to get out there and do it. There are so many things available for handicapped people there's no reason for anybody, regardless of their disability, to just sit."

5.18.04 -- Macro commitment -- Microtel Inns & Suites is showing an extraordinary commitment to accommodating guests with disabilities. The chain recently had its personnel undergo training for accommodating people with disabilities and has become a sponsor of The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality. "We believe that Microtel is uniquely positioned to be the preferred hotel chain for travelers with disabilities," said Roy E. Flora, senior vice president, franchise operations of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc., parent company of the franchisor of the Microtel Inns & Suites brand, in a PR Newswire press release. Ever found that you had to either not use the accessible rooms at a hotel or struggle with the wrong accommodations in the accessible room? Microtel has three styles of accessible rooms: One queen, two queens and a suite. This move by Microtel is just another acknowledgement that the market for the traveler with disabilities is real and growing

5.11.04 -- Wheeling from Albany to Buffalo -- The Erie Canal in New York has seen some improvement lately for accessibility. Accessible outdoor dining and restroom facilities have been added at some locations. Work has also continued on a bike path. And what’s good for bikers, can be good for wheelers as well.

5.11.04 -- Virginia is for disabled lovers too -- "The Virginia Guide for Persons with Disabilities" recently received this plug at dailypress.com. The guide is comprehensive and can help you get around Virginia, if you are a person with disabilities.

5.11.04 -- More expensive access -- Some users of MetroAccess, the Washington DC area paratransit program, could be looking at substantial increases in fares. Under consideration is a $4 per ride increase for rides that are more than three-quarters of a mile from rail or bus stop locations. Metro officials say 99 percent of MetroAccess use is within the three-quarters limit, however. A final vote on the hike is expected in June.

5.11.04 -- Getting Around Gauteng -- Wheelchair users traveling to Gauteng in Africa now have a guide to tip them to the best in access. The Gauteng Tourism Authority has launched its first ever guide for travelers with disabilities. Plans call for the guide, which may be the first of its kind in South Africa, to be distributed both nationally and internationally.

5.5.04 -- Viscardi remebered -- "There really are no disabled people, only people with varying degrees of ability." This was the motto of Henry Viscardi Jr, founder of the National Center for Disability Servicesin New York, which includes the Henry Viscardi School. Viscardi died recently at 91, Read a tribute here.

5.5.04 -- The big easy on -- At least one streetcar line in New Orleans is accessible to wheelchairs – the Canal Line. In this article, Elmer von Dullen, the Regional Transit Authority superintendent for vehicle assembly, said "We can pick up the largest motorized wheel chairs, and we have a dedicated spot on the car where we can secure the largest to the smallest wheelchair."

5.5.04 -- Expanda access -- Rasha Kawar of Coppell, Texas is amassing an e-petition to compel airlines to makes larger toilets on their jets so that using a wheelchair and the bathroom isn’t such a hassle. Maybe someone was listening. An expandable lavatory is detailed in this New York Times review of recent filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. If I’m getting this right, this lavatory would expand into an aisle when needed. Besides accommodating wheelchairs, the “expanda john” (my phrase) would be able to accommodate a shower. The Times panel gave it pretty good marks. I think this is one of those accommodations of the future – temporary use, when needed, of space that can revert to another use when the need for greater accessibility is finished. PS: Rasha’s petition has over 3,000 signatures now.

5.5.04 -- Hitting the jackpot -- Seven Feathers Casino and Hotel Resort in Canyonville, Ore has a reputation among the locals for hiring the disabled.

5.5.04 -- Access to Hatteras -- What would be the impact of limiting access to off road vehicles on the Hatteras Island portion of the Outer Banks? A recent survey says if all such access were permanently prohibited, the area would see a 28 percent decline in tourism spending. Access for ORV is up for debate on Hatteras in reaction to a recent interim management plan implemented by the National Park Service in the wake of damage caused by Hurricane Isabel. One of the most unique aspects of Hatteras Island is the ability of off roaders to access much of the island’s beaches in their vehicles.

5.5.04 -- Get going -- "Wheelchairs on the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida” is the ultimate travel guide for people with disabilities looking to visit Florida. It received this recent plug in the Tallahassee paper.

5.4.04 - Going to Chicago – Chicago will be the site of the 2004 Inaugural Disability Pride Parade on July 18. The group behind the event has as their mission: “To change the way people think about and define ‘disability’; to break down the internalized shame among people with disabilities; and to promote the belief in society that disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity that people living with disabilities can take pride in.” Objectives of the parade are to: Organize a fully inclusive, annual event that will celebrate and strengthen the pride, power, and unity of people with disabilities, their families, and allies as well as generate national visibility of the disability community. Yoshiko Dart, disability activist and wife of the disability and civil rights activist Justin Dart, will be the parade grand marshal. You have to pre register to participate in the parade, though there’s still some time to do so. Registration closes July 9. The parade plans to have a Chicago lakefront route, pending approval by the city. The website even includes extensive travel information. Also planned, but not yet detailed, is a celebration of the 14th anniversary of the ADA (no, not the American Dental Association). As a native of Chicagoland, it’s good to see my home area hosting such an event. A tip of the hat to 360mag.com, where I first saw an item on this event.

5.4.04 -- Look to London – There are over 12,000 cabs on the streets of New York; three are accessible to wheelchairs. Call a livery service or black car instead? Of the 38,000 such vehicles 13 are accessible. Perhaps New York city officials in charge of deciding who can do business in the city with a cab service need to check out the item below on London’s accessible cabs. The situation overseas is not perfect, but better than five in 12,000. Yes the costs are greater to make vehicles accessible, but the additional cost is not insurmountable – about $2,000. Bear in mind that a single cab medallion costs upwards of $300,000 so as this New York Daily News editorial points out, there should be money available. Retrofitting of the fleet is not practical perhaps, but the council needs to make a phasing in of accessible vehicles a priority.

4.30.04 -- Dog of a practice -- I’m not much of a dog person. Maybe it’s because I was denied a canine friend in my youth. I don’t know. My main experience with dogs is with the neighbor’s pooch, who is always relieving itself in my yard for me to have to clean-up before I mow the lawn. So you can see my experience with dogs is kind of negative. But even I wouldn’t deny a disabled person’s guide dog a ride in a cab. Still some private hire cab drivers in Glascow, Scotland had to be compelled by the local city council to allow guide dogs in their vehicles. “This is both frustrating and humiliating and we are delighted that assistance dog owners will now receive the same standard of service as everyone else,” said Tom Pey of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Well put, but it’s incredible that it has to come to that.

4.30.04 -- Making it to the mountain -- Discussion about limiting access to parts of the Beartooth and Pryor mountains in Montana includes an angle for the disabled. Some of those opposing further closing of the areas argue that limiting access to public lands such as these makes it difficult for the elderly and those with disabilities to get to the wilderness. Comment on the Beartooth Ranger District Travel Management Proposal has been extended until Sept. 1

4.30.04 -- Pier without peer -- A first of its kind for the Shenendoah Valley accessible fishing pier was set to open at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro, VA recently. The project was a cooperative effort of Invista, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Waynesboro Disability Services Board and the city of Waynesboro. The pier is designed to allow anglers with disabilities to safely access the South River. There’s a sidewalk from the parking area to the pier. The pier also features am automated audio system that describes the fishing prospects.

4.23.04 -- Access to London -- If you want to visit London in a wheelchair, you may be in pretty good shape, according to Rick Mashburn. The sidewalks are smooth and the transportation pretty accessible. Rick wrote an article about his experiences with wheelchair travel in London for the New York Times. Cabs were remarkably well outfitted for wheelchairs, even if their accessibility features were not always maintained in the best working condition. The best tip Rick passes on? Get a key for the accessible public toilets ahead of time.

4.22.04 -- Path of pride -- The National Park Foundation’s 2004 Proud Partner Best of the Park’s list includes an honoree for accessible recreation. As “best access to breathtaking beauty,” the list lauds the Bear Lake wheelchair accessible trail at Rocky Mountain Park in Colorado.

4.22.04 -- Get out! -- A diverse selection of recreation opportunities from trips to theaters to amusement parks to the beach to historic locales are offered by Access Adventures, a supported vacation service provided by Melwood of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

4.22.04 -- No such credit -- Beware of a company named National Audit Defense Network. The Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit against this company alleging it has sold fraudulent website services to an estimated 100,000 customers. NADN, according to the suit, tells people they can claim over $10,000 in tax deductions for making their phony websites ADA accessible. Besides being bogus, even the alleged modifications would not be useful to disabled web surfers. Also named in the suit, were: companies-ALR, Inc. (operating under the name Success Matrix Group), Free Trade Enterprises (operating under the name Oryan Management), and ADA Adventure-and thirteen individuals.

4.22.04 -- G'day, g'vacation -- How does lounging on the beach sound for a vacation? How about some whale watching? What about a beach camel ride? What? Yep even camel rides on the beach are among the trips offered by Sunshine Coast supported holidays, a private company offering supported holidays for adults with intellectual and learning disabilities or acquired brain injury. The company is located in the Sunshine Coast area of Queensland Australia. Their website gives the details of their services.

4.22.04 -- Accessible Austen -- Are you a fan of Jane Austen? If so, you’ll be glad to know that many of the sites associated with her life in England are accessible, like the Jane Austen Centre, Austen’s House in Chawton and Winchester Cathedral, where she is buried.

4.22.04 -- Paper trail -- International Paper Co is helping an effort to build accessible recreation facilities in the New York Adirondacks through the donation of a 15,800-acre conservation easement, valued at $2.6 million. The plan is to raise another $2 million to complete facilities within the new park especially designed for people with disabilities.

4.17.04 -- Let me get that wheelchair for you!-- Delta Airlines has been assessed the largest ever fine for an airline for how it was dealing with requests for wheelchair service. The fine comes out of a complaint by a 21-year-old who requested a wheelchair, but was refused because the employee didn’t have time. The young man was having trouble walking because, unknown to him at the time, he had a tumor that was growing on his spinal cord. Despite the very obvious problems he was having in getting through the airport, he couldn’t get assistance. Was this an OK response by the employee? "If a passenger approaches the ticket counter and tells the carrier, even at that late point in time, they need wheelchair service to get to the gate, the carrier is required to provide it,” Sam Podberesky, the assistant general counsel for aviation enforcement at the US Department of Transportation told WAVE3.com. Then there was the $1.35 million fine to clear up any ambiguity. Be looking for better service for travelers with disabilities from Delta. The feds gave the airline the choice of writing the check to the government or investing in training and equipment to better serve people with disabilities. The company chose the second option.

4.16.04 -- What sidewalk? – Clarksville, Tennessee streets have almost no sidewalks, even in urbanized areas. That makes getting around in a scooter or wheelchair a harder and less safe task. Often, local residents resort to using the street. And people with disabilities are not the only pedestrians using the streets. School officials say students at some schools are using the street to access buses where there are no sidewalks. A committee studying the problem is looking at several improvements to the sidewalk situation, including ADA specified curb cuts. The matter is expected to come to a vote before the city council and county commission perhaps by June.

4.14.04 -- Mums and wheelers unite! – The kind of adaptations that make facilities more accessible to people in wheelchairs often have spill over benefit for others – like people pushing baby carriages. But I haven’t often seen that evolve into full-blown advocacy for changes on behalf of stroller pushers. But one frustrated mother in the UK has mounted a campaign to get adapted buses added to her frequently used routes so she can get her pram aboard. And she is cognizant that her push will help others besides moms with strollers. "And it's not just mums,” said Jennifer Hill. “What about people in wheelchairs?" Perhaps this is the beginning of a new alliance.

4.9.04 -- Wheels for wheelers -- Cars for wheelchair users are a miracle of adaptation. Some have come a long way, with some car makers finally beginning to make ramps and other adaptations that actually seem to fit the vehicle. But what if you threw out the idea of adapting a vehicle and started from scratch? Then you’d have the Vexel Quovis.

4.9.04 -- Take the "a" (for accessible) train -- Train travel for the disabled in Northern Ireland is set to improve. A new fleet of trains is replacing the current aging rolling stock. The new trains, lauded as “the safest trains in the world” also will have wheelchair accessibility and accessible rest rooms. All the new trains are expected to be operational within 12 months.

4.9.04 -- Scoff law to terrorist -- Need another reason to convince your local authorities that handicapped parking regulations need to be enforced? How about detection of terrorists? This article (well down the page) makes the case that people who commit smaller crimes – like parking in spaces for the disabled – also commit larger crimes – like terrorism. So a good way to find those potential big-time criminals is to pursue the petty ones.

4.6.04 -- Helping the cabbies -- Regular readers of this outpouring of my thoughts and observations may think that people with disabilities and the transportation industry are always at odds. Not always so. Here’s a story (scroll to headline under March releases) of a group of people with disabilities in Singapore so happy with their taxi service that they are helping drivers file their taxes for free. “Very often, people view the disabled as the ones always on the receiving end, unable to give and contribute,” said Dr Ow Chee Chung, executive director of Singapore’s Society for the Physically Disabled, which coordinates the e-filing tax service. “However, we do have a team of very enthusiastic people who have the right attitude and motivation to want to work. The E-Filing service is an example to show that the disabled can contribute too and they have a role to play in society as well.”

4.6.04 -- Squashed -- The Outer Banks of North Carolina is well-known for allowing vehicles on many of its beaches. This provides convenient access for fishing and other shoreline pursuits. But a University of Rhode Island researcher says vehicles on the beach are killing little creatures that live there -- insects, spiders and tiny crustaceans. But here’s the really bad news. The creatures least suspectible to damage from being run over? Fly larvae.

4.6.04 -- He gives a sh-- -- "My attitude was, 'You killed my wife, arrest me.' I didn't give a sh--." That was how Bob Reuter got into the world of advocacy for accessibility. Now, according to this article, he has done more than any other individual in Maryland to improve access and provide travel, entertainment, worship and other opportunities for the state’s residents. You also need to read this if you think big cities are all on board with accessibility.

4.4.04 -- Cut the budget, axe the award? – The city of Phoenix is in a budget crunch. Nothing new there from governments of all shapes and sizes. It’s the economy. So the budgetary axe is out and looking for fat to whack. One recommendation was to reduce the rate of sidewalk cutaway installations by 8 percent. “"Obviously, I would certainly like to see something like that taken out of the proposed cuts," said Gary Frandino, a member of the Mayor's Commission on Disabilities, in this article in the Arizona Republic. "It's a poor choice of things to reduce." Especially poor is the timing for such a move, since the city has been selected to receive the Accessible America Award from the National Organization on Disability.

4.4.04 -- Who would see? -- Stephanie Cadieux was an achiever even after an auto accident that left her with a spinal injury and using a wheelchair. But advocacy for the disabled came to this inspiring person slowly. "At one point I was feeling 'jeez, there are some things I wrestle with on a daily basis, due to my wheelchair and my disability, and I know I'm not alone'. But I'd never really connected with anyone who shared the same disability," Cadieux said in this Peace Arch News article. But she did get involved and her world changed "I applied, was accepted and things kind of snowballed," she said of her presence on ICORD, an international committee coordinating spinal cord research. "When there is a passion behind it, it's very easy to get involved and stay involved. I did not see myself here, but I'm glad I'm here now."

4.4.04 -- More than the good parking spaces – And you thought the only advantage to having a handicapped plate or placard was good parking. In Edinburgh, Scotland, vehicles used by the disabled also are exempt from road tolls.

4.4.04 -- More public trans -- Yet more on public transport, this time in Utah …

4.4.04 -- More Metro Access – Here’s an interesting transcript of an online discussion on the Metro Access issue in Washington DC mentioned in GA in an earlier post. Elaine Gardner, director of the Disability Rights Project at the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, discussed issues online on this and related topics March 25.

3.31.04 -- Saddle up -- If you want to ride a horse and are in the area of Oregon, you’re in luck. The Cow Creek Ranch in Banks has rides for the disabled, including a wheelchair ramp. Some details and contact info are available at their website.

3.31.04 -- Call of nature, and to advocacy -- Ever had the bad experience of not being able to fit yourself or maybe someone to help you into an airplane bathroom? Third grader Rasha Kawar of Coppell, Texas has. Last summer, on a flight back from Israel, she really needed to us the bathroom (hey, that’s a long flight). What she found in the facility department was a restroom way too small to accommodate her, her motorized wheelchair and her mother, who was needed to assist Rasha. But this 9-year-old didn’t just figure she had to live with such inconveniences. She is trying to change them. She has launched an online petition drive seeking to compel airlines to provide at least one sufficiently large bathroom on all planes. You can sign Rasha’s petition and join her fight here. There are over 2,400 signatures so far as I write this.

3.30.04 -- No cripple carping – Some assume people have been disabled since birth, but in actuality people acquire disabilities all through their life. Sometimes a significant disability after a long life of being able-bodied can be especially difficult to deal with. Here is an inspiring first person piece about a self described new “cripple” and how one person has dealt with going from foot power to power wheels.

3.30.04 -- Go Morongo -- If a canyon preserve is your kind of nature, you might want to check out the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in California. At least one of their trails has a boardwalk that is wheelchair accessible. The website lists the birds, fish and wildlife that can be viewed there and it is an impressive list. A Getting Around salute to the caretakers of this nature spot for keeping accessibility in mind.

3.30.04 -- Maybe better never than late – Some users of the Washington DC area’s public transportation system for the disabled are getting together a class action suit. The suit alleges that MetroAccess, the transportation agency’s van service for the disabled is substandard and even at times dangerous. It was illuminating to see the agency’s response to questions about the suit. I don’t know exactly how this reporter approached this story, but having been a journalist for 20 years I have some idea. It’s likely the reporter related several of the stories of hours waiting, people left out in the cold waiting for vans that were extremely late, people running out of oxygen while on a trip because the route was so long, to the spokesman for comment. The spokesman, Ray Feldmann, refused direct comment on the suit, saying the agency hadn’t seen it yet. But what I really was intriqued by was the explanation that was offered. Feldman explained the agency has made service changes over the last couple of years to improve service, and he cited a 77 percent increase in MetroAccess use as proof of customer rider satisfaction. All I can say is this service must have really been bad before if the current stories in this suit are examples of improved service.

3.24.04 -- A new kind of wheel tax -- Imagine being charged extra for your airfare for needing to use a wheelchair. It happened to Bob Ross, a British man, with cerebral palsy and arthritis. Ross was assessed a wheelchair charge by Ryanair because he could not walk to board a flight. Ross sued and won in January. "Ryanair's wheelchair charge was a slap in the face to disabled people wanting to take advantage of low cast air travel. All right-thinking people knew that the charge was grossly unfair... Perhaps before counting their pennies, Ryanair should have considered the cost to their reputation and the distress caused to disabled people by acting in such a discriminatory way,” said Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission. So this was just one of those insensitive actions that just got out of hand and now that it’s been exposed the airline company will do the right thing gracefully, right? Naw. Apparently, Ryanair plans to appeal. "We believe the Court of Appeal will find in favor of current EU thinking which is that these costs should be the responsibility of the airport terminal owner and operator,” said a Ryanair spokesman. I’m thinking pretty soon – if not all ready -- the lawyers are going to cost Ryanair way more than all the wheelchairs they could ever need to serve disabled passengers. And that is its own kind of justice, the kind this sort of company understands best.

3.24.04 -- Got a life – Why do disabled people need to have better access to public transportation? So they can get to their favorite restaurant, or the bank, or the art festival downtown or a basketball game or well you get the idea. In others words, for all the same reasons anyone needs access to the bus or the train. A dart to the probably well-meaning prof in this article that says increased access to public transit would be good for seniors and the disabled to get to their doctors. Is that all the rest of the world uses the bus for too?

3.18.04 -- Credit only where due – Ever heard of a disabled access credit for your federal income taxes? If you have, and you think it’s legit, you might want to check out this news service piece on tax scams.

3.18.04 -- Different skates, real hockey – Maybe you should travel to see a sled hockey game. Sounds like a great, action-packed sport in this article. One quote from this piece says a lot about the worth of specialized sports for the disabled. "You can't imagine sitting in a chair all day and wondering if you'll ever be able to do anything like playing hockey. They go from that to being Paralympians,” said team manager Mary Pat Hallman. But this quote from player Mike Hallman summed up why the sport is exciting to watch: "There's more checking, more hitting in the tournaments. You WANT it more."

3.18.04 -- Just getting to the polls -- India passed an ADA like measure in 1995. But even in instances as basic as polling places, there is still much work to be done, according to this article. Now polling places usually are public places in there other live. So if polling places aren’t very accessible, then it makes me wonder about schools, government buildings, etc.

3.18.04 -- Thar see blows – 360 Magazine had a nugget on accessible whale watching off the coast of California. Check it out here (scroll down once you get there).