accessible tourism – is it still on the bottom rung? presented by sheila king australia for all...

Accessible Tourism – Is it still on the Bottom Rung?

Presented by

Sheila King

Australia For All Alliance Inc – Accessing The World

Climbing The Accessible Tourism Ladder

Australia For All Alliance Inc.

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1992 Disability Discrimination Act

1992 AS1428 set of Standards

1977 Adoption of 1st Building Code of Australia

2002 Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport

2006 Holiday Survey

2006 Hotels & Motels Voluntary Code of Practice – Equip. for Hearing Impaired

2008 European Regulation C1107 - Airports

2009 USA Federal Register - Airports

2009 Scandic Hotels adopts accessibility policy

2010 Australia Adopts the UN Convention

2009 UN Convention on the Rights of people With Disabilities

Rungs to be Confronted when Climbing The Accessible Tourism Ladder

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This presentation will endeavour to answer the following questions:

Has accessible tourism caught up with the 21st Century?

Do tourism providers adhere to their legislative responsibilities?

Is accessible tourism an investment that pays?

Have any tourism providers reached the top of the ladder ?


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The Disability Discrimination Act in relation to Accessible Tourism



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The Disability Discrimination Act And its relation to Accessible Tourism

OBJECT: To eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in the areas of:

Work, accommodation, access to premises, clubs and sport

The provision of goods, facilities, and services.

To promote recognition and acceptance within the community of the principle that persons with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as the rest of the community.

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The Disability Discrimination Act – 2002

Controls and operating mechanism shall be operable with one hand…. .

The comfortable zone of common reach to objects, suitable for wheelchair users, is: 1200mm from the floor and 300/400mm wide for outstretched arms.

It is estimated that 3 in 10 of today's 20-year-olds will suffer a disability before reaching the age of 67 years

Can’t see! Can’t reach! Can’t dial!

The National Australia Bank 1st Australian ATM to reach the top rung!

This includes ATM’s and Public Telephones

The Disability Discrimination Act And its relation to Accessible Tourism

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Access To PremisesIt is unlawful for a person to discriminate against another person:

By refusing to allow the other person access to, or the use of, any premises that the public or a section of the public is entitled or allowed to use (whether for payment or not).

http://www.australiaforall.com/

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The Building Code of Australia in relation to Accessible Tourism

OBJECT: To provide members of the building industry with the minimum design requirements to enable access for people with disabilities

1992 AS 1428 set of Standards



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Access To Premises

So is pulling!!!!

RAMPS: The maximum gradient of a ramp exceeding 1520mm in length shall be 1:14 and they shall be provided with landings at the top and bottom of the ramp.

When it’s wrong pushing is hard work

It might be flat but this muddy landing would be impossible to negotiate with a mobility aid!

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“A continuous accessible path of travel shall not include any

impediment!”

Accessible Paths Of Travel


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Grabrails should be horizontal to the ground with an upward rail at 30 to 45 degrees on the adjacent wall to the toilet pan and shall be fixed so that there is no obstruction to

the passage of the hand along the top 270 degrees of the rail.

Sanitary fixtures and fittings

NOTE: The lack of, or wrongly configured grabrails in “accessible accommodation” or leisure venues is the reason why most tourism providers fail

to climb the ladder!

Nor this…..

but like this….!

Not like this!


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When there are: 1 to 10 units - 1 accessible unit . This schedule increases by steps to:- 101 to 200 units - 5 accessible units + 1 additional unit for every 25 units in excess of 100 – up to: 500 units -19 accessible units +1 additional unit for every 50 units in excess of 500

Building Code Of Australia – 2011Accommodation for unrelated persons – Schedule of accessible room requirements:

The trigger for requiring upgrading of access is:

Refurbishment in 2004 of this 21 room motel which had 2 accessible rooms included all rooms being gutted and stripped to the bare walls and the whole building being re-plumbed re-wired and re-roofed. The restaurant and reception areas were re-modelled.

Result: NO accessible rooms available as a result of this major refurbishment. It was, and still is, unlawful.

Refurbishment in 2003 of this 25 room motel, which at that time had 5 accessible rooms included the restaurant being demolished and replaced with 3 new units. All rooms were stripped down to bare walls and re-built.

Result: NO accessible rooms available as a result of this major refurbishment It was, and still is, unlawful

New work carried out which would change or expand the nature or value of an asset, such as refurbishments, alterations or additions.

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Disability Standards For Accessible Public TransportIn relation to: Accessible Tourism

Survey set of

1992 DDA




2002 Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport

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Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport - 2002In relation to: Accessible Tourism

OBJECT: To enable public transport operators and providers to remove discrimination from Public Transport Services:

Buses

Accessible Taxis Ferries Trams

Aircraft (with more than 30 seats)

The following new conveyances & Infrastructure brought into service after October 2002, MUST be accessible to people with disabilities.

25% by 31st December 2007 55% by 31st December 2012 80% by 31st December 2017100% by 31st December 2022*Compliance required for hearing impairment on all conveyances with public address systems was 100% by 31/12/07

*Schedule for compliance with the DSAPT towards full accessibility:

Premises

Trains

Light Rail

Coaches Infrastructure

Passengers with mobility aids must be able to enter and exit a conveyance and position their aids in the allocated space.

Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport - 2002

This 86 year old lady had to be dragged up the steps to the aeroplane because she was refused the use of a boarding device by the airline.

. Conclusion: The airline remains on the bottom rung of the accessible tourism ladder

Boarding“A manual or power assisted boarding device must be available at any accessible entrance to a conveyance, and must be deployed if a passenger requests its use”.

Accessible Tourism – (Aircraft)

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Accessible Tourism (Coaches buses etc)

Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport - 2002

A manual or power assisted boarding device must be available at any accessible entrance to a conveyance

As with aircraft – and in line with the schedule for compliance - road conveyances must be accessible to people with mobility aids and therefore…..

By December 2007 – 25% of any fleet of vehicles was required to have a boarding device – Very few coach companies have complied with this requirement as at June 2011!

Prior to the DSAPT people with mobility aids were unable to access coaches and buses!

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2006 Holiday Survey

1992 AS 1428 Standards


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Accessible Tourism – Who says it is failing them?

Tourists with a Vision Impairment say it is failing them because:There is a lack of Braille signage in accommodationfacilities & leisure venues

Brochures/timetables etc are very rarely available in alternative formats

There are no Braille instructions in aircraft toilets

There are few audio visual systems in museums etc

There are very few menus in Braille or Large Print

Tactile Ground Surface Indicators are often wrongly placed

Tourists with a Hearing Impairment say it is failing them because:

There is no visual audio relaying information to exit, for example, airports because of fire etc.

Few counter hearing loops in accommodation facilities

Very little captioning on TV screens in hotels/ motels

A lack of visual alarm systems in hotels/motels for emergency egress

Hotels with audio information screens – without captioning

Accessible accommodation is very difficult to find

Accommodation is often not accessible when advertised that it is and the International symbol for access is clearly displayed

There is a lack of accessible transport at holiday destinations

T Australia’s budget airline’s two wheelchair policy for carrying mobility aids is discriminatory

Tourists with a Mobility Impairment say it is failing them because:

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Climbing the Accessible Tourism Ladder

2006 Holiday Survey


1992 Disability Discrimination Act1977 Adoption of 1st Building Code of Australia

2006 Hotels & Motels Voluntary Code of Practice – Equip for Hearing Impaired

2002 DSAPT Standards For Accessible Public Transport

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The Australian Hotel & Motel Accommodation Association’s Voluntary Code Of Practice For the Provision of Facilities For the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, issued in 2006 required that all hotels, motels and serviced apartments who are members of the HMAA would provide hearing facilities and special services to guests as follows:

For all facilities with 50 or more rooms one piece of the following items will be available without notice at the time of check in. For all properties with 100 rooms or more two sets of equipment to be available without notice

A portable non-audible door alarm to ensure appropriate means are in place to ensure that all deaf and hearing impaired guests will be alerted to any danger

Provide a telephone with built-in clip on amplifier, telecoil coupler and flashing light alert

This voluntary code has been largely ignored by the tourism providers to which it applies. It is clear that this voluntary Code of Practice requires to be made MANDATORY to ensure that people with hearing impairments can be certain that hotels and motels are catering to their individual needs.

Provide a text telephone or access to email

Provide a television capable of accessing free to air captioning – where pay TV access is provided ensure that captioning can be accessed


2006 Holiday Survey 2002 Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport.





2008 European Regulation C1107 – Airports

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“The managing body of an airport shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of assistance required without additional charge to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility”.

WHAT HAS CHANGED: Responsibility for assistance at airports has been taken out of the hands of the individual airlines, and given to the Airport Management authority, with severe penalties for infringements of the Regulation. The relative Civil Aviation Authority in each European country now has ultimate responsibility for this regulation.

This is in stark contrast to the Australian Domestic Airlines which have a self-serving two-wheelchair policy ie They will only take 2 wheelchairs on any one flight.


July 2008 European Regulation C1107 Mandated that:

Air Travel

2006 Holiday Survey 2002 Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport.





2008 European Regulation C1107 – Airports

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• “For an airline to say “As a person with a disability, we will deny you transportation on

this flight solely because a number of other persons with disabilities are on the flight” is intrinsically discriminatory”.

• In defence of the Occupational Health & Safety argument used by the Australian Domestic Airlines for their two wheelchair policy, the USA Federal Register states:

• “During the 17 years of the prohibition on the limit of the number of wheelchairs that can be carried on a flight, there have been no instances of safety problems resulting from this limit on the number of wheelchairs which can be carried”.

Unlike in Australia, people with disabilities in many parts of the world do not have to go to Court to fight to have the right to have their mobility aids

accompany them on their flights.


Air TravelMay 2009 The USA ‘s Department of Transport’s

Federal Register stated:

1977 Adoption of 1st

Building Code of Australia

2009 Scandic Hotels adopts accessible room policy -



2002 Disability Standards For Accessible Public Transport.

2006 Holiday Survey



2006 Hotels & Motels Voluntary Code Of Practice – Equip. for Hearing Impaired


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SCANDIC HOTELS’–Accessibility Policy

The Scandic Hotels’ Accessibility Policy requires all staff to understand what life is like for a guest with a disability. Therefore:-

• All staff are required to have knowledge and insight into how they can facilitate and assist.

• All staff are trained in accessibility, which includes working in a wheelchair for a period of time.

• Scandic Hotels understand that the requirements for worry-free travel vary, depending on whether guests are wheelchair-bound, have allergies or are vision or hearing impaired

• The Scandic Hotels Accessibility Policy encompasses all facilities offered in, or by, the hotel, and is an

integral consideration for all products and services at the hotel.

• Scandic Hotels prioritise accessibility in all new buildings and refurbishments, as well as technical solutions and practical matters

• The Scandic Accessibility Policy confirms that interest and commitment is as important as ensuring everyone is enjoying their stay.


1977 Adoption of 1st

Building Code of Australia

2009 Scandic Hotels adopts access policy for all hotels




2006 Holiday Survey



2006 Hotels & Motels Voluntary Code Of Practice – Equip. for Hearing Impaired


2010 Australia Adopts the UN Convention

2010 UN Convention on the Rights Of People with Disabilities passed

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United National Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities: Article 9 – Accessibility

(as it relates to Accessible Tourism)

Promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communication technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost.

;

It sets out that all parties shall take appropriate measures to:

Enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. These measures, shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility;

;Provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities;

Provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public, signage in Braille and in easy to read and understandable formats Provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public

Promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information

Promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet

Ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;

Develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public

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1st question - has Accessible Tourism caught up with the 21st Century?Answer: I think it is trying to, but not nearly quick enough

2nd question - Do tourism providers adhere to their legislative responsibilities? Answer: A small number do – but the majority appear to ignore them.

3rd question - Is accessible tourism an investment that pays? For an answer to this question we must look at the latest Australian

figures available …..

So what are the answers to the questions posed earlier:


Australia For All Alliance Inc.

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Accessibility - Is it a Paying Market? In Australia the latest figures available estimate that tourists with a disability:

• Spent between $8,000 million and $12,000 million on their leisure activities

• Contributed between $3,000 million and $4,000 million to total tourism gross value added, which equates to between 12% to 16% of total gross value added.

• Contributed between $4,000 million and $6,000 million to gross domestic product which equates to between 11% to 16% of total gross domestic product.

• Sustained 77,500 direct jobs in the tourism industry – which equates to 17.3% of direct tourism employment.D’arcy et all

UNITED STATES OF AMERICAIt is estimated that people with disabilities contribute $US127 billion to the USA economy

each year, with $US13 billion spent on travel

EUROPEThe 260 million registered disabled persons in the EU generated incomes in excess of

166 billion Euro in 2008 – a market not to be ignored.

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Answer to the 3rd question – Is accessible tourism an investment that pays?

It can it be accurately shown that accessible tourism is an investment that pays? The latest figures available tell us it did - and it is abundantly clear that it continues to do so.

and finally…. 4th question - Have any tourism providers climbed to the top of the ladder?Answer: Yes they have – and here are a few examples of how they did it.


Australia For All Alliance Inc

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Unique Venue: Avila Castle, Spain

Tourism Providers Who Have Reached The Top Rung of the Ladder

A visit to the mediaeval city of Avila must begi`n with a visit to THE WALLS, the best example of Romanesque military architecture in Spain and a unique model of mediaeval European architecture. ÁVILA was declared a World Heritage site in 1985 and since 2005 has been included in the network of Spanish Judaism sites. Avila’s cultural heritage is a reflection of its history, its architecture, its people and landscape. People with disabilities are able to access the Walls of Avila via ramps or a lift.

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Accommodation: Eco-Lodge - Gambia, West Africa

This eco-lodge in the Gambia has been designed to mimic a traditional African village. There are 9 large African huts which are accessible for people confined to wheelchairs. All facilities are on the ground floor level, with ramps and facilities catering for tourists with special needs.


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Self Cruising: Waypoint Charters – The S/V LORD NELSON

The S/V LORD NELSON promotes integration between able-bodied and physically disabled adults through the medium of tall ship sailing. Able bodied and physically disabled people participate on as near equal terms as possible. There are no passengers; everyone works to the best of his or her ability. The LORD NELSON has taken 22,908 people to sea. Of these, 8,970 people were physically handicapped and of these 3,509 were wheelchair users. The disabilities of other crew members included: Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spina Bifida, Paraplegia and many more...


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Accommodation: Turkey – Panorama Park Hotel

This hotel has 26 fully accessible rooms. The location of the hotel was purposely assessed and selected for ease of mobility in the surrounding environment. The owners say they understand the need for equality and freedom of movement, so that tourists can relax and enjoy their stay without the need to worry about “Can I or can’t I. Each of the rooms has been carefully crafted to ensure space and comfort.

Tourism Providers Who Have Reached The Top Rungof the Ladder

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The sign over the entrance reads:

“Enter with an open heart, and you will leave with a smile – impossible to erase”

Accommodation Spain: IN/OUT Hostel & Restaurant


In/out is the first European tourist complex which is 90% staffed by people with intellectual disabilities. The InOut hostel is located in a suburb of Barcelona on 27 acres given to it by the local council. The hostel was created and developed following the concept of tourism for everyone, and for this reason, everywhere and everything is available for all people with disabilities. InOut is an exclusive and privileged hostel because it is located in Barcelona’s natural parkland.

http://inout-restaurant.com/

http://inout-restaurant.com/

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Unique Venue: Skyrail Cairns, QLD

Skyrail's Terminal is located just 15 minutes drive from Cairns. The

cable cars are wheelchair accessible via portable ramps.

There are two mid-stations, Red Peak and Barron

Falls, which are both accessible to tourists in wheelchairs.


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Unique Venue: Cheetah Outreach


Cheetah Outreach is an education and community-based programme created to raise awareness of the plight of the cheetah and to campaign for its survival. Cheetah Outreach works to promote the cause of the cheetah by introducing captive-born, hand-reared cheetahs as ambassadors. Shadow and the five other captive cheetahs housed at Cheetah Outreach are used the ambassadors of their species For tourists with mobility aids there are ramps to the visitors’ centre. Tourists in wheelchairs are able to meet habituated cheetah.

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PACKAGED TOURS: South Africa and Vietnam

Smile Tours specifically cater for people with hearing impairments. Smile tours visit different countries with different themes. They focus on offering travellers opportunities to feel, hear, smell and taste, whilst seeing typical aspects of daily life and the traditions of each place in each country they visit. These visits include significant religious and historical sites as well as museums

Epic Enabled is an "Overland" company that is committed to opening up Africa to travellers with disabilities through interactive participation tours. All tours are wheelchair accessible. Where else can you touch a wild cheetah, wheel with lion cubs, listen to the heart beat of Africa, and ride the cable car up spectacular Table Mountain in your wheelchair?


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If you wish to swim in the blue Mediterranean, a boat trip on the Fontana Amaroza is for you. The boat is equipped with a hoist for wheelchair users who feel brave enough to take a dip in the sea. There is a ramp for both manual and electric wheelchairs onto the boat. You can also leave your wheelchair while you para-sail, scuba dive or swim in the sea. Explore Cyprus in their on site-adapted taxi.

TOURISM PROVIDERS who have reached the top rung of the ladder

Packaged Tours - Cyprus

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The Iguazu Falls are the waterfalls of the Iguazu River located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. The first European to find the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541. The falls are 269 ft high and divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The upper circuits are accessible to tourists in wheelchairs. On the Brazilian side there is a long wheelchair accessible path along the canyon with an extension to the lower base of the Devil's Throat. Access to the Argentine side is facilitated by the wheelchair accessible Rainforest Ecological Train, which connects to various walkways

Waterfalls in Brazil

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SCANDIC ASKER HOTEL - NORWAY

Situated in Asker, this hotel is in the same region as the Viking Ship Museum, Fram Museum, and Vigeland Museum. Other regional attractions also include Frogner Park and Royal Palace. The Scandic Asker has 167 rooms, of which 30 are accessible to tourists with mobility aids. For tourists with allergies, if required, the hotel has special hypo-allergenic rooms. Non- allergenic garnish is used on the buffet breakfast. Gluten- and lactose-free bread is available on request. For tourists with a hearing impairment the hotel has hearing loops in the reception area and vibrating alarm clocks in bedrooms are available on request

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Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace. In 1931, only 11 elephants remained in the area - today it is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, black rhino, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. The park offers great wildlife viewing on well maintained roads throughout from the comfort of one’s own vehicle. There is an accessible toilet in the reception area.


Elephant Park – South Africa

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Hand and Paragliding

Flyability is a disability initiative of the British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association. Flyability aims to promote and provide opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in the sport of hang gliding, paragliding and other related forms of flight. Flyability does not simply take people with disabilities flying, but strives to motivate people with disabilities to become involved in the sport of hang gliding and paragliding and to train as pilots. Flyability Sponsored Tandem Flights are an excellent way for a person with a disability to sample hang gliding or paragliding to help them to decide whether or not the sport is for them.

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The Pioneer Park play space was officially opened in 2006, Pioneer Park was the first all abilities playground initiated by the Queensland Government. The playground features a sensory garden, sand and water play areas, a play cottage, grassed kick-about area and a wide range of play equipment including a flying fox, climbing net, carousel, hammock, vibrating rock and a range of swings. Objects and tables are at varying heights to meet the needs of all children including toddlers and those who use wheelchairs. The play equipment has been designed to be light-weight and easily grasped and manipulated. In the play cottage, children learn about ‘cause and effect’ by turning a wheel and setting cogs in motion, while learning from visual language tiles, ‘Spy’ and ‘I Hear’ panels and touch tiles featuring A-to-Z Braille and sign language. Facilities include accessible toilets, informal seating, a picnic shelter and tables. There are tactile ground indicators and visual strips to aid people with a vision impairment.

All Abilities Playground - QLD

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Looking for a thrilling recreational activity? Why not try bungee jumping. No experience is required. People with disabilities who have tried it, have had the time of their life. Bungee Jumping is a great activity for people with disabilities, as no skill is required, as long as they can get into a harness - then they can jump or be pushed. There is full wheelchair access to the bridge and over the bridge! Jumping takes place year round. Tourists with either hearing or visual impairments can take part in this thrilling sport. Take a bungee jump whilst in your manual wheelchair - not available for those in electric wheelchairs.

Bungee Jumping – Whistler, Canada


Dorrigo – NSW Australia

Tsitskanna Knysna National Park South Africa

Monteverde, Costa Rica

Landmark National Park Santa Cruz.

Boardwalks and Lookouts

All over the world the managers of national parks are including wheelchair accessibility to their plans, therefore ensuring that tourists with disabilities are able to access boardwalks and lookouts to see places which in the past have been inaccessible to them.

Gondola Skywalk – Banff National Park

Cormorant Boardwalk - UK

Costa Calida, Spain

Grand Canyon - USA

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ACCESSIBLE TOURISM

I hope you have found this presentation both enjoyable and informative

If you want to delve further into what is accessible in the world of accommodation and leisure venues go to: www.australiaforall.com

Thank your for your timeSheila KingWeb Co-ordinatorAustralia For All Alliance – Accessing The World

A growing market – Can the tourism industry afford to continue ignoring it?

Australia For All Alliance Inc

http://www.australiaforall.com/

accessible tourism – is it still on the bottom rung? presented by sheila king australia for all...

Documents

accessible tourism object

tourism providers

disability standards

building code of australia

accessible public transport

public telephones slide

person access

national australia bank