Accessible Everything - An accessible & inclusive travel blog for people with disabilities » 2008

Subscribe in a reader

RSS Feed

November 2008
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Oct		Dec »
	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30

Subscribe to Accessible Everything by Email

Lucas “LazyLegz” Patuelli

Cycling for People with Disabilities in Berekely

By Craig Grimes

Cast your memory back to the age of 5 or 6, when your adult helper let go and you wobbled off on your first solo bicycle ride.

What was that incredible feeling?

Freedom.

But what if that freedom was never available to you?

A woman named Meida recently contacted the Adaptive Cycling Center at Berkeley’s Aquatic Park. The weathered wooden building is known to regulars as the BORP bike house, as in the Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program. Meida explained that she was born without arms and wanted to ride a bike. She had ridden tandem but hoped to ride alone. She dreamed of someday riding across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Source: SFGate

Posted in USA, Adapted Sport, Technology, Media | No Comments

Accommodation Assessment - Hotel Othon, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

By Craig Grimes

This accomodation assessment was undertaken by Tamara Coelho Soares of BH Turismo.

Accommodation Name: Hotel

Type of Accommodation: Hotel Othon

Destination: Belo Horizonte

Country:Brazil

Parking:

Is there parking for guests with disabilities: All vehicles are parked by valets

Entrance:

Are there steps to the main entrance: No

Is there a ramp to the main entrance: No

The clear opening width of the main entrance door: 160cm (automatic sliding doors)

Is there level access (with no steps or thresholds), or access by a ramp or lift:

From reception to the lifts: Yes, by ramp

Ramp Dimensions: The ramp is broken into two sections of 188cm and then a further 180cm. Between the two sections there is a flat “resting area” of 30cm.

Is there a handrail by the ramp: Yes

There is also a platform lift to compliment the ramp which scales the same stairs (see photo below)

All other areas of the hotel are through the use of a standard lift.

Lift Dimensions:

Door width: 85cm

Inside depth: 160cm

Inside width: 168cm

Facilities which are accessible through the use of the lift are:

Restaurants

Outdoor facilities

Swimming pool (via the use of another ramp, 137cm long)

The Room for People with Disabilities

There is one room at Hotel Othon which has facilities for people with disabilities. The furniture in the room can be re-arranged upon request and staff are more than happy to help.

Room door width: 76cm

Bed type: Double bed

Widest free space at the side of the bed: 100cm

Height to the top of bed: 53cm

Max. height to bottom of bed base for hoist feet: 12cm

Height to top of desk: 74cm

Clear space under desk: 71cm

Wardrobe rail height: 167cm

The Adapted Room En-Suite Bathroom

Bathroom door width: 87cm

Shower

Level access shower: Yes

Fixed shower seat: No (shower chair available upon request, see photo)

Shower handrails: Yes

Shower handrail height: 67cm

Shower handrail length: 79cm

WC seat height from floor: 46cm

WC handrails:Yes (at rear of WC)

WC handrail height: 67cm

WC handrail length: 79cmWidest floor space at side of WC: 147cm

Widest floor space in front of WC: 94cm

Other Ammenities

Height to top of sink: 85cm

Height under sink: 65cm

Height to base of mirror: 91cm

Emergency call system in the bathroom: No

Other services and information

This room maybe made into a triple room through adding an extra single bed.

A wheelchair and shower chair are available for the use of the hotel’s clients.

Light switches are at a height of 95cm.

There are public WCs for people with disabilities on the 3rd floor where the restaurant and swimming pool are located.

There is also a public lowered telphone for guests that use wheelchairs.

In Collaboration with Europe for All

Posted in Assessment, Brazil, South America, Accommodation, Travel | No Comments

Accommodation Assessment - Sueño de la Campana, Nicaragua

By Craig Grimes

Accommodation Name: Sueño de la Campana

Type of Accommodation: Hotel/Hostel

Destination: San Ramón

Country: Nicaragua

Parking:

Is there parking for guests with disabilities: No

Entrance:

Are there steps to the main entrance: NO

Is there a ramp to the main entrance: Yes

Dimensions: 152cm wide

Is there a handrail by the ramp: No

The clear opening width of the main entrance door is 84cm

Is there level access (with no steps or thresholds), or access by a ramp or lift:

From reception to the gardens: No (see threshold photo above)

To the dining area: No

To the internet: No

To the bedroom with facilities for people with disabilities: No

NB: Within the hotel there are small thresholds of approximately 7cm from the reception to the bedrooms and internet area. However, the threshold has been removed from the entrance to the bedroom for people with disabilities.

Alternative Entrance

There is an alternative entrance at the rear of the hotel which gives access to the dining area, however, the path to it is currently gravel and not particularly good for wheelchair users. The path to the dining area would not be an option during heavy rain in the Nicaraguan wet season.

Alternative entrance clear opening width: 88cm

The Room for People with Disabilities

There is one room at Sueño de la Campana which has a slight gradient to the entrance. The en-suite bathroom has a level access shower. The furniture in the room can be re-arranged upon request and staff are more than happy to help.

Room door width: 86cm

Bed type: Double and single beds (the room can sleep up to 5 people)

Widest free space at the side of the bed: +100cm

Height to the top of bed: 53cm

Max. height to bottom of bed base for hoist feet: 12cm

The Adapted Room En-Suite Bathroom

Bathroom door width: 86cm

Level access shower: Yes

Fixed shower seat: No (plastic patio seat available upon request)

Shower handrails: No

WC seat height from floor: 39cm

WC handrails: No

Widest floor space at side of WC: 126cm

Widest floor space in front of WC: 118cm

Height to top of sink: 82cm

Height under sink: 67cm

Height to base of mirror: 94cm

Emergency call system in the bathroom: No

Below: A bathroom diagram of the room with facilities for people with disabilities (not to scale)

Special Services

Are service animals allowed on the premises: With prior arrangement

The hotel has non-smoking rooms and do not have fitted carpets for those guests with asthma or allergies.

Notes: Sueño de la Campana is part of Fundación de la Campana a Spanish Non-Governmental Organisation that supports the commnuity through providing employment and training in the local community. Although the adaptations at this hotel are basic and not perfect, it is a great place to stay with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Please contact me for further details.

In Collaboration with Europe for All