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

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Lucas “LazyLegz” Patuelli

AccessibleNicaragua FAQ’s

By Craig Grimes

Since arriving in Nicaragua I’ve been researching how to create an inclusive tour package for people with disabilities in this developing country. When we talk about accessible or inclusive travel, the two terms may mean very different things, I prefer inclusive as if everything is accessible and therefore easy, where’s the challenge?

These tours aren’t going to appeal to everyone; neither will all of the tour be available to all people with all types of disabilities. Some things just aren’t available here in Nicaragua and some activities will simply be too hard for some people. The name AccessibleNicaragua may be a little misleading and it should really be InclusiveNicaragua, but I’ve got the acccessiblenicaragua@gmail.com email address now so it’s too late! What I’m really trying to promote here is not a 100% perfectly accessible tour but an attempt to make a tour in a developing country as inclusive as possible for as many people with disabilities as possible. This is not a tour for the faint hearted by any stretch of the imagination, some people may find it really tough going, but it will be a great experience for those that decide to come.

Now comes the moment of truth, you are the first people to see the planned 7 & 14 night tours (see pages in left hand column). There really isn’t any information about the access facilities for people with disabilities and that will come a little later in the hotel and general information booklet that I’m currently writing.

FAQ’s

Does the vehicle have a lift or a ramp for powerchairs or scooters?

At the moment I’m going to have to use a standard vehicle as there aren’t any accessible vehicles at all in Nicaragua. I have access to an easily adaptable vehicle and the company has agreed that they will do it. I’m hoping to have the adapted vehicle ready for July/August 2008 at the latest.

Do the hotels have roll in showers, shower bench or seat that is attached to the wall, grab bars, hand held adjustable shower head, grab bars around the toilet and is it open under the sink?

Hotels are supplied in 4 areas:

* Managua
* Matagalpa/San Ramón
* Granada
* León

(also in Ometepe and San Juan de Sur on the 14 day tour)

I will probably use the Holiday Inn in Managua for shear ease and it’s only for one night. In San Ramón, I am working with the hotel and I have designed the adapted bathroom for them with roll in shower, seat attached to the wall and grab bars (unfortunately, no adjustable shower head). In Granada I have a choice of 3 hotels, one of which is very accessible with a “real” roll in shower, but I need to buy a shower chair with wheels in order to be able to use it. I have also been given the opportunity by a private investor to buy and adapt a house in Granada and then use this property as a base for the routes. This is a great opportunity for me and hopefully I should have the house up and running by July/August 2008. In León I have a hotel in mind, but the room was booked the last time I was there so I couldn’t see it.

What kinds of beds are available? King, Queen etc. Are they the right height for an easy transfer?

Again it really depends on which hotel the client chooses, some are really high, but I should be able to provide a various hotels in Granada and León.

The boat is accessible for a power chair?

Quite simply, no. The boat isn’t accessible for any wheelchair, getting on it is by manual transfers or with help. Very little is accessible in Nicaragua! There will always be the driver and guide on the tours to help individuals if they want to do something but it’s really up to the client. That’s why there’s a * on the horse riding and boat trip which means; *Subject to availability and if the individual is able/wishes to partake in this activity.

Are there accessible bathrooms along the tours?

Most of the tours stay fairly close to the hotels so that clients can pop back when they need to (at lunch time for example) I’m going to recommend that clients use an indwelling catheter or sheath with leg bag system while they are here if possible, as accessible toilets are few and far between. When on the road, gas stations normally have larger restrooms that wheelchair users can get into and I need to research them a little more before the first client arrives.

Is the horseback place set up for those with special needs?

While I’m here, I’m also volunteering with an NGO called Familias Especiales. They have hipotherapy (therapy by riding horses) for people with disabilities. They are going to come with me to a coffee plantation that are open to doing tours on horseback for people with disabilities and train the staff.

Posted in FAQ's, AccessibleNicaragua, Accommodation, Central America, Nicaragua, Travel | No Comments

Your Questions Answered #2 - Access in New York

By Craig Grimes

Traveling to New York: Email from Germany, Sunday 28th October

Question: My husband is in a wheelchair and we would like to go to New York. We where wondering if you have been to New York and if you could be so kind and give us any helpful tips. Also we want a Hotel that is for disabled people, do you know anything? Maybe we also had the idea of renting an apartment for the time we are staying there, do you know any addresses for renting apartments for wheelchairs?

Answer:

I’ve never been to New York, however, as I work in the travel industry I have lots of contact with different disabled people and travel agents that do have this information. Here’s a list of useful contacts for you:

Individuals:

Scott Rains:

Scott has massive experience of traveling in a wheelchair and I’m sure that he’s been to New York! You should also look at his blog as there may be information there: www.rollingrains.com

His email is: srains@oco.net

SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality)

This society is based in the USA and they will know many more specialist travel agents than me. You should contact them on: sathtravel@aol.com or info@sath.org Their web site is www.sath.org

Specialist American Travel Agents

Wheelchair Escapes: www.wheelchairescapes.com

Flying Wheels Travel: www.flyingwheelstravel.com

Other Travel Agents

AAA Travel

I don’t think that AAA Travel is specifically for disabled people but I’ve arranged things for their disabled clients in Barcelona. Maybe they will be able to help.

Regina: rzayas@njac.aaa.com

Stephanie: Slarrieu@aol.com

Posted in FAQ's, USA, Accommodation, Travel | No Comments

Your Questions Answered #1 - “Living in Spain with a Disability”

By Craig Grimes

I’ve started receiving a few emails through the blog recently, which I’m really pleased about because it means that people are actually reading it! I’ve decided that I will post the questions and answers to the emails so that I can try to share this information with more people. Here are two to start with, the first is about living in Spain with a disability and the second is about traveling to New York. If you have a question that I may be able to help with, please do not hesitate to contact me: craig@craiggrimes.com

I’ll start a new category for these blogs FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) so that they are easier to find in the blog.

Living in Spain with a Disability: Email from Holland, Thursday 25th October

Question: We currently live in Holland and my family and I would like to move to Spain but my husband is Spinal Cord Injured. What medical assistance is there and will the government give us financial assistance?

Answer:

Spanish Medical Assistance:

As a European Union Citizen you are entitled to free health care in Spain. In order to receive this you first have to register that you are living in Spain with the local Town Hall and you will receive a certificate. Then you have to apply for your National Insurance Number (NIE). Once you have the NIE you can go to the medical centre and register with a doctor. You will then be entitled to free health care in Spain and receive prescriptions for the things that your husband requires such as tablets, catheters, sheaths etc. depending on his situation.

I must warn you that you may not be able to get exactly the same things from the doctor in Spain that you would get from you doctor in Holland. For example, I use leg bags and the brand that is available in Spain on prescription is terrible. Therefore, I made the decision to buy the lag bags that I prefer separately which costs about 55euros for a box of 10.

Spinal Cord Injury Centres:

Spain does have specialist centres for spinal cord injured people and the best is called the Institut Guttmann(Guttmann Institute) and is located just outside Barcelona in a town called Badalona. Here they can give specialist care to your husband if he ever requires it, you should register with them as soon as possible when you arrive in Spain. They will also give your husband an annual check up to make sure he is healthy! You can find their web site at: www.guttmann.com there is some limited information in English, they also have some consultants that speak some English.

Benefits in Spain (money received from the government to help disabled people):

I have never received any help from the Spanish Government with regards to them giving me financial assistance due to mt disability. As far as I know, as a foreigner, you have to be a resident in Spain for 5 years before they will even consider helping. Maybe the Dutch Government will help?

I am very aware that English is your second language, therefore, I have also sent this email to a contact of mine that lives near Barcelona. His name is Ruud Brahms and he owns a company called Creu Costa Catalana. This is a care company for disabled people, but more importantly, he is Dutch and therefore, will be able to explain all of this in your own language! His email is: info@adcc.cat and their web site is: http://adcc.cat/holandes/holandes.htm

Posted in Medical, Spain, FAQ's | No Comments