You have all heard the word “accessible” but what does it truly mean?

In my day-to-day life, I often come into contact with businesses, organisations, societies etc that state that they are “accessible” without them really understanding this term. So what does “accessible” actually mean and does the understanding of non-disabled people comprehend the need for increased accessibility?

In its simplest term, “accessible” means that a service is useable but does this cover it?

As an example, I regularly see guides, be it a hotel guide or maybe even a restaurant guide that list wheelchair accessibility but in practice this is, in fact, at a minimum and rarely looks beyond the obvious.

As a wheelchair user myself, I have visited many a place where I can't get in – yes they have a ramp but no door widening has taken place. If I do manage to enter, can I be certain that there is an accessible toilet or more importantly, is there a sufficient turning circle.

Take the term “accessible” away from restaurants to your average high street shop. Am I able to browse or are the racks too tightly packed together that even a size zero would struggle to negotiate their way through. How about paying? – are the tills lowered and, as recently highlighted on a previous blog, are the chip and pin machines available?

And what about the staff and their attitude? Are they aware of the needs of disabled people or will they try everything to avoid speaking to you?

How different the term “accessible” would be if a more prominent role in such matters was taken by disabled people. It is increasingly more obvious that the true meaning of “accessible” is not understood by most people and certainly not in the context that I use it.

What use is there for a ramp to an entrance if at the doorway there is a step?

What use is there for an accessible parking bay if there are no dropped kerbs?

A step, no turning circle or even an ignorant member of staff only equates to “inaccessible”

hotel refusal continued

I was incredibly disgusted with the hotel’s mistake on Saturday 4th October 2008.

I had previously booked a twin accessible room and a twin connecting room staying at the Radisson, Birmingham. On Saturday, my Personal Assistant arrived at the hotel at approximately 12.00 noon to leave our bags there and I was horrified that there was no mention of the Hotel’s mistake then.

We went out for the day and returned at approximately 9.00pm in order to check-in. We were told that the Hotel had been double-booked and as it was the Radisson’s mistake. they had arranged for us to stay in similar rooms with similar facilities and same star category at the City Inn, Birmingham. We were told that a taxi had been ordered on account and would arrive to take us to the City Inn.

The taxi did arrive and we were taken to the City Inn, at which point, the driver insisted on payment and would not accept that this had been paid on account. This issue was resolved when I checked out as the taxi fare was deducted from my hotel bill.

The rooms were not twin bedded nor connecting which I found particularly disturbing as I had to share a bed with my Personal Assistant (and his snoring).

Secondly, this contravenes the DDA, which I did point out to the Radisson in my original booking – therefore, surely under the DDA the second room should have been free of charge. This matter has made me incredibly angry indeed and this is the reason why the DDA exists in order to preserve the rights of the disabled person as people like the Radisson take advantage.

I was equally disturbed by the fact that the Radisson reception staff looked me directly in the face and misled me about the taxi and about the same standard of room. I am not only seeking compensation but I am also seriously considering taking legal action against the Radisson.

In any case, I will not be staying at a Radisson ever again, but should this be mistaken as a complaint from one individual please be aware that all family, friends and colleagues will learn about this treatment and I am sure that they will also decide not to use the Radisson in the future.

Therefore, i asked them to consider the issues raised above and get back to me their comments.

I am stIll waiting........

Lunch is a good practice

Although there are examples of good practice, these need to be highlighted and therefore I want to share an element of good practice with you.
I had booked myself and my Personal Assistant on a one day training course. The course had been arranged in an accessible venue, but just before the event the organisers contacted me to inform me that only my lunch was included in the course fee and I would have to pay an extra £45 for my Personal Assistant’s lunch. After I had spoken to the organisers about my Personal Assistant’s role, they decided as a matter of good practice, to waive the £45 charge. Good result!
Hopefully this experience of good practice will be taken on board by others.

Twin beds?

Further to my post last week about hotel refusal, I can confirm that the Radisson did in fact come back to me and after seeking advice, they were able to offer a twin accessible room rather than an accessible plus a PA room. I believe that this meets adequate to meet their legal requirements under the DDA but I still do not feel that this is not best practice, as a PA is completely separate from the disabled person unless they require assistance at that particular time. Therefore, best practice would dictate that the PA should be accommodated within a separate room in order to preserve the privacy and dignity of the disabled person. The decision by the hotel means that I will have to put up with the drone of my PA’s constant snoring – cocktail sticks need to be packed to keep my eyes open the next day!

My experimence of the No Limits 2008 show

I was travelling from Cheam, Surrey to No Limits show which was held at the Excel Centre in the Docklands. I used the train and tube to get to Canary Wharf on the way there. Then I went to Heron Quays DLR station. The lift to the platform was out of order, so it meant I had to travel the other direction one stop and then return. I did this, but the route between the platforms was terrible. There was no obvious or well signed route between the platform and the dropped curbs were blocked off due to road works. However the route between platforms is covered under DDA part 3, as tested in the Central Trains v Roads case. I then proceeded to Customs House DLR station and walked to the Excel Centre.
Overall the DLR, which is meant to be a state of the art, fully accessible railway, was not accessible at all, in my opinion.- for various reasons e.g. Lack of colour contrast, lift dimensions were too small, poor platform marking etc.
I think the DLR needs to take a good look at its access and make changes accordingly, as accessibility was achieved when it was built, however it should surely evolve with time.
The show itself was a disappointment. Mainly, due to the lack of disabled visitors. In my opinion, the reason for this was because of the poor location of the Excel centre, as it is not easy to get to.