Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

A new free European on-line training course which addresses ways of improving tourism businesses and serving customers who have specific access requirements was recently announced by the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT).  The course is an “appetizer” for business owners and employees, providing a general introduction to the subject of accessible tourism. It includes short texts, ‘best practice’ videos with  case studies of actual businesses, reference documents and links.

By taking the course, professionals in the tourism industry will learn about the advantages of engaging with this fast-growing market and how to attract and serve new customers.  Students of tourism management and hospitality can also benefit from following the course and studying the additional references.  One of the advantages of the e-learning course is that participants can work at their own pace, fitting in their training when they have time. The on-line system keeps a record of their work and their test results.

Developed by a team of ENAT Members under the European Union’s programme for Lifelong Learning, the course integrates training materials from various European countries. The course language is English. It is available at:  http://www.accesstraining.eu.  It is currently being tested and will be amended as necessary on the basis of feedback from participants, who are invited to answer the User Survey after creating a user account and taking one or more modules of the course.  On completing the first four “basic” modules of the course, participants can receive the Accessible Tourism Training First-level Certificate (ETCAATS) issued by
ENAT.

The European Commission (Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, Directorate F: Tourism, CSR, Consumer Goods and International Regulatory Agreements) is seeking tenders for a market research and public opinion poll on the economic impact and travel patterns of accessible tourism in Europe.

Travelling for pleasure (or for business) in Europe is equally relevant for persons with physical disabilities, but the barriers they have to face are far greater.  Tourism accessibility across Europe is still to some extent unchartered territory, with widespread misconceptions and lack of knowledge about the market of tourists with special access needs.  Visitors’ requirements are largely unknown, investment costs are often misunderstood or exaggerated and accessibility is generally perceived by business as a “burden”.  Travelling and having full access to tourist activities, services and facilities is a right enshrined in Article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, signed by the European Union and its 27 Member States.  Furthermore, making tourism facilities more accessible to people with disabilities, is also a golden opportunity for businesses.

Very few studies have been carried out on the economic impact or patterns of demand and travel of visitors with disabilities.  The most recent has been a research project that in 2011 looked at the tourism, travel, and hospitlaity patterns and needs of people with hearing loss conducted for the new Zealand National Foundation for the Deaf, by the NZ Tourism Research Institute at AUT University, and Access Toruism NZ.   The overall purpose of this EU contract is to collect comprehensive and EU-wide data on the economic impact — both actual and potential — of travellers with special access needs on the EU tourism sector, and to study the demand, travel behaviour, and patterns of travellers with special access needs in Europe.  The final date for tender submissions is 28/06/2012.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration (SM), and the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) are holding a conference on the autonomy and inclusion of people with disabilities 7-8 June in Copenhagen.  This international conference will bring together disability experts from civil society including disabled people’s organisations, representatives from national human rights institutions, researchers, and policy makers at the EU, national and local level. The conference will allow participants to discuss the disability work of the FRA, DIHR and the Danish Ministry. The FRA’s latest disability reports, which will be presented during the event, will give an overview of the EU situation. There will also be concrete examples from Denmark and other Member States to illustrate the state of affairs nationally. Participants will be able to discuss practical suggestions and network with others working on disability rights.

The Indian Ministry of Tourism has included in its policy plans to make tourism destinations barrier –free.  Both the 2009-2010 Ministry annual report and the 2010-2011 report cover accessible tourism. The Ministry is keen to develop accessible tourism because – as they state – people with different abilities and older persons are now becoming a growing group of consumers of travel, sports and, other leisure-oriented products and services, and wish to tap the potential of this group.   Guidelines have been issued for making  tourist-facilities that are created with
central financial assistance, barrier-free.  Officers deputed for inspections of tourism projects, funded by the Ministry include their observations regarding the accessibility of these projects for disabled persons in their report.

Making the hotels accessible for people with different abilities has been included in the guidelines for approval and classification of 4 and 5 star category hotels.  As part of  Corporate Social Responsibility Activity, the Indian Tourism Development Corporation  will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with M/s Svayam (an initiative of SJ Charitable Trust which is working for the differently abled persons) for launching “Ashok Access” to provide guidance on making Hotels, Museums, Tourist sites user friendly for differently abled persons.

The Ministry has also instituted a new category of Award of Excellence for Most Barrier-Free Monument/Tourist Attraction in the country to encourage other agencies responsible for maintaining monuments/tourist attractions to create barrier-free environment for the promotion of accessible tourism.

The Ministry commissioned a study on the Problems and Prospects of Accessible Tourism in India, which is available on the website.  Amongst the findings is that the size of the access market is 18.11% of India’s population, or 186 million people.  This includes family members of people with disabilities.

The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) reports that at a recent meeting,  the Spanish “Business Innovation Groups in Tourism” (AEITs) convened by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, focused on accessibility, mobility, and sustainability for transforming the Spanish tourism sector.  Organised by the Spanish Tourism Technology and Innovation platform (SEGITTUR) and the Tourism Cluster in Madrid, the conference focused on the presentation of the results of projects that had received grants to support the tourism sector AEITs for 2011.  These included the Accessible Tourism Destination Project and DIGICARDEX technology for tracking of children with  disabilities at theme parks, camps etc.

The Accessible Travel Info Point (Infopunt Toegankelijk Reizen) is a service of the Flemish Tourist Board Toerisme Vlaanderen.  It grew out of cooperation with various organisations and services by and for people with disabilities.  The mission of Info Point is to provide information about travelling for people withdisabilities.  To this end, The Tourism Board have just released their 2012 version of “All In: Accessible holiday accommodations in Flanders and Brussels” which covers all the holiday centres, hotels, youth accommodations and campgrounds that have received the accessibility label A (basic accessibility) or A+ (comfortable accessibility) following objective assessments.  Levels of access are described on a Label page.   Now 248 pages long, the brochure includes full page of descriptions of each accommodation about accessibility  in words and pictures.

The brochure is available in three forms: as a browsable document with zoom function, in PDF format (22 Mb), or as a paper version (request a free printed copy at  Accessible Travel Info Point).  Info Point aims to publish a new edition every year.

The tourism sector in Flanders can contact Info Point for background information about accessibility, subsidies available, and guidelines for alterations to improve accessibility. The Flemish Tourist Board’s accessibility policy is presented here.

VisitEngland, national tourist board has launched a new version of the Access Statement Online Tool, aimed at helping businesses cater for visitors with access needs. Access Statements allow for a written, descriptive approach to providing a wide range of information on accessibility. All areas of a business are described from car parking & arrival to toilets.   Visit England says that Access Statements are:

1. A minimum requirement for VisitEngland accommodation and visitor attraction quality scheme members
2. A way to meet obligations under the Equality Act 2010
3. A marketing opportunity which informs visitors in one concise document
4. Necessary as almost one in five of England’s population has a disability and this number will rise as England’s population ages

The new version is specifically tailored for restaurants and cafés, and has been created in partnership with the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Restaurant Association.  The online tool provides detailed guidance on the information that may be required by people with access needs when visiting a restaurant or cafe.   Businesses are encouraged to write a general introduction describing the location (city centre, countryside, coast), and to summarise any specific services and facilities suitable for people with access needs. In addition, information may also cover the following areas:

• Pre-Arrival – transport services, a description of the streets in the area surrounding the restaurant (e.g. paved/cobbled/level/uneven), information provided in alternative formats such as large print and audio.
• Car Parking and Arrival – car parking, drop off points, alternative entry points, number of steps, handrails and ramps.
• Restaurant & Bar Area – access to the area and layout, lighting, seating and tables, floor surfaces, alternative formats of menus available.
• Outdoor Areas – accessibility of outdoor furniture, service offered to customers in outdoor area, layout (e.g. pavement, terrace, play area).

Additional areas that are covered include: customer toilets, private dining/function space accommodation and future plans for improvement.  Ross Calladine, VisitEngland’s Skills, Welcome & Accessibility Manager said:  “People with access needs require specific information about a venue in advance in order to be able to make an informed decision about whether an establishment can cater sufficiently for their needs. Restaurants, like any other tourist venue, should provide as much information to visitors as possible – this will help to enhance the visitor experience and also highlight areas where the business could improve.”  Camilla Woods, Policy Director, BHA, said “Access Statements are a really effective way for businesses to ensure customers with any specific access needs have the information they need and we are pleased to be able to recommend this new online tool to our members.”

Once a business has created their Access Statement they can then make this information readily available to visitors. Restaurants can promote their statement on their website if they have one, or post it where they have a listing on a company site or a generic ‘restaurant finder’ site. It should also be kept on hand for staff to use when describing over the phone what facilities they have.

Accessible and inclusive tourism has been little researched or developed in New Zealand (NZ).  One study published in 2007  showed that tourism operators do not understand this market, think it insignificant, and think their businesses accessible when they are mostly not.  Erroneous access information is often given to potential visitors with disabilities, buildings housing tourism information sites are often inaccessible, and tourism websites – including a government-run website – are often difficult or impossible to access.  In addition accessible tourism is not part of NZ’s tourism strategy.  This is in spite of the fact that comparatively rich Baby Boomers and seniors were- recently recognized by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT – now part of the Ministry of Economic Development) as NZ’s largest domestic market, and recognized by them as a market with members who may not travel because of health and disability concerns (Segmentation Report).

On the local level, while two or three councils have begun to include considerations of access in tourism information (albeit mostly through business self-assessment of access), most councils have no plans to develop accessible tourism (council survey).  Only about half of Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) know of the few accessible tourism businesses in their area, and few promote these businesses as accessible.  Only two of the  approximately 30 RTOs (and one of the approximately 80 councils) sent a representative to the first NZ accessible tourism conference in October 2010, showing that there is still little interest in this sector.

While no-one from the MoT –  or from its promotional agency Tourism NZ – attended that inaugural  conference, the central government – spurred on by holding the Rugby World Cup in 2011 – funded an NGO called Be Accessible to (amongst other things) create and administer access assessments of businesses.  In a major step forward, about 20 accommodation businesses, 70 activities and attraction), and 50 eateries and retail outlets have been assessed and listed on their website.  These are predominantly Auckland businesses, but the Auckland council tourism website does not carry or link to this information.   Be.Accessible has also posted access tips, a toolkit, and checklists.

The most recent NZ research – funded by the NZ National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) and undertaken by the NZ Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) and by AccessTourismNZ – examined the tourism, travel, and hospitality experiences and needs of local and international people with hearing loss.  The research shows that they travel for the same reasons as others, mostly travel with others, and would like to travel more but are prevented from doing so by cost and concern that their hearing needs will not be met.  Their most important access travel needs are good customer service, staff who have a “can-do” attitude, and reliable information about access for people with hearing loss, which they often find wrong or misleading.  The majority (90%) of NZ respondents and over half (55%) of international respondents feel that the level of service in the NZ tourism industry for visitors with hearing loss needs to be improved.

Apart from the work mentioned above, no other research on accessible tourism in New Zealand has been carried out.  In fact, there is more interest overseas in what NZ accessible tourism is like than there is in this country.  For example, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) sponsored AccessTourismNZ to talk about the NZ situation at an internationa conference in Japan in 2010, and ENAT and Fundacion ONCE did so for an international conference in Spain in 2011.  In NZ, there is little will to understand, discuss, attract, and accommodate this large and growing market.

An older, more extensive report on the state of accessible tourism in New Zealand is available here.

Members of the European Network of Accessible Tourism (ENAT) are leading a workshop on accessible tourism in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and participating in the Saudi Travel Market conference in Riyadh today.  The conference highlights the investment opportunities and the available potential in the Saudi Travel and Tourism Investments Market, and covers the tourism development strategies related to the business sector. Saudi Arabia generates a combined annual tourism market of 10.4 billion Euro, and is one of the top 22 inbound travel markets in the world. Inbound tourism has risen by 11% over the last two years. Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry is greatly under served and requires billions of Saudi Riyals in investment to develop to its full potential and is poised for extensive expansion and growth.

Accessible Tourism for All will be the theme of an evening workshop session at the conference in Riyadh on 3rd April and at a one-day Workshop in Jeddah.   The workshops are being held under the auspices of the Saudi Commission for Tourism  and Antiquities and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, respectively, and with the  participation of the Arab Tourism Organisation and the Prince Salman Centre for  Disability Research, amongst others.  Workshop speakers will present and discuss their experiences, research results and strategic plans from countries, destinations and attractions in Europe and the Middle East, showing how accessibility for people with disabilities and other specific requirements is being integrated in all parts of the tourism value chain.  They will discuss experiences and strategies with the Arab tourism sector, public authorities, chambers of commerce, researchers and NGOs.

Kéroul Quebec, Canada, has conducted a Study on the behaviours and attitudes of people with a physical disability, with respect to tourism, culture and transportation in Québec. The study examined their habits with regard to patronizing cultural activities or sites such as restaurants, lodging (hotels, etc.), theatres, cinemas, concert halls, museums, historical sites, libraries, art galleries, book fairs, archive repositories, and bookstores. It also examined their participation in celebrations and festivals, and their assessment of the available types of paratransit services.  Findings include that:

• During their most recent trip within Quebec, respondents spent Cn$174.6 million
• Annually, this market is worth more than $1 billion to Quebec
• It is a growing market because of the ageing population
• 800,000 people in Quebec have a disability
• They travel for business, visit family and friends, and enjoy the tourist and cultural attractions Québec has to offer
• 64% were aged 55 and over
• 28% had family incomes of over $40,000
• In the 24 months prior to the survey, 59% took at least one trip, with the average being nearly six trips
• The average length of stay in Québec was four days, which is a longer stay than for the overall population
• Many people with disabilities travel with their families (64%) or with friends (12%)

This study, and a separate study conducted in 2010 for Kéroul of this tourism sector in neighbouring regions (i.e. Ontario, New Brunswick and New England), show that that people with disabilities represent a significant economic potential for Québec.

Kéroul is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 and key consultant for Tourisme Québec regarding accessibility.  It works in partnership with the private and public sectors to increase the accessibility of tourism and cultural infrastructures for people with limited physical ability. The creator of The Accessible Road, Kéroul received the prestigious Ulysses Award in 2011 from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Source: Kéroul

UK.  The South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011/12 have praised Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Roman Baths for the improved accessibility it offers all visitors.  The Romans Baths received a “Highly Commended” in the Access for All award section in recognition of recent development work carried out by the Council to improve access in a wide range of ways and make the experience more inclusive for people with a wide range of different needs.  Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem,  Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Physical
accessibility at the Roman Baths has improved enormously with the installation of two new lifts and a complete change in the way visitors can move around the site. Understanding of the ancient monument has also become easier for our visitors with new displays and improved interpretation throughout, and there is a wide range of visual prompts that everyone can recognise.

“We have new interpretation for blind and visually impaired visitors with many tactile exhibits. There is a dedicated British Sign Language audio guide, an inclusive personal audio guide in eight languages, and tours for English and French speaking children. The judges even took into account the inclusive way that we cater for people with particular dietary needs in the Pump Room restaurant.”

The Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) – on which Access Tourism New Zealand has a link – now provides more content than ever. There are now nine information portals which provide materials on topics relevant to the needs of Disabilities Organizations, government officials, professionals, grassroots advocates, and others working to improve the lives of people with disabilities. An on-line version of the library is available. An off-line version is also stored inside eGranary Digital Libraries for delivery to developing countries where Internet access is limited. The GDRL team is now no longer accepting applications to receive an off-line eGranary for 2012. However, organizations interested in receiving notification of future opportunities can submit their full contact information here. The GDRL project is a joint initiative of the U.S. international Council on Disabilities and the University of Iowa WiderNet Project supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The 13^th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP) will be held July 11-13 at the University of Linz, Linz, Austria.  One of the thematic sessions is “Accessible Tourism’, which will be chaired by Franz Puhretmair and Kerstin Matausch (Competance Network), and Dimitrios Buhalis (Bournemouth University). The session will provide a forum to discuss major issues, identify barriers, technologies, strategies and approaches to promote accessible tourism.  Papers will consider aspects of

•  eTourism and disability
• Accessible Tourism websites and accessible Tourism Information Systems (TIS)
• Accessibility information in modern TIS Accessible Travel and Leisure holidays
• Accessibility information / guidelines / audits for tourism products
• Usability and user-interface studies
• Economic evaluations of Accessible Tourism
• Technologies and applications supporting Accessible Tourism
• eAccessibility,
• Universal Design and usability
• eInclusion
• Case studies of eTourism applications for the disabled markets, as well as
• the usage of technology for facilitating disabled tourists before and during their visit

Guest blog by Sarah Levis.  Sarah created Disability Links and is founder of “Running  Steps” a Girl with The Cane Enterprise. She is on Twitter @GirlWithTheCane

If you’ve ever tried to submit a disability-related website to web directories, you were likely surprised at how few of them have a specific category for sites having to do with disabilities. Disability Links (http://www.disability-links.net/) is a web directory specifically for websites that are about disabilities or disability-related issues.  A large variety of sites from people with and without disabilities have the potential to fit within that framework. The directory is human-edited. With both excellent rates for paid links and two ways to submit free links, Disability Links provides good value, backlinks and exposure for disability-related sites.

Karola Woods is the writer and co-creator of the iPhone App London Thru Cafes (see ATNZ guest post ), which covers 90 great cafes in the capital and hundreds of places to visit nearby with regular updates, access details, off-line maps, London travel information, photos, a feedback facility, an area write-up and a London  survival guide. Here’s her experience of taking her Mum, who is a wheelchair user, around the capital.

Karola's mum at The Ritz, London

I’m quite a strong, determined person, and just as well! My Mum and I have grappled with all kinds of kerbs and steps in her wheelchair and that’s in her home town. ‘How would we cope in London?’ I wondered, when she came to stay. Everyone’s dashing around like a mad March hare, parking spaces are like gold dust and it’s all just well – so big.  Thankfully, I’m a natural planner and I know London very well which helps – and these were the days before I wrote my App! We were staying in my flat near Hammersmith. It had a flight of stairs, which made things interesting. I’d clued up on disabled parking bays through the Blue Badge Scheme. The rules differ in London from the rest of the UK, but thankfully I was in a borough without too many restrictions – plus it was Christmas and London was quiet in many ways. I know that non UK and non EU visitors won’t have Blue Badges, but there are lots of meters and hidden-away car parks you can pre-book such as BCP Park, NCP and Q-Park

We visited a Middle Eastern cafe-restaurant called Delaziz which I knew was accessible from previous visits, although I did phone to check a detail about seating arrangements and that was fine. We also went to the Polish Social and Cultural Association (accessible) as my Mum is Polish and we also wanted to zip along the north side of the river near Hammersmith Bridge – in my Mum’s wheelchair that is, not the car! We stopped off at Riverside Studios on the way back for a drink. We didn’t pay congestion charge because it was a weekend and also, it was between
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when there is no charge. The congestion charge is another thing to consider if you’re driving around. It’s also why London’s accessible buses and black cabs are particularly good alternatives. Some 62 tube stations are step-free now too.

Perhaps the highlight of the stay was a Boxing Day Champagne Lunch at the Ritz Hotel. My Mum loved every minute. Someone else in a wheelchair was going in before us and this greatly comforted her as she thought she might be ‘a problem’ for them. No such thing. The doorman was excellent and we didn’t even need to ask for help – he just wheeled my Mum up a little ramp and took care of everything.

You can hire adapted vehicles if you need a car using companies such as Allied Mobility. My golden rule is do your research before you travel, even if you simply make a call. Also, the London Transport site also lets you plan a tube or bus journey showing you the bus numbers and changes involved. My Mum still talks about her trip to London, for all the right reasons. To me, that hopefully says it all.

The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) has welcomed the initiative of the European Commission for choosing “Accessible Tourism Destinations” as this year’s theme for the European Destinations of Excellence Awards. A Call for Proposals invites National Tourism Authorities in EU Member States and associated countries to organise competitions to select the best small, “non traditional” destinations that provide an outstanding offer for tourists regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age. “Non traditional” is defined as a destination where the visitor density rating is from “low” to “very low” in comparison with the national average.

The Commission proposes to reward those destinations which have developed a tourism offer based on an overall approach to accessibility for tourists regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities or age. The following aspects of accessibility could be considered (a non-exhaustive list):

• barrier-free destinations (infrastructure and facilities);
• transport (by air, land and sea, suitable for all users);
• high quality services (delivered by trained staff);
• activities, exhibits, attractions (allowing participation in tourism by everyone);
• marketing, booking systems, web sites & services (information accessible to all).

National tourism authorities can receive up to 75% co-funding to support their national competitions, to be held during 2012-13.  Winning destinations and 4 runners-up per country will be invited to join the EDEN Network Association which is made up of the winners and runners up from the 5 previous years’ contests. They can then be promoted through the EDEN Network’s Website.  The EDEN Network “brings together winning EDEN destinations to harness their combined energy and passion for sustainable tourism and promote the rich variety of Europe’s lesser-known holiday destinations. The network facilitates networking between winning
destinations and provides an open platform for discussion and the sharing of best practice and information around tourism and sustainability”.

Main source: ENAT

Former Savoy and Churchill hotels chef David Croft has written Food for Thought – part autobiography, part cookbook – to educate the hospitality industry on the best ways to accommodate for disabled customers in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond. David was paralysed by an accident, and the book documents the highs and lows of his life.  A number of well-known British chefs – including Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes, Marco Pierre White, and Gino D’Acampo – have contributed recipes to the book.

The years of work by a number of bodies in improving access in London in the lead up to the London Olympics and Paralympics (27 July-9 September) is now very evident. The Olympics and Paralympics will bring an extra 11 million visitors to London. Here are just some of the developments.

Transport for All in the UK (TfA), an NGO that has been working for two decades to further the cause of accessible transport in London today launched its new accessible transport information pages.   The Getting to the Games page is aimed at people who want to know how to access each of London’s transport services during Games time, including accessible parking and travelling into London from other areas of the UK. The Avoiding the disruption page contains information for disabled and older Londoners who want to get around as usual during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Access and facilities at each train station can be found on the National Rail website (station tool), and the website also has an Accessible Rail Travel page.  There is a journey planner available on the London 2012 site, which includes estimated journey times, and a place to download a complete map of all London’s train and tube services, including accessible stations.

Inside all venues, there will be a Games Mobility Service. They will provide wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and scooters. They can also assist visually impaired visitors to their seats.  Vehicles at all venues can be pre-booked until mid-April. After that, vehicles can be requested on arrival at a venue on the day, on a first come, first served basis.

Inclusive London  (The Greater London Authority and Direct Enquiries) also have produced and access guide to all of the Olympic venues with a key to the meaning of symbols used.  Direct Enquiries, The Nationwide Access Register, was developed in partnership with RADAR and the Employers’ Forum on Disability to provide people with information about disabled access in buildings and premises all across the UK. The register has expanded since its creation to include additional information for parents such as pushchair access.

Inclusive London also has on its website information about accessible hotels, restaurants, pubs, entertainment and attractions, healthcare, shopping, and public services. It also provides information about these facilities around Great Britain.  Another website with invaluable information about access in London and in the UK is Tourism For All.  Well worth a visit.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve event continues to be one of the largest fireworks displays in the world and the world’s most watched New Year’s Eve celebration. As such, access to the various NYE events is critical to enable full enjoyment and participation of people with disability in the celebrations.  The NGO People with Disabilities Australia (PWD, Twitter: @PWDAustralia) participated in the consultations conducted by the City of Sydney, which resulted in a number of initiatives to improve the accessibility of this event in 2011.

These initiatives included:

• Development of a Sydney New Year’s Eve Action Plan’ in consultation with the disability sector to address the accessibility of the New Year’s Eve events in the Sydney CBD;
• First time audio description of the fireworks, broadcast on digital radio NYE2011;
• Improvements to physical access at the NYE viewing sites;
• Development of an  ‘Accessibility Map’ and other accessibility-related information about the events made available on the City’s Website;
• Auslan Interpreters at the Lord Mayor’s Party and Picnic events;
• Increased and improved way-finding signage;
• Making available a range of ways in which people with disability could contact the City prior to the event to discuss their requirements on an individual basis;
• Development of a new email address to improve access to information on accessibility (available here);
• Development of a ’Feedback Form’, which is available on the City’s Website to allow opportunity for people to comment on 2011  events and to have input to planning for the 2012 NYE Events

Many of these initiatives were the direct result of feedback from disability stakeholders who participated in the consultations.  The Sydney New Year’s Eve Team will be reviewing the Accessibility Action Plan through a consultation process during 2012 and PWD will continue to provide input to this process. For more information or to be included in the consultation process please email the City of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Team at the email address listed here.

PWD recognises the key role that Local Government plays in providing opportunities for people with disability to access and participate in their communities, and we will continue to work with all levels of Government to facilitate accessibility to community events, services, facilities and infrastructure.  For more information on PWD’s consultancy and training services that PWD provides to Local Government, contact Samantha French, Advocacy Projects Manager on one of the numbers or the email address listed here.

Source: PWD bulletin.

Travel professionals – including independent and hosted agents – should stop viewing the special needs sector – including those travellers who have a disability – as a niche market and instead see it as a mainstream service option, says Andrew J. Garnett, president and CEO of theFlorida-based Special Needs Group/Special Needs at Sea (SNG).   Garnett says agents will see more requests to support special needs travelers and should be prepared.  This will be partly due to the growth in the number of people with disabilities with the growth in the percentage of Baby Boomers who are ageing (disability increases with age).   American Baby Boomers and mature adults took 340 million domestic vacations in 2006 and 110 million international trips from 2004-2006. The mature market alone spent $192 billion in travel expenditures. These markets contain many “slow walkers” individuals who do not consider  themselves disabled, but who could benefit from special needs products and services, Garnett says.

Garnett notes that some 63 million Americans (20%) have a disability and roughly 10 million aged 15 and older use a walking aid such as a cane or walker. An estimated 3.3 million use a wheelchair, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  The data is dated but Americans with disabilities spent $13.6 billion on travel in 2002 (the latest data available) and that spending is likely to have kept pace with the aging of the U.S. population and growing numbers of disabled. Studies show that 24 million disabled Americans would travel/travel more frequently if their special needs were met.

SNG has a professional education program (SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate) that can act as credits toward Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) certification. The one-hour, three-module program focuses on understanding accessible travel, building expertise in accessible travel and demonstrating accessible travel advocacy skills. “This initiative represents the first time travel professionals can become conversant with this market segment through online study and testing,” Garnett says. The program is presented in a non-commercial format with the focus purely on content.  It now has nearly 400 agent participants suggesting solid interest in serving the special needs market.  “Access to reliable disabled services – a wheelchair or scooter, for example – may be the difference between going or not going on the trip. Access to resources can be a key to families traveling together or for small groups.”

Garnett credits many suppliers – airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, hoteliers and destinations with opening opportunities for disabled travelers. “Access to special needs equipment and expertise has helped expand demand.”