Global Access
Overcome barriers and borders: planning inclusive meetings and events worldwide.
By Candy B. Harrington
Running down Navy Pier (in high heels) to keep pace with the trolley, Shawna Suckow, CMP, looked down at her ringing, buzzing, vibrating BlackBerry…SMACK! Like an overly excited bird, she flew head-on into a plate-glass window as the trolley passengers clapped—only six years of bad luck since she didn't break the glass.
Suckow's situation was a side effect of managing accessibility challenges: Attendees disembarked from buses at the entrance to Chicago's massive Navy Pier; the real-estate broker dinner cruise she planned launched from the far end of the pier. She had never previously needed to plan around accessibility issues—the trolley was a last-minute fix to accommodate an attendee who walked with braces. Suckow learned her lesson.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 25 million people over the age of 15 have difficulty walking a quarter-mile or climbing 10 stairs, 2.2 million people use a wheelchair and another 6.4 million people need mobility assistance. Those figures don't even take into account people who have a temporary disability such as a broken leg or are recovering from surgery. Planning inclusive meetings—those that are accessible to people with physical disabilities—is, therefore, absolutely necessary these days.
It's just good business to make meetings and events accessible to everyone—you never know who may require special access, maybe the CEO, a keynote speaker or another VIP. The key to planning an inclusive meeting lies in destination and venue selection.
U.S. & Canada
The United States and Canada have similar civil rights legislation as well as regulations governing airline accessibility.
Generally speaking, you will find better access in metropolitan areas than in rural locales in both countries. The bigger cities have disabled-accessible taxis, buses and even metro trains; smaller towns usually rely on private paratransit providers. Major cities boast modern convention centers with barrier-free access, and curb cuts (ramps that transition from sidewalk to street, also known globally as dropped kerbs and pram ramps) and wide sidewalks are the norm in metropolitan areas.
And the availability of access information is growing. Laurel Van Horn, research director with the Open Doors Organization, says that Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco all have print access guides and Access Guide Canada is online.
Access is generally good throughout the region, but there are some notable differences between the two countries. The Americans with Disabilities Act Access Guidelines (ADAAG) regulate access at most U.S. hotels and conference centers and on public transportation. Under the regulations, hotels with more than 50 guest rooms are required to have accessible guest rooms with roll-in showers; smaller hotels are only required to have accessible guest rooms with a tub/shower combination and grab bars. Since there are two types of accessible rooms, guests must specify their access needs.
Roll-in showers are in short supply in Canada. Disability-based discrimination is prohibited in the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977, yet there are no national access regulations for hotels. In order to address this oversight, the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association founded Access Canada, a voluntarily access rating program. Hotels that meet the required standards can display the organization's logo; however, most participating properties are located in Alberta and Victoria—the system is not widely used throughout the rest of the country.
The good news is the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to fuel improvements to infrastructure as well as boost the number of wheelchair-accessible guest rooms in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. This is common for Olympic and Paralympic cities, but Vancouver stands out.
"People do come to me and they say this is the most accessible city in the world," Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan said. "I believe it is."
He says visitors often look at the accessibility of Vancouver and reconcile that the destination has been made so accessible because the mayor is disabled. However, he says, it's the other way around—Vancouver has a disabled mayor because it is the most accessible city in the world.
And earlier this year, Vancouver celebrated a milestone—every mode of public transportation is now wheelchair accessible, including ferries.
Watch for additional access improvements throughout British Columbia in the near future.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Canadian accessibility regulations for air travel possess striking similarities. But the Canadians recently made a very progressive amendment to their law. Beginning in January, the "one-person one-fare" decision is set to go into effect, allowing "people with severe disabilities" to travel with an attendant at no extra charge on domestic airlines operating flights within Canada. It's believed that this new regulation will make regional air travel even more accessible.
Change is on the forefront in the U.S. too. The U.S. Department of Justice released proposed changes to the ADAAG in July 2008; however, they've met with strenuous objections from the lodging industry. In fact, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) submitted a 91-page objection to what it described as "dramatic and far-reaching changes" to the ADAAG. It's the AH&LA's contention that the Justice Department "has significantly underestimated how much this proposal will cost the industry and all Americans." If the proposed regulations are adopted as drafted, however, they will significantly improve access at older U.S. hotels.
Western Europe
Despite having a much larger number of older hotels than the U.S. and Canada, Western Europe gets high marks for access and even higher marks for the promotion of its efforts by regional tourism providers and disability organizations. These regional tourism providers view increased accessibility as a marketing edge rather than a financial burden.
The European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) actively works to break down access barriers in the tourism industry throughout the European Union (EU). Composed of regional tourism boards such as Visit Britain and the Athens Ministry of Tourism, as well as disability organizations such as Tourism for All, ENAT lobbies for the removal of architectural barriers and works to improve access to public transportation. As for customer service, the organization encourages higher standards of service for disabled customers.
According to ENAT President Lillian Müller, the demand for accessible tourism is growing. No longer a niche market—the disabled and elderly population is expanding at a rapid pace—she claims this is a "demographic explosion" with wide-reaching effects. Hence, Müller encourages tourism providers to look at providing accessible services as an opportunity rather than an obligation.
It's a mindset that has fueled access improvements throughout the EU, where most countries have some sort of civil rights legislation and access regulations or guidelines. As with other areas of the world, you'll find the best access in large cities, with accessible bus and rail systems along with ramped or lift-equipped taxis. The major convention centers feature ramped access, and although some historic areas have cobblestone streets and high curbs, modern areas have wide sidewalks and curb cuts.
Continental showers—those that don't have a shower curtain or lip, but just a drain in the middle of the bathroom—are common. Although they weren't originally developed as an access feature, they are ideal for people who cannot step into a tub or shower enclosure. It should be noted, however, that wheelchair-users should ask for adapted rooms, as they will also contain grab bars and wide doors. Many small properties in Western Europe lack elevators or have elevators that are too small for standard wheelchairs, so wheelchair-using guests should secure a ground floor room whenever possible.
Regional air travel got an access upgrade this past July when the European Union Passengers with Reduced Mobility regulations went into full effect. The law prohibits EU-based airlines from denying passage to disabled travelers or charging for accessible services such as carrying wheelchairs in the baggage compartment. It also requires the airport authority to provide wheelchair assistance to disabled passengers.
In England, the Disability Discrimination Act regulates access to hotels, airports and entertainment venues as well as most ground transportation. The National Accessible Scheme provides a voluntary access rating system for lodgings. Operated much like the Access Canada program, properties are inspected and then given an access rating, which can be displayed in guidebooks and collateral materials.
Most business-class hotels have adapted guest rooms and access to their meeting facilities, and all major conference centers boast wheelchair access. Curb cuts are commonplace throughout the country, although in some rural locales there are no sidewalks. Accessible transportation is good in major cities such as London, where it's required that all black cabs have a portable ramp or a fold-down dickie seat. And although the famous double-decker buses are not accessible, most have been replaced by accessible, single-level "bendy buses."
With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to London in 2012, access is expected to increase. Visit London already boasts an online access guide, and plans are in the works to make more Tube stations accessible. The Olympic Delivery Authority plans to beef up accessibility in regional transport.
Mexico & the Caribbean
Mexico and the Caribbean may offer idyllic meeting locales, but accessibility is limited. Most of the countries have some type of human rights legislation; however, with limited resources, priorities lie with providing accessible services to residents rather than tourists. That said, things are improving, and the region is much more accessible than it was 10 years ago.
Still, most areas have narrow sidewalks, high curbs and no curb cuts. It's not uncommon to find one or two steps up into shops and restaurants. Many older hotels have narrow doorways, even in their accessible guest rooms.
"Lack of accessible transportation remains a major barrier except in cruise ports, where a few tour companies now have adapted vehicles," Open Doors Organization's Van Horn said.
Some countries don't even have accessible transportation for residents, due to cost-prohibitive equipment.
"Another barrier to access in the Caribbean can be the lack of jetways or lifts at airports," she said.
Some regional air carriers have even denied passage to disabled passengers.
Still, Van Horn is optimistic and quick to point out accessible destinations in Mexico.
"Mexico has come a long way in terms of disability access, especially in popular resort destinations," she said. "With modern airports, accessible conference centers, a wide choice of large hotels with their own meeting spaces and availability of ramp-equipped vehicles, planning an accessible meeting in Cancun or the Riviera Maya is now quite feasible."
Another alternative is to take your meeting aboard a cruise ship. Many new cruise ships offer excellent access, with a variety of accessible cabins, barrier-free access to restaurants, shops and meeting rooms and even accessible pools and spas. Plus, you can see several ports without having to change hotels every night. And the sea days between the ports offer an excellent opportunity for meeting time.
"Ensuring that the excursions are accessible will still take some work," Van Horn said. "But the ships themselves have become more universally accessible."
Owner of Connie George Travel Associates and accessible travel specialist Connie George wholeheartedly agrees.
"Some of the Eastern Caribbean ports such as St. Thomas, San Juan and St. Kitts are your best picks, because accessible shore excursions are available there," she said. "Still, cruising is the most accessible way to enjoy the Caribbean."
Asia
Although this region is massive—and includes many sub-regions—the one unifying factor throughout the area is that change is in the air as far as access is concerned.
That said, currently the region presents some major obstacles to anyone with a mobility disability. Scott Rains, an inclusive tourism expert, destination development consultant and editor of the Rolling Rains Report blog—"a dialogue on travel, disability and universal design"—says that Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia have a lesser degree of access than Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Gaps in accessible services are present even in more accessible countries, however.
Outside of a few major metropolitan areas, there is also a lack of accessible ground transportation throughout Asia. And although some hotels have accessible guest rooms, Rains says most have serious design flaws.
"Bathroom doorways are typically the narrowest doorways in the hotel room or suite, and they are further rendered useless by a step up into the bathroom," he said. "I've even seen these barriers in bathrooms with roll-in showers."
Regional air travel doesn't fare much better. Many smaller airports don't have jetways or lifts and some airlines—such as Cebu Pacific, Tiger Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways—have denied passage to disabled customers.
On the plus side, in places where physical access is limited, personal help is usually enthusiastically offered. This is especially true in remote areas.
Japan can be singled out as one of the more accessible countries in Asia. Accessible guest rooms, many with wide doors and no step up to the bathroom, are available at some recently opened business-class hotels. Additionally, most large hotels have an accessible restroom in the lobby. Since access features vary greatly, even within Tokyo, it's important to be specific about needs. Ramps are commonplace at conference centers, but most are either too steep with no handrails or temporary.
Lift-equipped taxis in Tokyo truly set Japan apart from other destinations in the region. Jetways and lifts are also available at Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
Still, change is forthcoming. According to the Beijing Tourism Commission, more than 120 Beijing hotels were remodeled to accommodate disabled guests for the recent Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The subway system was also upgraded to include at least one accessible entrance at each Beijing station.
"It's now possible to get to literally twice as many places via the subway as it used to be," said guidebook author Pauline Frommer (and daughter of travel writer and advocate Arthur Frommer), after her recent visit to the city. "It's really the quickest and most efficient way to travel around the city."
And thanks to recent changes, we can also add "most accessible" to that list.
On the civil rights front, China, India and Thailand have endorsed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which establishes the rights of people with disabilities to participate in sports, leisure activities and tourism. (Of the more than 130 countries that have signed the convention as of press time, the U.S. and Russia are the most prominent non-signatory nations, in league with Myanmar, Somalia and Venezuela.) India recently released its first online access guide, and Thailand played host to the Second International Conference on Inclusive Tourism in November 2007.
Asia is definitely the region to watch. Exciting things with accessibility are happening there, many of which will help make meetings and events even more inclusive in the not-so-distant future. One+
CANDY B. HARRINGTON is an accessible travel expert and founder of Emerging Horizons, a magazine dedicated to the subject.
…And So Much More
In response to a severe lack of disability-related travel information and services, Adam Lloyd—a quadriplegic for the past 25 years—began writing and speaking about these issues in 1998. Lloyd has written for Cigar Aficionado and Cruise Travel Magazine, among other publications, and he's a frequent guest on radio travel programs. Through his Web site, Gimp on the Go (www.gimponthego.com)—the self-described "Internet's Premier Disabilities Travel Publication"—Lloyd offers travel reviews, tips, news and an impressive amount of links to other accessibility-related resources. H also answers reader-submitted questions.
The following are other valuable accessible travel links.
Access Canada / Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association
www.ahla.ca
Access Northern California
www.accessnca.com
Americans with Disabilities Act Access Guidelines
www.access-board.gov
Barrier Free Travels
www.barrierfreetravels.com
Emerging Horizons
www.emerginghorizons.com
European Network for Accessible Tourism
www.accessibletourism.org
Rolling Rains Report
www.rollingrains.com
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
www.un.org/disabilities
Select Online Access Guides
Access Guide Canada
www.enablelink.org/agc
Accessible London
www.visitlondon.com/maps/accessibility
Easy Access Chicago
www.enjoyillinois.com/_resources/pdf/EasyAccessChicago.pdf
San Francisco Access Guide
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/plan_your_trip/access_guide.asp