Transcript STEVIE - Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Tourism For All UK
Accessible Tourism
Brian Seaman
Tourism for All Services Ltd
Tourism for All UK
• Who we are and what we do
• Accessible tourism
• Overview of bedroom provision in BS8300:2009 +
A1:2010
• Facts & figures
• The future of accessible tourism
Tourism for All UK
• National charity conceived in 1979 (as Holiday Care)
to provide holiday and travel information to disabled
& older people
• Thousands of telephone and email enquiries every
year - mainly from or on behalf of wheelchair users or
those with mobility impairments
• Reviewed access at 1,000’s businesses since 1993 –
that’s a lot of toilets to measure
Tourism for All UK
We have two websites and social media pages:
• www.tourismforall.org.uk
Over 300,000 people visit this website each year. At
the moment an average of about 900 people per day
• www.openbritain.net
This website has listings of accessible
accommodation (also available as a printed guide)
• Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts
Tourism for All UK
We hold information about:
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accessible accommodation
attractions
transport
equipment hire
places where care is available
escorts & carers
Tourism for All Services Ltd
So how have we helped tourism businesses?
• By supporting planning applications
• By providing advice about access and training
• By providing useful contacts
• By visiting sites to give advice
• By carrying out inspections and audits
• Recently worked for Thistle & Guoman Hotels
Accessible Tourism
As well as a
general interest,
the world’s media
has also been
focusing on
Britain’s 2012
readiness for
disabled visitors
and athletes.
Accessible websites
There are several benchmarks for accessible websites
including:
• RNIB ‘RNIB ‘See It Right’
www.rnib.org.uk
• Web Accessibility Initiative
www.w3.org/WAI/
Accessible websites
Accessibility
Access keys are keyboard shortcuts which allow a user to navigate a web site without using a mouse or
other pointing device. This can sometimes be quicker and may assist those with motor skill difficulties.
UK Government standard access keys
0 Access key details (this page)
1 Home page
2 What's new?
9 Contact us
In Internet Explorer 5+
'alt + the access key number' brings focus to the element. If a link, 'enter' will take the user to the linked
destination.
In Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape 6+
'alt + the access key number' take the user to the linked destination.
If using an Apple Mac
substitute the 'Ctrl' key for the 'Alt key'.
This web site conforms to the W3C's WAI Accessibility Guidelines, Level C. Pages are valid XHTML 1.1
and valid CSS 2.0, as tested by W3C validation services.
You can make the text of this site larger by using the "View" menu in your browser.
Accessible websites
There is a text to speech software available. For example
BrowseAloud.
Browsealoud reads web pages aloud for people who find it
difficult to read online. Reading large amounts of text on
screen can be difficult for those with literacy and visual
impairments. Once installed users can move their mouse
over any text, link, picture or button and BrowseAloud will
read it out aloud.
Large print (guidance from the RNIB)
Larger print is essential for many blind and partially sighted
people. No single size is suitable for everyone.
Large print is usually in the range of 16 to 22 point.
The font type and design of a document will make a big
difference to the readability of the information.
Publications using large text but with poor colour contrast,
italic fonts or text placed on top of an image will still be
difficult to read.
Black on yellow (non-reflective) is sometimes the best
option for many users
Induction loop Systems
• Reception
• Meeting rooms
• Interviews
Signage and manifestation
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Clear signage will benefit all
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Can include tactile and Braille information
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Glazing can be difficult to see
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Manifestation will help
Understandable
signage?
User friendly
signage?
Reflective
surfaces can
disorientate
some visually
impaired
people
Sufficient
manifestation
on glazed
areas can help
A small cordless
kettle that
simply slots
onto a base
plate is easier to
manage than
one that plugs in
Tap turners will
aid those with
reduced manual
dexterity (£5.99
+ VAT per pair)
Ensure
Assistance Dogs
(and their
owners) are
welcomed
Assistance Dogs
include:
Hearing Dogs
Guide Dogs
Service Dogs
Therapy Dogs and
Seizure Alert Dogs
A Big Button
phone will aid
many users
A magnifying
glass will aid
many users
(£4.95)
Helpful item for
hearing impaired
people offers a
range of ‘wake-nshake’ options.
Can also be
connected to a
telephone to alert
user to incoming
calls at night
Helpful item for
hearing impaired
people - a simple
device that clips on to
a door using a hanging
bracket. It detects the
vibration of someone
knocking at the door
and activates a
flashing light
A notched key card
by KABA to aid
visually impaired
users.
The notch helps
identify the correct
way to insert the
card into key card
operated doors
An overhead
tracking
hoist will aid
some
wheelchair
users and
their
companions
A fully adjustable
shower room
facility may help
many people
Staff Training:
One example is Welcome All, which recognises that it is the
environment which causes problems for many people with mobility
or sensory disabilities. The programme provides participants with
practical advice and cost–effective ideas to enhance service quality
for customers with disabilities and specific needs. Including:
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the benefits of an accessible service
key provisions from the Equality Act
practical advice on how to provide the best service
how to communicate effectively
how to improve accessibility
guidance on a range of sensory, mobility and learning disabilities
• Contact: Gill Heighington - [email protected]
BS8300:2009 and other documents – what
are the challenges?
• There are a number of documents that we refer hoteliers to:
• Publicly Available Specification PAS88
• Approved Document M of the Building Regulations
• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010
There are also the following guidelines / criteria:
• The National Accessible Scheme (in England) – at the
highest access level this is based on BS8300.
• The production of an Access Statement (England, Wales,
Scotland, N Ireland)
• Publicly Available Specification PAS88
• PAS 88 contains principles of good practice based on the
duty to make reasonable adjustments and provide equal
standards of service as contained in the DDA / Equality Act.
• It builds upon the good practice developed by marketing
leaders within the hotel industry and has used VisitBritain’s
National Accessible Scheme (NAS) as the basis of its
content.
• Approved Document M of the Building Regulations:
• Technical guidance contained in Part M (Approved
Document M) of schedule 1 of the Building Regulations
• It covers the requirements with respect to access to and use
of buildings
• Basic requirements - 1:20 bedrooms to be accessible by
disabled people (EG: 5 bedrooms in a 100 bedroom hotel)
• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010:
• BS 8300:2009 Design of buildings and their approaches to
meet the needs of disabled people - Code of practice
• BS 8300 explains how the built environment can be
designed to anticipate, and overcome, restrictions that
prevent disabled people making full use of premises and
their surroundings
• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010:
• Within BS8300 – page 155 – Section 12.8.1 is a
recommendation for an increase in the number of
accessible bedrooms to 10% with a further 5% capable of
being adapted in the future to accessibility standards
• The 100 bedroom hotel would then have between 10-15
designated accessible rooms instead of 5 rooms
• This is likely to have an impact on how hotels are managed
on a day-to-day basis
• As a minimum 5% of rooms would have an overhead
tracking hoist, 5% without a tracking hoist
• 5% of guests and their PA’s may need greater assistance in
the event of an emergency
• The ratio of hotel staff to disabled guests would need careful
consideration if all 10-15 rooms are occupied by disabled
guests – especially overnight. EG: a conference about
accessibility
• Refuge areas may need to be reviewed to accommodate
more individuals (in any case in accordance with BS9999)
• Hoteliers need to ensure that their staff have identified and
discussed with guests and recorded in a PEEP the
assistance they may need in the event of an evacuation
• Careful consideration needs to be given regarding egress –
especially where evacuation chairs are SWL rated to 23-28
stone. Be aware that some guests requiring bariatric
assistance (EG: tracking hoist) may be heavier than this
• Is there a good mobile signal coverage for disabled guests
in an emergency?
• If a guest has a hearing loss is it possible to contact them by
text on their mobile in the event of an emergency?
Facts & figures
• The following stats are taken from ‘At Your Service’
• This recent document from VisitEngland outlines the
business case and guide to improving accessibility for
customers
• It is estimated that there are over 11 million people with a
disability in Britain
• That is about 1:5 of the population
• There is a growing number of older people who may not
consider themselves to be disabled - but who would benefit
from accessible facilities
• The incidence of disability increases with age
• By 2025 more than a third of the UK’s population will be
over the age of 55
• Wheelchair users represent about 8% of disabled people
• 92% of disabled people have another form of disability
recognised under the Equality Act
• There are estimated to be 78 million Americans with
disabilities
• There are estimated to be 75 million Europeans with a
disability
• When the spending power of these individuals is said to be
worth iro £2bn – it’s difficult to ignore
The Future of Accessible Tourism
• It seems clear that there are a growing number of people in
the population who would benefit from accessible facilities
• Sadly, as can be seen so often in the news - the effects of
civil unrest, terrorism, natural disasters, sports injuries,
RTAs and illness will continue to disable people worldwide
• The principle of accessible design will benefit all users
including the increasing number of older people
• Tourism in general is likely to have to adapt to the changing
demographics in order to meet these needs
• Worldwide legislation is already recognising the rights of
disabled people to have access to travel and tourism
services
• Aircraft and airports, ships and all other forms of transport
will be designed to reflect these changing needs and to
meet the ongoing changes in worldwide legislation
• External environments (countryside and townscapes) are
already being adapted to accommodate one and all
• The UK is well-placed to benefit from tourism by disabled
people. For example all of London’s black taxis are
designed to be accessible, London’s buses are all
accessible. All train operating companies now have positive
policies towards disabled people
• Accommodation providers will need to keep up to ensure
that they provide a welcome for all wherever possible
For further information or advice please contact :
Brian Seaman
Tel: 0845 124 9974
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.tourismforall.org.uk