Accessibility advocate with CMT honoured by province's tourism industry

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Accessibility advocate honoured by province's tourism industry

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1244209

Noted disability rights advocate Crabtree knows what it's like

to feel like a piece of cargo at the airport as a luggage lift hoists

her wheelchair onto a plane.

Some hotels can be horrendous and completely inaccessible, said

Crabtree, a 66-year-old St. Catharines resident.

Crabtree, who has a rare neuromuscular condition called Charcot-Marie-

Tooth disease that makes her unable to walk, wanted to help other

travellers with disabilities.

So in 2002, Crabtree created a website called Accessible Niagara,

which offers travellers with mobility impairments useful information

on the accessibility of such tourist spots as hotels, restaurants and

festivals.

Crabtree, who uses a motorized scooter, also produces a 32-page

Accessible Niagara printed guide.

On Tuesday evening, Crabtree was recognized by the Tourism Industry

Association of Ontario for her efforts.

Crabtree, who writes the Access Niagara column for The Standard, won

a volunteer of the year award during a Toronto ceremony.

Several tourism operators approached Crabtree following the awards

ceremony to say they wanted to work with her to make tourism

locations in Ontario more accessible.

" I wanted the exposure and I wanted to get more involved with the

tourism industry because I'm always on the outside looking in, " said

Crabtree, who applied for the award.

" Now, I'm starting to get integrated. "

Crabtree said she's not only creating an opportunity for people with

disabilities who want to travel, but she's also creating an

opportunity for Niagara tourism providers.

People with disabilities are an untapped source of tourism dollars, she said.

In Ontario alone, two million people have a disability, Crabtree said. Those who

use wheelchairs or scooters tend to stay longer in hotels.

" Wherever that person in a wheelchair can stay, everybody else stays. "

Users of her website want to know where to rent a scooter or wheelchair, how to

find accessible transportation from an airport to Niagara Falls, and activities

that are wheelchair- friendly.

" They're saying what a fabulous site. Thank you for this fabulous site. "

Crabtree is applying for a tourism grant to produce a new guide for 2009.

Another Niagara tourism program was recognized Tuesday night by the Tourism

Industry Association of Ontario, which represents 28 associations and

destinations across the province

Lafontaine, a Toronto resident, was given the tourism innovator of the

year award for his Toronto-to-Niagara Bike Train Initiative.

The Via Rail bike train, which started running during the 2007 summer season,

introduced bike racks onboard select departures between Toronto and Niagara

Falls.