Re: Handicapped travel

[Guest guest]

Ray,

Another problem we have run into with " handicapped accessible " in motels

and hotels is how accessible they are. In one motel (in Missouri) their

" handicapped accessible " room consisted of a grab rail in the tub and a

handicapped height commode. The room was at the far end of the motel

from the ramp and there was still a step (about 4 inches) into the

room. They also had a restaurant inside the motel BUT there were three

steps down from the motel level to the restaurant level so you had to go

all the way around the motel, through the parking lot (no sidewalk),

past the restaurant to a ramp and back to the restaurant door. Glad I

asked my cousin to check it out first. The rooms had access with steps

through the building. We did not stay there and stayed about 7 miles

away in a chain motel (however that was affiliated with a chain also).

On the other end of the spectrum the Polynesian at Disney World had the

shower with a built-in chair that a wheelchair could roll into. Since

the chair was next to the door and had grab rails, a paraplegic could

actually transfer themself to the chair and push the w/c out. There

were no steep inclines and only about 50 feet to a covered walkway to

the monorail (which along with every bus had wheelchair access). The

only thing they forgot when they put in new walkways is that the paving

stone walkways with the small gaps between stones causes a rough ride

for wheelchairs.

Take care, Bill Werre

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Ray wrote:

Cindy,

I'm working on the book, however, the book is mostly for those who can

still get outdoors and fish, hunt, etc. Would be happy to include a

chapter on hotels, however, for most hotels,

if you call ahead and demand a handicapped accessible room, most will

oblige. IF NOT, go to another hotel.

Also, If they have a handicapped room on anything other than the first

floor, ask about their emergency procedures. For example, if there is a

fire, who will make sure that you get

out OK? If there a " safe area " (This is required in all new

construction, not existing buildings) where you can go in case of an

emergency like a fire.

I can give you some more information on this if you would like.