Tom Chambers- Access Officer

Tom Chambers and Deputy Jerry Cowley discussing disability access issues outside the Dail.

(no subject)

Mr Tom Chambers
The Billy Ranch
Newport
Co. Mayo
Mr Ger Hynes
Assistant Engineer
Mayo County Council
12 August 2006
Urgent, re: Newport Disabled Parking.
Reference your letter 11th November 2005
Dear Mr Hynes,
I am writing to you to ask you to urgently clarify the situation in
Newport with regard to the new traffic plans and layout of the disabled
bays and to contact me immediately so that we can review the plans
together as promised.
In your letter of 11th November 2005 (copy enclosed) you assured me that
"When this draft plan is ready we will inform you and we can look at the
locations etc set out in this." I was very disappointed to learn that
the plan has already gone ahead for enactment without your coming back
to me.
When I phoned your office I spoke to a Mark Horgan who informed me that
you were out working and he referred me on to Martin Keating. I have not
yet contacted Mr Keating because I wanted to clarify the situation with
you first before contacting him and others.
Mr Horgan informed me that I needed to have made a submission as a
member of the public to comment on the plan. When I explained the
situation to him he said that there was no record of your letter to me.
Fortunately I have made a number of copies and you will find one enclosed.
I must ask you to urgently contact me today before I am forced to take
this matter up with Mr Keating, Mr Des Mahon, the local media and the
councillors. I would also be obliged to raise the issue with the
Council's access officer, disability groups and other relevant bodies;
should I not receive a satisfactory reply.
I look forward to a mutually satisfactory resolution to this problem, as
I am sure that even at this late stage we can work together to ensure
this project is fully accessible and that, through going over the plans
with me, real consultation can have taken place especially considering
Newport is my home town and I have first hand experience of the access
issues in the town.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely
Tom Chambers

(no subject)

Local disability campaigner Tom Chambers has expressed his delight at
being informed by Lyncare Ltd. Of Tipperary that the company proposes to
install a portable hoist in Westport Leisure Park, following their
successful competition for the contract.

He is also happy to learn that the James Street facility is also
examining the possibility of a similar hoist for the centre's Jacuzzi
pool. Mr. Chambers serves on the Westport disability access committee,
based in the Family Resource Centre on Mill Street. According to Mr.
Chambers, the granting of permission to An Post for the provision of a
ramp at Westport Post Office has received wide welcome. The Post Office
is at present inaccessible to those in wheelchairs due to the steps at
its entrance.

Mr. Chambers complimented An Post for the initiative they have shown and
said Westport Town Council's decision to grant permission was also to be
commented He went on to thank Westport Town Council for providing a ramp
at the entrance to the Family Resource Centre, which has greatly
improved the accessibility of the building. The Centre also has an
accessible Wheelchair friendly toilet designed be Mr. Chambers.

Newport T/Towns report 2006

Newport/Mularanny - Newport Tidy Towns plans for coming season

At the recently held meeting of the Newport Tidy Towns committee,
Chairperson Anne McGovern, welcomed the new members to the committee,
but also expressed disappointment with the lack of interest shown as was
evident with the small turn out.
After briefly recapping on last years report from the Tidy Towns
competition, some areas of immediate importance for cleaning were discussed.
It was agreed that the weekly Monday night clean-up should continue,
beginning on the first Monday night in May, when hopefully many more
people will turn out to help.
The chairperson also told the meeting that the annual clean-up will take
place on Good Friday again this year, when the Westport and Newport
committees will gather at Kilmeena Community Hall, at 10.00am, and each
work towards their own town, gathering litter. Once again it is hoped
that there will be a good turn out to help more details later.
The Chairperson together with the committee congratulated the local Holy
Family Primary School on winning the "Blue Flag", they hope that the
children will continue to be aware of litter control while outside their
school grounds.
A letter, which was handed to the meeting from Mr Tommy Chambers, The
Billy Ranch, Newport was read out by the chairperson. Among the items
mentioned in the letter were "street furniture and all advertising signs
should be removed or displayed in such a way that they will not obstruct
access for wheelchairs or prams.
Flowerpots and seats should come into the same category. Parts of
Meddlicott Street are not wheelchair friendly and need urgent attention.
Tom also mentioned that "despite getting a parking bay for disabled
drivers, a minority of able-bodied people use it to park their cars".
So the Tidy Towns committee would ask all business people to take note
of street space outside their premises, and to please make sure that
wheelchairs, push-chairs or people using "walkers" can pass without
difficulty.

Access and its Complementations have?

_*Access*_

*Introduction*

_*Barriers*_

A lack of awareness and education exists among architects, designers and
service providers as to how to include people with a disability in the
provision of full accessibility in buildings.

_*Lack of accessible facilities.*_

Access sometimes focuses only on wheelchair users. However, visually
impaired people and others need to be included, too. Often there is
nowhere to socialise. An inability to full participate in activities is
often due to inappropriate access to the service. Frequently, there are
no subtitles in cinemas. People with hidden disabilities e.g. epilepsy,
are not always able to access facilities. The lack of audio facilities
for people who are visually impaired needs to be highlighted.
Spring-loaded doors in buildings should be replaced with automatic doors
for ease of access. It is a well-known fact that the most and best
facilities are Dublin- based with a drip feed to the rest of the country.

_*Swimming*_

In relation to swimming, it is a fact that public pools are not
available throughout the region and private hotel pools are not
accessible due to the high cost of membership. Pools that exist and have
a hoist system in place for access by disabled persons generally do not
have them in operation.

_*Schools*_

School gyms are not fully equipped to cater for young disabled people.
Disabled people have to adapt to the facilities available. Changing
rooms/toilets are not usually designed to include the needs of disabled
people.

_*Lack of information and communication barriers*_

People do not know how to communicate with those who are deaf or blind,
of who have autism or a learning disability. Many exhibitions, or other
public spaces, are not inclusive of the communication needs of people
with disabilities. There is too much high level English on signs,
information flyers, newspapers and government documents.

_*Funding*_

A lack of funding is often a barrier for individuals/service providers
to adapt their facilities.

_*Cost*_

Many people with disabilities face barriers of cost, due to having no
self-incomer and depend on carers, parents and others to pay bills. A
major problem is that if they are unable to get there, they cannot avail
of leisure facilities. Finance is a major barrier as many people with a
disability are living below the poverty line., again with parents
meeting the cost because of no self-income. Those living in the Border
region accessed facilities in Northern Ireland, which is better, but
often not available.

_*Support*_

A lack of support exists from organisations to gain access to activities
such as Arts and Crafts. There is not always the opportunity to
participate because of a lack of personal assistances or a lack of staff
as sometimes a high level of support is needed. Often there is a need to
ask for help as it is not always forthcoming and this reduces independence.

_*Fear*_

Fear is often a barrier for some in participating in activities and
having to admit they cannot take part

_*Society's attitude*_

Society's attitude can prevent the participation of people with a
disability in everyday activities. People's attitude to people in
restaurants etc, due to the lack of awareness and fear of doing wrong
things is a problem. If people have balance difficulties, they are
generally perceived as being intoxicated. The current travel pass is of
little use due to the non-existence of public transport in many rural areas.

_*Parking Bays*_

Parking facilities for people with a disability are still inadequate.
There is a lack of designated parking spaces in both public and private
areas.

_*Transport*_

Transport to schools, cinemas, leisure activities etc, is inadequate to
include full participation. There is a need for access to taxis for the
deaf, including mobile text facilities. There are no loops in taxis. CIE
has a poor awareness of the needs of people with disabilities; e.g.,
there are no signs on trains or buses to inform deaf people which stop
they are at.

_*Wheelchairs*_

The standard manually propelled wheelchair is 660mm wide and 1065mm
long. This standard is likely to change in time, to around
700mm-X-1200mm. However, many people use chairs which are either larger
or smaller than the standard dimensions, and it is unwise to rely on the
personal experience of an individual user when considering whether
building access or facilities are adequate in any particular situation.

A wide range of powered wheelchairs is available for indoor, outdoor or
combined use. Most require a minimum 1700mm diameter turning circle.
Electric scooters, generally for outdoor use but sometimes used indoors,
are bigger. Some people's feet extend beyond the wheelchair footpaths.
My own feet extend over 200mm.

"As people with disabilities, we must also accept the responsibilities
that are associated with the ups, as well as the downs, of life." "We do
not want to be singled out for special attention, just to be treated as
equals and to enjoy the benefits other citizens expect as a right".

Info

Back, Geofrey Bourdouxhe (Coach)

Front, Sam Mayerus (Athlete) Tom Chambers (Host)

On a spring morning in 1981 Tom Chambers' life changed forever. A car
accident near Drogheda snapped the Newport man's spine and left him
paralysed from the chest down. This week he talks to Michael Gallagher
about his life and the joy he takes from living every day to the full.

By Michael Gallagher, Reporter for the Western People, (County Paper)

Tom Chambers loves to talk. He has a way of telling stories that brings
the past to life and the tale of his existence so far is one, which
generates a great sense of hope and determination.

Born in Rockfleet just outside Newport he grew up surrounded by seven
brothers, eight sisters and parents Mick and Maud. He enjoyed life,
going to school, doing the chores and playing games the way kids do. He
loved sport and was soon playing football with the local teams.

"I enjoyed playing football and in 1964 we had a great minor team in the
area. We were called Mulranny but we drew lads from the whole region
stretching from Ballycroy to Kilmeena. I was lucky enough to captain the
team and on one special evening in McHale Park we beat Ballina
Stephenites in the County league final. That was a famous team and we
had some fine footballers like Joe McAndrew, Stephen Conway and Christy
Loftus. I scored 1-9 that evening and it is a game I will never forget.
Later that year we won the West championship but lost the county
semi-final to a Jimmy Duggan-inspired Claremorris. I loved the games and
the excitement and will never forget those special days."

He spent happy times learning the painting trade from Sean Kelly and in
1964 when Burrishoole GAA team went to London on tour Tom was in the
party. He saw the abundance of work available in the English capital and
was soon back there looking for a start.

"I worked all over England from Birmingham to Ipswich and Bristol to
Norwich. I followed the work, the money was good and the craic was
mighty. I played some football around London with St. Jarlath's and St.
Pat's in Luton and enjoyed life. There were lots of lads from home over
there and when there was a big match on in Ireland like an All-Ireland
Final we all gathered to listen to it on the radio. We would tie the
radio and the aerial to a lamppost and gather around it listening in
silence. The locals didn't know what was happening and often called the
police who would come along and often listen to the game with us."

Tom enjoyed life in England but in the autumn of 1980 he returned to
Dublin where the building boom was just about to begin. He wasn't long
there when fate intervened and changed his life forever. On March 30^th
1981 the car he was driving hit a wall just outside Drogheda with
devastating consequences.

"I wasn't found for five hours after the accident and when they got to
the car I was trapped under a pile of stone from the wall. I could only
tell them my name and was then taken to a hospital in Drogheda before
being flown to the Central Remedial Clinic in DunLaoighre.

"That day back in Mayo my parents were going to Mass when they heard on
the radio that a man named Tom Chambers had been in a serious accident
near Drogheda but they never thought it was me as I was living in Dublin
at the time."

Soon they learned that it was indeed their son who had been injured in
the accident and life would never be the same again. In DunLaoighre Tom
was asking the nurses could he soon go home as there was a lot of
concrete being delivered that week but it wasn't long before he realised
that he was in serious trouble.

"I looked around me and saw some frightening sights. Fine people lying
there in beds unable to move a muscle and I knew that I had some major
problems but I also realised that I was very lucky. There was an Irish
rugby international there called Gus Barrett who had passed his final
exams in dentistry only days before his life was turned upside down and
I thanked God that I was as good as I was."

Months of physio and hard work were put in before Tom saw Rockfleet
again but in December he arrived home full of trepidation about what the
future held.

"I was very nervous wondering what would happen if something went wrong
but there was no need to worry, everything worked out fine."

Fundraising locally and in London and Cleveland meant that Tom could buy
a car and soon he was on the open road. He valued his independence and
later moved to a house of his own in nearby Newport. He settled into
life in West Mayo and could often be found driving a carload of friends
to dances all over the county. The man from Rockfleet wasn't going to
sit around complaining about the hand he had been dealt.

Then in October 1985 the local sergeant Tom Rochford, set him a
challenge. He believed that Chambers was capable of competing in the
Dublin City Marathon and told him he would support him all the way. Tom
took up the challenge and the rest is history.

He trained four or five hours every day. Rochford, Martin O' Malley,
Kevin McManamon and a local committee secured funding for a new lighter
wheelchair and after endless preparation and a few local half-marathons
Tom found himself on the starting line for the 1986 marathon.

"Bertie Ahern was the Lord Mayor of Dublin at the time sent us on our
way. I was going well at first until one of the front wheels came loose
on the chair but I pulled into a garage and borrowed a spanner, which
kept me going until I got to the service vehicle."

Soon he was back on course again and as he raced down the Malahide Road
a special Mayo lady shouted out her support.

"Rosaline Gallagher was they're urging me on and I got great courage
from that. She had done so much on the sporting scene worldwide as a
disabled athlete and had Olympic medals, I was honoured that she turned
out to wish me luck as she herself was also from Mayo."

The Newport man raced onwards and as he went up Westland Row a spectator
shouted that there was only a mile to go.

"For the first time in the race I thought about the distance I had
travelled and I put in a special effort to get to the finish because
there were a few people in Newport and surrounding areas who had doubted
my ability to finish."

Soon Tom had crossed the line and one of his life's' ambitions had been
achieved. He would complete another two marathons and numerous other
distances in the following years as his fame spread far and wide. The
man from Rockfleet became one of Newport's best-known residents.

These days Tom doesn't race anymore but he still keeps in touch with the
people he met on the athletics trail. He waits anxiously for the
opportunity to help another Mayo wheelchair athlete enter the racing
game. His head is filled with tips for aspiring racers and he knows
someday that another Mayo racer will scorch through the Dublin streets.

His days are filled with the IT lessons he gives in Mayo Tech and the
designs he makes for wheelchair accessible buildings. He is enjoying
life in Newport and is thankful for the hand life has dealt him.

"If I hadn't run into that wall I might be dead now, who knows? I have a
great life filled with wonderful people and remember it's only my legs
that are paralysed, not my brain."

The man who has packed more into his life than many others has a lot of
living to do. He is already planning his next project and the ones after
that. Tom Chambers is a unique man, one of Newport's finest.

St. Patricks Church Newport

Mr. Barrie Truman,

Hon. Secretary,

Newport @ Shramore Pastoral Council,

Treenbeg,

Newport,

Co. Mayo.

11^th October 2004.

Dear Barrie,

I refer to your letter to me dated 17^th October 2003 in which you
stated that the work I requested at the time would be undertaken. It was
the provision of 2 (two) Disabled Parking Bays in a suitable position.

The bays erected at the North side entrance are not suitable for
Disabled Drivers but can be used as drop off points and kept clear in
case of an emergency in the Church. As a Disabled Driver myself I have
seen the difficulty of trying to not only move my car but to get into it
after attending a funeral.
It would make more since to have the bays close to the steps inside the
entrance to the North side. I met with Padraic Murray some time ago at
the Committee's request and I suggested the proper place to put them.

The flight of steps on the North and South side of the Church has rails.
At the moment there are rails, which are broken in different areas. To
people who are visually blind and after coming out from the bright
lights can be extremely dangerous at night.
There should be continues handrails to finish 840-900mm over flights and
840-1000mm over landings. The handrails should extend at least 300mm
beyond the top and bottom risers and terminate in a closed end that does
not project into a route of travel. The first and last steps of any
flight should have permanent visually contrasting strip 50-75mm deep
across entire width.
Finally, the design of external lighting at the building approach should
define the entrance clearly. Good light levels are important at steps
and flight of steps. A single light source can result in shadows on
treads and risers, and does not facilitate easy travel by people with
impaired vision.
I hope this can be of assistance to you all and if you need any further
information that might effect the less vulnerable in society feel free
to contact me.
Kindest Regards,

Tom Chambers,

Access Officer for PwDI in Mayo,

"The Billy Ranch",

Knocknageeha,

Newport,

Co. Mayo

Info

Mr. Dermot Langan

Manager

Westport Leisure Park

James Street

Westport

Co. Mayo.

01 03 05

Dear Dermot,

I want to thank you for your prompt reply and for my delay in getting
back to you.

Westport Leisure Park is an excellent asset for the people of Westport
and my only aim is to ensure that it is accessible to all.

With regard to the problems with the disabled toilets I would like to
make the following observations.

4.

The toilet was built to accommodate wheelchairs and the disabled
however modifications to the toilet since then mean that it is no
longer accessible to those in wheelchairs.

5.

The original complaint was made to me as a host of the Special
Olympics. The athlete in question did not feel it was appropriate
to raise a complaint in light of the wonderful hospitality
accorded to the athletes by your centre. Instead he mentioned it
quietly to me and I have checked it out myself and as qualified
and experienced Access Officer I can tell you that as it is at
present the toilet is not up to standard. A small amount of work
will put this right.

6.

The situation with the lift is the big problem. You have
dismantled your other lift as it is not up to the job and I must
ask you on behalf of the disabled to purchase and fit one that is
capable of lifting adults in and out of the pool. I will be happy
to lobby with you for funding to make this happen.

7.

The reception desk counter is very high for someone in a
wheelchair and I would ask that you lower a section of it.

I would be happy to chat with you about any of the above matters to see
what we can do together to make your centre into a totally accessible
resource for the Westport area. I am happy to advise you on any other
access related matters anytime.

Please feel free to contact me anytime and I look forward to hearing
from you shortly.

Sincerely

____________

Tom Chambers

Access Officer

Disability Campaigner

"The Billy Ranch"

Newport

Co. Mayo

Tom's work

Tom is recently returned from Dublin where he joined protests over the controversial Disability Act which proved so unpopular with the disabled and the groups representing disabilities.

Barcelona Declaration
Tom will be lobbying authorities such as Westport Town Council to deliver on their undertakings under the Barcelona Declaration. Tom is dismayed that local authorities could find themselves receiving fines for not complying with Minister O'Cuiv's new dictates concerning the use of Irish but if they don't comply with disability law there is little or nothing done unless someone has the time and money to take them to court. Tom says "In the UK the situation is very different, local authorities and places who provide disabled parking can be fined if they let able-bodied motorists abuse the car parking spaces. It is a requirement under law that disabled bays be monitored and if the monitoring is not up to scratch a local authority or supermarket can find itself facing a fine and a day in court. This has lead to increased awareness of the issue in the UK and shops like Tesco, Aldi and the like hold competitions to see who supplies the best services to the disabled. Compare that with the way things are over here."

Monitoring of Disabled Bays
On the local level Tom is looking at ways to improve monitoring of parking spaces as well as the improvement of existing spaces in places like Westport "as the number of parking bays for the disabled has exploded in the last year Tom feels that it is a case of quantity not quality as some of the bays have proven themselves completely unacceptable to disabled drivers and passengers be they in wheel-chairs, walking with an aid or suffer sight or hearing problems."

Car Parking Spaces
Tom also takes issue with the car parking charges and toilets pointing our that "under existing guidelines and legislation those with a disabled badge are not required to pay for parking in a disabled bay but no provision for this service has been made. Tom finds the electronic toilets, like those in Westport, which are so common nowadays, are not very disabled friendly and people with disabilities like Tom would not be able to use these toilets without some sort of assistance. "No provision has been made to accommodate the disabled who are supposed to be able to use such a facility."