Hotels and the Disabled

Tuesday, 19 May 2009
“For disabled tourists facing into a journey, fear of the unknown is often a key element. Not being aware of the accessibility status of places and venues can easily undermine the will to travel.”


Tom Chambers

TOURISM is missing out on millions or euros annually, because of its failure to cater for the needs of the disabled according to a survey carried out by the University of Ulster, ‘School of Built Environment’.
The survey found that while staff, at tourist offices was helpful, less than half could offer useful advice. Disabled visitors are left to hope for the best, the survey warned and it added that not only is it bad for the tourism, it is bad for business.
Many critics in Westport, including myself, have called on the tourist trade here to wake up to the fact that disabled tourists are lucrative customers. Research indicates that there are over 55 million people with disability resident in the European Union alone.
That figure points to the potential size of the market. For disabled tourists facing into a journey, fear of the unknown is often a key element. Not being aware of the accessibility status of places and venues can easily undermine the will to travel.
The life of a disabled person such as I is effectively controlled by that of the able-bodied world. But what is the right of a disabled person? Are we safe having our lives structured, or can we also be leaders of such vital legislation?
For tourists with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairment, what has a town like Westport, having the title of ‘Tidiest Town in Ireland’ to offer the disabled? What is the point in dressing up if there is nowhere to go? By this I mean are the pubs, hotels, toilets, swimming pools, cinemas, public library, post office, B and Bs, restaurants, takeaways, GAA pitches, heritage centres, parking facilities all universally accessible?
Westport Tourist Office is the only Tourist Office in Co Mayo open the whole year, yet it is totally inaccessible for people with disabilities.
It can be so frustrating. Ask any person with a disability if they have tried to book a room with a level access shower? Not easy, is it?
You call a hotel with a wheelchair sign in the guide and the conversation goes something like this: ‘Do you have accessible rooms?”’ If the answer is yes, the next question is ‘do you have level access showers?‘.
The answer will range from ‘What do you mean?’ to ‘Well it does have a ledge?’ to ‘No, but we do have baths and the room is wheelchair-friendly’.
If you are lucky enough to get a positive reply and there is a level access shower the next question you might ask is ‘Do they have a shower chair?‘.
Silence for a minute, then this leads to another ‘What do you mean?‘. How difficult is it to understand that people who can’t walk or stand needs something to sit on in a shower, preferably a shower chair. And how are you supposed to get into a bath when your legs can’t work. You will travel the length and breadth of this country looking for a hotel with both a level access shower and a shower wheelchair.
So I decided to contact Fáilte Ireland which administers what it calls the Validated Accessible Scheme (VAS). This scheme is designed to encourage hotels to be more accessible to people with disabilities. VAS has 4 categories ranging from category 1, which is for people with enough mobility to walk into a room, to category 4, where the guest requires assistance to shower, etc.
Fáilte Ireland informed me that 29 Irish hotels have registered with the scheme. The Irish Federation has a membership of approximately 800 hotels. This would mean that at most 3.6% of their hotels are in the scheme .
Why is the performance not better? Well first of all it’s a commercial issue. If a hotel doesn’t need to spend what ever little extra it costs to build a wheelchair-friendly room why should they bother? But hold it there - surely we have legislation which requires hotels to provide specific facilities for the disabled?

Tom Chambers is a wheelchair bound disability campaigner who lives in Newport.

Almost half of those living with arthritis in the west are ‘too sore to socialise’

Mayo Advertiser, May 01, 2009.
By Toni Bourke
The first nationwide survey on patient wellbeing and relationships, conducted by Arthritis Ireland and sponsored by Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals (Ireland), shows almost one in two (45.8 per cent) people with arthritis can no longer participate in social activities they used to enjoy, while one in three (31.3 per cent) are worried about how their condition has affected their appearance. The survey, which was conducted among 128 people with arthritis in seven rheumatology clinics around the country throughout 2008, shows the debilitating effect of arthritis on people as everyday life becomes difficult or impossible to maintain.
The survey gives an insight into the emotional wellbeing of people in the west with arthritis, revealing that one in three (32.7 per cent) say they are sad and depressed while two out of five (40.8 per cent) admit that sometimes it is hard to keep going and that their arthritis is a constant worry for them. One survey respondent declared: “I feel like arthritis has changed me from a normally positive, healthy, person to a depressed, lonely, fed-up, irritable person finding it hard to keep it together.”
Respondents who were in relationships discussed the impact that their arthritis has had on their relationship. Over one in three (35.7 per cent) believe their condition has had a negative impact on intimacy with their spouse or partner, with some stating they no longer have an active sex life. One survey respondent said: “We no longer have an active sex life but cuddling is also a bit curtailed which I regret.” Noticeably, for those respondents who are separated, divorced, or living apart, one in two (50 per cent) believe their arthritis was a contributing factor to their relationship break-up.
In response to the survey findings, Arthritis Ireland has produced a free support booklet entitled Coping with Emotions which offers support and advice on dealing with the emotions that accompany a diagnosis of arthritis. It is available by contacting Arthritis Ireland on LoCall 1890 252 846 or can be downloaded on www.arthritisireland.ie. Arthritis Ireland also provides a confidential helpline for people with arthritis, their families, carers, friends, and health professionals. It can be contacted from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday on LoCall 1890 252 846.

Castlebar man disqualified and fined for parking in disabled spot

Castlebar man disqualified and fined for parking in disabled spot
Mayo Advertiser, May 01, 2009.
A Castlebar man who parked in a disabled space while he went to visit relatives was disqualified from driving for six months and convicted and fined €500 at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.
Garda Melanie McGowan received a report on October 21 2008 at 6.15pm that a Honda van was parked in a disabled spot outside houses in Healy Terrace, Ballina. On arrival at the scene, Garda McGowan observed that no disability badge was displayed on the van before she spoke to the owner of the car, Brian Lawrence, 95 Manor Village, Castlebar.
Lawrence told the garda that he was visiting a relative and parked in the spot, which is for a disabled woman who lives in the houses nearby.
The unemployed man was convicted, fined, and disqualified by Judge Mary Devins. Recognisances were fixed.

Wreath laying to mark May Day and Michael Davitt

Friends and supporters of the Labour Party watch as Cllr Keith Martin and David Fallon of the Westport Labour Party lay a wreath at the Michael Davitt memorial on the Newport Road, Westport to mark May Day and the contribution of Michael Davitt to the Labour movement.

Ballina councillors question work on disability plan

Mayo Advertiser, May 01, 2009.
By Colm Gannon
While welcoming a report on the disability strategic plan for Mayo County Council at their monthly meeting last week, a number of Ballina councillors raised concerns about the work being done outside public buildings in relation to disability issues in the town.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Johnny O’Malley told the meeting: “Myself and Cllr Peter Clarke were elected to a committee before in relation to disability issues after the last local elections, but the committee have never met. I’m a bit surprised by this plan and how it doesn’t take into account other things in the council’s control, like paths, dipped crossings, audio pedestrian crossings, and car parking spaces, even to ensure the provision of disabled toilets under planning permission. I would also like to think that we would be able to develop a plan where we would plan to put in both Braille and audio books in our libraries for people with a particular need.”
Sinn Féin Cllr Peter Clarke echoed his fellow councillor’s disappointment that the committee never met. “I’m very disappointed that this committee we were appointed to has never met. I have gone out with Tom Chambers, Newport, a disability campaigner and walked through the streets of Ballina and got him to point out things in the town that are not accessible or hard to access for disabled people. Which there are many.” Cllr Clarke also asked the town council if there was a disability audit for the town and if it would be made available to the councillors. He was told later in the meeting there is an audit and it would be given to the councillors.
Cllr Mary Kelly told the meeting: “I welcome the plan but there is still an awful lot of work to be done, we have to ensure that there is no discrimination against people because they may be disabled. But I am disappointed that it has taken from November 2006 to now to get where we currently are with this report. We have to ensure that we have housing that is accessible for disabled people so they can live comfortably. Great credit must be given to those people who are out there every day campaigning on behalf of those with disabilities.”
Fianna Fáil Cllr Padraig Moore also expressed his disappointment that two of his fellow councillors had been appointed to a committee that had never met. “I’m frustrated and confused to hear that two of the councillors have been appointed to a committee that has never met and will not meet before this council ends. I’m also frustrated that this is the result of three years work and we have so much more to do.”