The Giving Hands

Emma recently shared on her blog a wheelchair experience she had had at a hotel in Liverpool.

She had heard after she had made a booking that the hotel’s wheelchair access was only through a side door. She called the hotel to confirm with them before she traveled and she was told that the location of the wheelchair access was through the main entrance.

Upon arrival, a hotel staff told her that the platform life wasn’t working..

So we had to go another way. He wandered off to find some more keys. Took me through one of the restaurants and then THROUGH THE KITCHEN down into the skanky dark damp service area under the hotel. Up onto one of the bedroom floors, and then into a customer lift and to reception. Checked me in and then took me to my room.

They didn’t give me an adapted room which was fine. But, even if an adapted room wasn’t available, they knew I use a chair and still put me as far as is humanly possible from the lift on the top floor. Have they not heard of common sense?! So I trailed miles from the lift and arrive to realise he gave me the wrong key. Off he went to get it and I was left quietly seething but thankful I’d insisted on his coming to carry my bag.

… Continue reading Interesting take on wheelchair access.

Accessibility.

The first person who comes to my mind when it comes to advocating accessibility in the public is none other than Peter Tan. Peter blogs about accessibility in the public, accessible public transport, accessible public toilets as well as a host of other disability-related issues. He constantly airs his views in major local newspapers and he is always the first to write to the authorities regarding inaccessible pedestrian pathways or public transports (buses, airplanes).