Featured Posts

The Necessity For Accessible Travel For The Disabled

Posted by Tousala | Posted in Travel and Leisure: General | Posted on 25-12-2009

Tags: , , , , , , ,

0

There is a need for some serious revamping of what we call accessible travel in this country. Anyone facing a disability is going to require a little more effort on behalf of those around them to get from point A to point B.  Restaurants and restrooms, for example are simply not set up to allow for the maneuverability of a wheelchair.

There are many special needs bathrooms that are literally too small to allow a wheelchair to be manipulated 360 degrees to allow for full access to the toilet, door, and the sink. Airports, train stations, and bus depots have created excessive difficulties when it comes to maintaining reasonable access ramps and doorways that are reasonable to navigate. All of these are impediments to fully enjoyable travel for the disabled.

Handicapped accessible cruise ships have been cited for not having the ability to allow wheelchair bound guests to open the doors. In fact, many of the doors are so heavy that those who are assisting the disabled have difficulty getting the wheelchair through the door. The location of access ramps, elevators, and assistance buttons are generally inconvenient enough that it can’t really be considered accessible.

What the travel industry really needs is to gather real life experience from those who have tried to navigate an airport or train station while disabled. Leaving someone sitting in a wheelchair, tucked nicely and discreetly out of the way, can attract unscrupulous individuals who like to prey on those less able than them.

If employees of the airports, train stations, and cab companies were all required to spend just a few days in a wheelchair navigating the area without assistance there might be some valuable insight gained. We need to stop hiding elevators at the far corners of the buildings and start  recognizing that the disabled have regular needs as well.

Traveling by car, plane, bus, or train should be an experience that is safe, courteous, and perhaps even right on the edge of pleasant. Yet due to underdevelopment of staff personnel and the poorly planned design of many of today’s accessible travel facilities there is little hope for independent travel. The gains of independence that have been made are only wiped away by society’s desire not to be asked to go out of their way to make sure that the disabled retain their independence.

Access should be easy enough to get to that those with all kinds of disabilities should be able to travel without the need for extra assistance that they would not normally require. Just because one has been struck with an illness or accident doesn’t mean that the world should be set up to work against them.

The Failure Of Actual Accessible Travel

Posted by Tousala | Posted in Travel and Leisure: General | Posted on 01-12-2009

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

0

The biggest problem with accessible travel is that it actually isn’t all that accessible. Restaurants and restrooms are simply not set up to allow for the maneuverability of a wheelchair.

The biggest problem with the travel industry is that the disability access areas are designed by able bodied people. Something relatively simple like making sure the doors are light enough to be opened by someone in a wheelchair is overlooked by the able bodied designer.  Something as simple as that could truly help make travel for the disabled more of a reality.

Handicapped accessible cruise ships have been cited for not having the ability to allow wheelchair bound guests to open the doors. In fact, many of the doors are so heavy that those who are assisting the disabled have difficulty getting the wheelchair through the door. Airports require people to wait excessively long periods of time when a wheelchair is required and cab companies will leave those same people waiting for an additional 30, 45, 60 minutes or more while waiting for the one access friendly van to come which has often been dispensed by the parent company.

What the travel industry really needs is to gather real life experience from those who have tried to navigate an airport or train station while disabled. This should come in two forms. The first is to ask those who face the disabled life on a daily basis how to make things easier for them. You would be surprised at the insight available by just going to the source.

If employees of the airports, train stations, and cab companies were all required to spend just a few days in a wheelchair navigating the area without assistance there might be some valuable insight gained. We need to stop hiding elevators at the far corners of the buildings and start  recognizing that the disabled have regular needs as well.

Something as simple as requiring assistance for refueling at a gas station often becomes a compromised situation. Read the fine print of the assistance sticker and it is made clear that if there is only one person on duty those needing assistance will not be helped. The gains of independence that have been made are only wiped away by society’s desire not to be asked to go out of their way to make sure that the disabled retain their independence.

Additional training could make it painfully obvious that the elevators are poorly accessible for those in wheelchairs and that the so called accessibility that is mandated by law is just not adequate for those who want to travel despite their disability. Management of travel facilities can play a huge role in creating the safe and user friendly environment that is required not only by law, but by the state of consciousness.

Jupiter Florida Happy Hour – Have fun While Visting Florida Restaurants

Posted by Tousala | Posted in Travel and Leisure: General | Posted on 23-11-2009

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

0

Right on the beach in gorgeous south Florida resides the lovely town of Jupiter.  Since it is located right one beach along the Atlantic Jupiter is one of the best kept secrets of south Florida.  You will get the character of a small home town mixed perfectly with the class of a big city when you visit the town of Jupiter.  The popularity of this small town is no mystery to anyone that visits it. You’ll also want to check out Jupiter Happy Hour.

Jupiter has quite a few famous residents as well. Some of the more common names are Celine Dion and Burt Reynolds who both own homes in Jupiter.  Jupiter is easily one of the most desirable places to live due to combinations of the atmosphere and location.

Jupiter is very well known for it’s beauty.  There are evergreen trees present all year long. The tropical climate is also perfect for many varieties of tropical plant life to flourish.  Jupiter takes a lot of pride in it’s appearance and a lot of work has been done to improve the already beautiful landscape.

Thanks to its location, Jupiter enjoys a lush tropical climate that combines warm, sunny skies with the seaside breeze to make for a year-round delight. You’re never far off from beach weather when living in Jupiter. For this reason, many people choose Jupiter as their favorite winter vacation spot to take advantage of the warm climate.

Most of the people that only come to Jupiter for the warm winter months are known as “snowbirds”.  They come to Jupiter to get away from the harsh winters in the north east, and to enjoy the amazingly warm winters Jupiter is known for.  Many of the people that start coming down to Jupiter seasonally decide they love it so much that they want to be year-round residents.

Jupiter has some of the best public institutions in the state.  With multiple high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and a college university Jupiter has all of the education a family could need.  On top of the wonderful schools, Jupiter’s hospital is second to none.

Additionally, Jupiter plays host to a variety of fine dining and outing locations. Serving up a wide array of cuisines and dishes from around the world, Jupiter offers a glimpse into some of the most delectable samplings the world has to offer. Dotted along the waterways of Jupiter, these Florida Happy Hour and bistros are a charming experience.

If you’re looking for a seaside escape that’s anything but ordinary then you need to explore the variety and intrigues of Jupiter Florida. This is one little town with a lot to offer and once you do, you’ll know why so many people continue to make Florida their favorite vacation spot, or their home. You’ll also want to check out Happy Hour.

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes