Tourism For All UK

Accessible Tourism

Brian Seaman

Tourism for All Services Ltd

Tourism for All UK

• Who we are and what we do

• Accessible tourism

• Overview of bedroom provision in BS8300:2009 + A1:2010

• Facts & figures

• The future of accessible tourism

Tourism for All UK

• National charity conceived in 1979 (as Holiday Care) to provide holiday and travel information to disabled & older people

• Thousands of telephone and email enquiries every year - mainly from or on behalf of wheelchair users or those with mobility impairments

• Reviewed access at 1,000’s businesses since 1993 – that’s a lot of toilets to measure

Tourism for All UK

We have two websites and social media pages:

• www.tourismforall.org.uk

Over 300,000 people visit this website each year. At the moment an average of about 900 people per day

• www.openbritain.net

This website has listings of accessible accommodation (also available as a printed guide)

• Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts

Tourism for All UK

We hold information about:

• accessible accommodation• attractions• transport• equipment hire• places where care is available• escorts & carers

Tourism for All Services Ltd

So how have we helped tourism businesses?

• By supporting planning applications

• By providing advice about access and training

• By providing useful contacts

• By visiting sites to give advice

• By carrying out inspections and audits

• Recently worked for Thistle & Guoman Hotels

Accessible Tourism

As well as a general interest, the world’s media has also been focusing on Britain’s 2012 readiness for disabled visitors and athletes.

Accessible websites

There are several benchmarks for accessible websites including:

• RNIB ‘RNIB ‘See It Right’

www.rnib.org.uk

• Web Accessibility Initiative

www.w3.org/WAI/

Accessible websitesAccessibilityAccess keys are keyboard shortcuts which allow a user to navigate a web site without using a mouse or other pointing device. This can sometimes be quicker and may assist those with motor skill difficulties.

UK Government standard access keys0 Access key details (this page)1 Home page2 What's new?9 Contact us

In Internet Explorer 5+'alt + the access key number' brings focus to the element. If a link, 'enter' will take the user to the linked destination.

In Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape 6+'alt + the access key number' take the user to the linked destination.

If using an Apple Macsubstitute the 'Ctrl' key for the 'Alt key'.

This web site conforms to the W3C's WAI Accessibility Guidelines, Level C. Pages are valid XHTML 1.1 and valid CSS 2.0, as tested by W3C validation services.

You can make the text of this site larger by using the "View" menu in your browser.

Accessible websites

There is a text to speech software available. For example BrowseAloud.

Browsealoud reads web pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online. Reading large amounts of text on screen can be difficult for those with literacy and visual impairments. Once installed users can move their mouse over any text, link, picture or button and BrowseAloud will read it out aloud.

Large print (guidance from the RNIB)

Larger print is essential for many blind and partially sighted people. No single size is suitable for everyone.

Large print is usually in the range of 16 to 22 point.

The font type and design of a document will make a big difference to the readability of the information.

Publications using large text but with poor colour contrast, italic fonts or text placed on top of an image will still be difficult to read.

Black on yellow (non-reflective) is sometimes the best option for many users

Induction loop Systems

• Reception• Meeting rooms• Interviews

Signage and manifestation

• Clear signage will benefit all

• Can include tactile and Braille information

• Glazing can be difficult to see

• Manifestation will help

Understandable signage?

User friendly signage?

Reflective surfaces can disorientate some visually impaired people

Sufficient manifestation on glazed areas can help

Tap turners will aid those with reduced manual dexterity (£5.99 + VAT per pair)

A small cordless kettle that simply slots onto a base plate is easier to manage than one that plugs in

Ensure Assistance Dogs (and their owners) are welcomed

Assistance Dogs include:Hearing Dogs Guide Dogs Service Dogs Therapy Dogs andSeizure Alert Dogs

A Big Button phone will aid many users

A magnifying glass will aid many users (£4.95)

Helpful item for hearing impaired people offers a range of ‘wake-n-shake’ options. Can also be connected to a telephone to alert user to incoming calls at night

Helpful item for hearing impaired people - a simple device that clips on to a door using a hanging bracket.  It detects the vibration of someone knocking at the door and activates a flashing light

A notched key card by KABA to aid visually impaired users.

The notch helps identify the correct way to insert the card into key card operated doors

An overhead tracking hoist will aid some wheelchair users and their companions

A fully adjustable shower room facility may help many people

Staff Training:One example is Welcome All, which recognises that it is the environment which causes problems for many people with mobility or sensory disabilities. The programme provides participants with practical advice and cost–effective ideas to enhance service quality for customers with disabilities and specific needs. Including:

• the benefits of an accessible service • key provisions from the Equality Act • practical advice on how to provide the best service • how to communicate effectively • how to improve accessibility • guidance on a range of sensory, mobility and learning disabilities

• Contact: Gill Heighington - gheighington@tourismse.com

BS8300:2009 and other documents – what are the challenges?

• There are a number of documents that we refer hoteliers to:

• Publicly Available Specification PAS88• Approved Document M of the Building Regulations• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010

There are also the following guidelines / criteria:• The National Accessible Scheme (in England) – at the

highest access level this is based on BS8300.• The production of an Access Statement (England, Wales,

Scotland, N Ireland)

• Publicly Available Specification PAS88

• PAS 88 contains principles of good practice based on the duty to make reasonable adjustments and provide equal standards of service as contained in the DDA / Equality Act. 

• It builds upon the good practice developed by marketing leaders within the hotel industry and has used VisitBritain’s National Accessible Scheme (NAS) as the basis of its content.

• Approved Document M of the Building Regulations:

• Technical guidance contained in Part M (Approved Document M) of schedule 1 of the Building Regulations

• It covers the requirements with respect to access to and use of buildings

• Basic requirements - 1:20 bedrooms to be accessible by disabled people (EG: 5 bedrooms in a 100 bedroom hotel)

• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010:

• BS 8300:2009 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people - Code of practice

• BS 8300 explains how the built environment can be designed to anticipate, and overcome, restrictions that prevent disabled people making full use of premises and their surroundings

• British Standard BS8300:2009 + A1:2010:

• Within BS8300 – page 155 – Section 12.8.1 is a recommendation for an increase in the number of accessible bedrooms to 10% with a further 5% capable of being adapted in the future to accessibility standards

• The 100 bedroom hotel would then have between 10-15 designated accessible rooms instead of 5 rooms

• This is likely to have an impact on how hotels are managed on a day-to-day basis

• As a minimum 5% of rooms would have an overhead tracking hoist, 5% without a tracking hoist

• 5% of guests and their PA’s may need greater assistance in the event of an emergency

• The ratio of hotel staff to disabled guests would need careful consideration if all 10-15 rooms are occupied by disabled guests – especially overnight. EG: a conference about accessibility

• Refuge areas may need to be reviewed to accommodate more individuals (in any case in accordance with BS9999)

• Hoteliers need to ensure that their staff have identified and discussed with guests and recorded in a PEEP the assistance they may need in the event of an evacuation

• Careful consideration needs to be given regarding egress – especially where evacuation chairs are SWL rated to 23-28 stone. Be aware that some guests requiring bariatric assistance (EG: tracking hoist) may be heavier than this

• Is there a good mobile signal coverage for disabled guests in an emergency?

• If a guest has a hearing loss is it possible to contact them by text on their mobile in the event of an emergency?

Facts & figures

• The following stats are taken from ‘At Your Service’• This recent document from VisitEngland outlines the

business case and guide to improving accessibility for customers

• It is estimated that there are over 11 million people with a disability in Britain

• That is about 1:5 of the population• There is a growing number of older people who may not

consider themselves to be disabled - but who would benefit from accessible facilities

• The incidence of disability increases with age

• By 2025 more than a third of the UK’s population will be over the age of 55

• Wheelchair users represent about 8% of disabled people• 92% of disabled people have another form of disability

recognised under the Equality Act• There are estimated to be 78 million Americans with

disabilities• There are estimated to be 75 million Europeans with a

disability• When the spending power of these individuals is said to be

worth iro £2bn – it’s difficult to ignore

The Future of Accessible Tourism

• It seems clear that there are a growing number of people in the population who would benefit from accessible facilities

• Sadly, as can be seen so often in the news - the effects of civil unrest, terrorism, natural disasters, sports injuries, RTAs and illness will continue to disable people worldwide

• The principle of accessible design will benefit all users including the increasing number of older people

• Tourism in general is likely to have to adapt to the changing demographics in order to meet these needs

• Worldwide legislation is already recognising the rights of disabled people to have access to travel and tourism services

• Aircraft and airports, ships and all other forms of transport will be designed to reflect these changing needs and to meet the ongoing changes in worldwide legislation

• External environments (countryside and townscapes) are already being adapted to accommodate one and all

• The UK is well-placed to benefit from tourism by disabled people. For example all of London’s black taxis are designed to be accessible, London’s buses are all accessible. All train operating companies now have positive policies towards disabled people

• Accommodation providers will need to keep up to ensure that they provide a welcome for all wherever possible

For further information or advice please contact :

Brian Seaman

Tel: 0845 124 9974

E-mail: brian@tourismforall.org.uk

Website: www.tourismforall.org.uk