Disabled people face considerable challenges when it comes to accessibility at tourist attractions in the UK in and getting around on public transport, according to several pieces of new research. Interviews with 2,000 UK working age adults with long-term impairments or conditions revealed that one in four disabled people say negative attitudes from other passengers prevent them from using public transport, while 40 per cent often experience issues or difficulties when travelling by train in the UK. For more, click here.
The City Where Spam, the Canned Delicacy, was founded is now “Autism-Friendly”
Samuel Ehret (right) is an official “Spambassador”at the museum, a hot spot for tourists who have a fondness whose name conjures up anything but images of prime cut steaks or roasts. It is located in Austin, Minnesota, where Spam has been made by Hormel Foods for 81 years. Ehret is autistic, and he got this job because he loves all things Spam — its taste, its history, and especially the museum’s showpiece: a motorcycle that runs on bacon grease. He also got the job because Austin is an autism-friendly town. A decade ago, it became one of the first in the country to launch a community-wide effort both to reduce the disorder’s stigma and make local businesses aware of the special needs of autistic customers. For more, click here.
Understanding the Travel Needs of the Mentally Impaired
In many cultures and societies, having a disability is related to a curse, disease, helplessness, and dependence. What many do not know is that there are ways in which one can form a different viewpoint on a person with a disability and that is where an organization like New Directions Travel in Santa Barbara, California can assist an individual in changing their mindset. New Directions Travel is a nonprofit organization located in the Santa Barbara area that takes individuals with mild to moderate disabilities on local, national, and international travel and holiday programs. Throughout the year New Directions takes multiple trips both near and far. One trip that is most rewarding is the one that happens every December at Disneyland which is called Holiday Happiness. For more, click here.
Shakespeare actors with Down Syndrome Perform at Texas Waterpark
In early November, the Morgan’s Wonderland—the theme park in San Antonio, Texas that is accessible to everyone—staged “Scenes, Sonnets and Soliloquies: Vol. 1,” a 30-minute production that included scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” “As You Like It,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as well as a sonnet. Half of the cast were special needs individuals and half were not.
Nikki Young, who oversees the entertainment program in the park, was inspired to add Shakespeare to the park’s offerings by “Growing up Downs,” a documentary about a group of British actors with Down syndrome who staged a touring production of “Hamlet.” She decided she wanted to do something similar. There are more than 20 “ultra accessible” attractions within the park. The organization’s mission statement is: “To provide a safe, clean and beautiful environment free of physical and economic barriers that all individuals – regardless of age, special need or disability – can come to and enjoy” For more, click here.
Wheelchair Riders Tow Plane
London’s Heathrow Airportwas the host on Nov. 23 to a Guinness World Records® official attempt in support of Aerobility’s mission to help people with disabilities participate in aviation. The airport’s “Wheels4Wings”event had a team of 100 people in wheelchairs pull a 127.6 ton 787-9 Boeing Dreamliner over 100 meters, beating the previous record of 67 tons held by a Belgian team.
Funds raised from this event will go towards Aerobility’s programs, helping people with disabilities participate in aviation. Aerobility provides “experience of a lifetime” trial flying lessons for as many terminally ill and disabled people as possible. It also provides subsidized flying days for other disability charities and at-cost instruction and qualification flight training to disabled people.
Participants in the fundraising event included security officers, volunteers and operational staff from across Heathrow. All have benefitted from the airport’s newly established Dignity and Care training program, which focuses on improving the journeys of passengers with hidden and visible disabilities. The event also celebrated Heathrow’s new mandatory process for airlines, which will see passengers arriving at the airport automatically reunited with their personal wheelchairs at the entrance to the aircraft, when they descend.
The Wheels4Wings event is being held during a year of rapid changes for Heathrow in which investments of £23 million ($29.3 million) were made in new equipment, resources and technology to improve service for people with disabilities. The airport also introduced innovations such a distinctive lanyard for passengers with hidden disabilities. The airport’s regulator, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, acknowledged the significant steps Heathrow has taken to improve its service for people with disabilities. With further focus in the area still being applied, the airport is currently ranked “good” in its services and handling offered.
Organizer of the event, Heathrow Aircraft Operations Manager Andy Knight, said: “As a wheelchair user myself, a former pilot and an aviation enthusiast, I am committed to supporting Aerobility and I am proud of the role Heathrow has taken to support its diversity and inclusion goals. I hope today will see the team raise a lot of funds for Aerobility’s fantastic causes, but also foster a greater awareness of the unique challenges people with disabilities face in aviation, and push for improvements for their benefit – whether they choose to be a passenger in an aircraft or at the controls.”
Source: eTurboNews
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