Accessible Tourism Database | ETCAATS

Europe for All Photo and Measurement Guide for Access Auditors

Ivor Ambrose — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 22:51:00 GMT

The Europe for All Photo and Measurement Guide was produced by the OSSATE Consortium (2005 - 2007) in order to facilitate accurate measurement of tourist infrastructure and as a guide for taking photographs to be used for information purposes.

The Europe for All Photo and Measurement Guide was produced by the OSSATE Consortium (2005 - 2007) in order to facilitate accurate measurements of tourist infrastructure and as a guide for taking photographs to be used for information purposes.

It is offered here as an open training resource for prospective access auditors, tourism business owners and others who may be preparing to carry out accessibility assessments of tourism venues and infrastructure.

The document may be copied and used "as is" for educational purposes, as long as the following reference is acknowledged: "Europe For All Photo and Measurement Guide" (EU eContent project, 2006) OSSATE Consortium and ENAT asbl. (2016). Any uses of this document other than strictly educational purposes must be approved in advance, in writing, by ENAT asbl.

Legal Notice: The "Europe For All Photo and Measurement Guide", when used by a supplier or auditor, is intended only as an advisory document. Using this document does not a guarantee the level of accessibility that is stated by the said supplier. Neither ENAT nor its partners can be held responsible for any loss or damages that may result from the use of information that is contained in the Europe For All Photo and Measurement Guide.

Consumer Survey Report: Paving the Way to Accessible Tourism

Nick Vaslamatzis — Wed, 04 May 2011 09:11:04 GMT

This report, by Carlos Buj of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University, aims to generate useful knowledge about the travel needs of people with limited mobility (PwLM) as well as to identify ongoing trends in the unexplored field of accessible tourism as an economic sector. The research carried out for this report is based on literature review, a questionnaire, case studies and interviews with experts. The findings are discussed and used to shape the final recommendations and conclusion.

The specific needs of people with communication disabilities, those with cognitive/intellectual or psychiatric disabilities and those with sensorial disabilities have not been specifically considered for the primary research, as they imply considerations too complex to be comprised in this report. In other words, only those with a physical mobility concern have been addressed in the questionnaire.

For more details and downloading, visit the ENAT website

Prospelasis: Exemplary methodology for the improvement of accessibility of archaeological monuments and sites of Thessaloniki, Greece

Strati Eleni — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:39:13 GMT

Main of the project is the development and application of an "exemplary methodology" for the improvement of accessibility of archaeological monuments and sites of Thessaloniki, by people with mobility impairments. PROSPELASIS OBJECTIVES: To apply a systematic approach in facing the accessibility problem of monuments in its totality. To develop a methodology for the evaluation of accessibility of archaeological sites and monuments and to apply it in selected areas. To evaluate the existing situation by applying appropriate tools. To examine existing solutions offered in the market and in the Literature. To conclude interventions of accessibility improvement in selected important for the world history archaeological sites under the responsibility of the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities of Thessaloniki such as Rot nda, ia Sofia, Eptapyrgion (seven towers castle) etc. The "exemplary methodology" which will be developed together with the handbooks-tools and the exemplary interventions examples may function as catalysts for shaping a new strategy of interventions for the improvement of monuments accessibility. To identify roles and responsibilities of all the involved actors and support them via appropriate actions. To train involved people and bodies in behavioral issues in relation to people with disabilities. For more information on results of the project, visit http://prospelasis.com

European Passenger Rights

Ivor Ambrose — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Although the European Union has made great strides in recent years in establishing common passenger rights for those travelling by air or rail, not every European is yet aware of what he or she is entitled to. This campaign sets out to make all air and rail passengers aware of what rights they enjoy under European legislation and how to make use of them.

This campaign sets out to make all air and rail passengers aware of what rights they enjoy under European legislation and how to make use of them.

Videos and other sources of information are available through the ENAT website

Background Document on "Design for All"

Ivor Ambrose — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:11:00 GMT

On 3rd December 2001, the European Commission, together with the European Disability Forum, took "Discrimination By Design" as the theme of the Conference to celebrate the European Day of Disabled People. This background document in 11 languages was prepared to explain the concept of Design for All and its importance as an approach for making the world accessible to people with disabilities.

This background document was prepared to explain the concept of Design for All and its importance as an approach for making the world accessible to people with disabilities.

Note that some of the References from 2001 may no longer be up-to-date.

The document is available in 11 languages.

To download the documents, visit the ENAT webpage

Article: Creating a framework for social learning in your enterprise

Ivor Ambrose — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:41:00 GMT

The social learning revolution has only just begun. Corporations that understand the value of knowledge sharing, teamwork, informal learning and joint problem solving are investing heavily in collaboration technology and are reaping the early rewards. - Jay Cross There is a growing demand for the ability to connect to others. It is with each other that we can make sense, and this is social.

Organisations, in order to function, need to encourage social exchanges and social learning due to faster rates of business and technological changes.

Social experience is adaptive by nature and a social learning mindset enables better feedback on environmental changes back to the organisation. - George Siemens

Together with our increased awareness of the need to adopt new approaches to supporting workers in doing their jobs, evidence is also telling us that a focus on knowledge transfer and acquisition, an approach rooted in Plato's academy, is not the best one available to us.

We need move to more discursive approaches to learning and development: We are moving to the world of the sons of Socrates, where dialogue and guidance are key competencies. It is a world where the capability to find information and turn it into knowledge at the point-of-need provides the key competitive advantage, where knowing the right people to ask the right questions of is more likely to lead to success than any amount of internally-held knowledge and skill. - Charles Jennings

Read the whole article: http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/3099/23/5/3

Article: Social Media Heralds Step Change in Enterprise Learning

Ivor Ambrose — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:33:00 GMT

A meteoric rise in popularity for social media in recent years has companies scrambling to understand its impact on how they operate. For training and learning within large organisations, social media makes existing practices appear outdated and antiquated. Clearly, equipping colleagues with the skills and insights to compete in a fast changing global marketplace requires a step change in approach.

Moving to social learning

This step change to Social Learning has been cleverly described as moving from ‘e-Learning’ to ‘We-Learning’. The objective is to extend the value of learning by unlocking the power of social and collaborative learning, and bringing it into the real-time business environment to keep pace with dynamic market conditions & busy working lives.

Read the full article. http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/3098/23/5/3

Special Needs Accesible Hotel (Video)

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:52:00 GMT

Axess TV and CNN on Scandic Hotel's accessibility ambassador, Magnus Berglund

Visit: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/10/10/wv.grant.special.hotel.axesstv

Sim-dis. Simulations of disabilities website

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:38:00 GMT

This site contains a collection of computer based artifacts that simulate aspects of disability. It is intended that the simulations will be used for training and awareness raising activities with staff and for teaching students in areas where an understanding of disability is required.

No simulation can give the true feelings of what it is like to have a disability. It is hoped the simulations will provide 'food' for thought and promote enlightened discussion, which will lead to a better understanding.

They have been designed from anecdotal comments made by people with a disability and staff involved in teaching and supporting students with disabilities.

Covers Autism, Dyslexia, Hearing Impairments and Visual Impairments

Visit: http://www.techdis.ac.uk/resources/sites/2/simdis/index.htm

Disability Rights Commission Video parts 1 and 2

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:04:00 GMT

The award-winning 'Talk' portrays a society in which non-disabled people are a pitied minority and disabled people lead full and active lives. Jonathan Kerrigan, of BBC's 'Casualty' fame, plays a business executive whose negative preconceptions of disability are dramatically shattered.

Video Part 1. http://youtu.be/FZfOVNwjFU0

Video Part 2. http://youtu.be/A9a2ZqLhuAw

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG) 2010

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:15:00 GMT

This document provides guidelines for designing user agents that lower barriers to Web accessibility for people with disabilities. User agents include browsers and other types of software that retrieve and render Web content.

This document provides guidelines for designing user agents that lower barriers to Web accessibility for people with disabilities.

User agents include browsers and other types of software that retrieve and render Web content.

A user agent that conforms to these guidelines will promote accessibility through its own user interface and through other internal facilities, including its ability to communicate with other technologies (especially assistive technologies). Furthermore, all users, not just users with disabilities, should find conforming user agents to be more usable.

In addition to helping developers of browsers and media players, this document will also benefit developers of assistive technologies because it explains what types of information and control an assistive technology may expect from a conforming user agent.

Technologies not addressed directly by this document (e.g., technologies for braille rendering) will be essential to ensuring Web access for some users with disabilities. The "User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 2.0" (UAAG 2.0) is part of a series of accessibility guidelines published by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

Visit: http://www.w3.org/TR/UAAG20/

TFA Tourism For All Website

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:04:00 GMT

The TFA Training courses have been developed with the help of people with disabilities and industry professionals from across Europe. It is a fresh, user friendly and thorough training tool which can be accessed easily either at the work place, in an office or at home.

The courses have been designed to be cost-effective, simple to follow, provide helpful information and boost the confidence of all people working in the Hospitality, Tourist and Leisure business. Each course is tailored to specific job roles, and supported by a general programme for all staff – “First contact with disabled customers”.

Having been taken through a training programme a test is completed to check the learner’s understanding, and a certificate will be presented in the name of the Business member and of Tourism for All UK.

Courses currently available:

First contact with disabled customers - Note – this course has to be taken with any of or all the other courses
Guest service staff - Restaurant, Lounge and Bar workers, Cleaning and Bedroom staff
Receptionist
Porter, Doorman and Concierge
Amusement, Theme Parks and Attractions staff

One of the objectives of Tourism for All UK is to support the hospitality industry in ensuring that the needs of all people whatever their circumstances are understood and met.

Anticipating the needs of all people and understanding the access challenges that face disabled and less-able people can be very difficult for staff if it is not something that they have experienced or had training in.

It is easy to cause unnecessary offence to guests if staff lack confidence or feel awkward in talking to or when serving such customers .

The DDA requires businesses to be able, to some extent, to anticipate the needs of disabled guests.

We recommend that all businesses have a comprehensive Access Statement for all guests and potential customers available in printed format as well as being highly visible on their web site.

More information on this and other helpful advice can be found on the 'Advice for Tourism Businesses' section of the web site.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s advice is that cases against businesses where guests have been discriminated against and suffered humiliation as a result of inappropriate or inadequate service are likely to be the hardest-hitting.

Getting staff trained is one of the best ways to demonstrate that you have taken all reasonable steps to avoid such situations arising and to raise their confidence.

Providing an insight as to how to improve accessibility will ensure the enjoyment of all your customers.

The ACCESS FOR ALL Training programme has been developed with the help of people with disabilities, industry professionals from across Europe. It is a user friendly and thorough training tool which can be accessed easily either at the work place, in an office or at home. The programmes provide helpful information and are simple to follow (taking approximately 30 minutes each). Each programme is tailored to specific job roles and is supported by a general programme - First Contact with Disabled Customers.

As an example, this part of the programme will take a member of staff through how to recognise a guest with a visual impairment, what their key needs are and how to provide high quality service. The programme covers the needs of people with many other disabilities. Having been taken through both programmes a test is taken to check the staff's understanding requiring a pass of 70% and a certificate will be presented in the name of the business and Tourism for All. Much of the content will already be familiar to many people but as an industry we need all staff to maximise their skills and ensure that Britain is a world leader in providing the best possible customer service for all.

Tourism for All recognises that tourists are travelling with many different purposes - holidays, shopping trips, booking tickets, visiting theatres, museums, themed parks, travelling, eating out and so on. They are with us everywhere and every day. Tourists are valued customers and expect good service every time.

Tourists come in all kinds of guises - they may be fit, disabled (permanently or temporarily), young or old, foreigners or UK residents, nervous or confident, but whoever they are or whatever their circumstances they deserve respect and will need recognition and may need special assistance. That is why Access for All Training programmes will help you to make a real difference. The programmes as well as being an E-learning tool can also be packaged to be used in group training sessions.

Visit: http://www.tourismforall.org.uk/

Foviance training for creating accessible websites

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:34:00 GMT

Accessibility is about the ability for any person, in any circumstance, using any device to access content on the web, including people with disabilities and is of increasing concern to organisations for financial, moral and legal reasons. Accessibility guidelines are a key aspect of accessibility and a review against these can be a great starting point to making your website accessible.

Accessibility is about the ability for any person, in any circumstance, using any device to access content on the web, including people with disabilities and is of increasing concern to organisations for financial, moral and legal reasons.

Accessibility guidelines are a key aspect of accessibility and a review against these can be a great starting point to making your website accessible.

However, following guidelines doesn’t always mean that you are producing websites that are easy and enjoyable for people with disabilities to use. For a truly accessible website you need to combine technical compliance with user testing to create an accessible user experience as well.

Foviance offers a full range of services to help meet your legal and business objectives for accessibility, to ensure that you are producing websites that people with disabilities can use successfully and to transfer knowledge about accessibility to your teams. This includes Accessibility Audits, Accessibility Testing and Accessibility Training.

Foviance’s Accessibility Training Course provides developers, designers and content editors with the knowledge and skills necessary to create, design and maintain accessible websites and how best practice can transform the online experience for people with disabilities.

Training can be carried out at Foviance’s office or in-house.

The 1-day accessibility training course covers:

An introduction to accessibility, including business reasons and understanding how people with disabilities access the web.
A detailed look at WCAG 2 with explanations of all the key accessibility guidelines and success criteria required to reach level AA compliance.
Best practice tips and techniques on accessible design and implementation according to WCAG 2, e.g., text alternatives, headings, tables, audio and video.
A look at new technologies, e.g., Ajax and how some of the new challenges it raises can be overcome.
Demonstrations of assistive technologies, such as screen readers and screen magnifiers.
A look at some of the tools and techniques (e.g., assistive technologies, browser toolbars) that can be used to help test for accessibility.
Examinations of your (delegates') websites to identify some of the challenges that people with disabilities might encounter.

Visit: http://www.foviance.com/what-we-do/usability-services/accessibility/

Whistler’s Accessibility Website

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Accessible holidays in the Whistler resort in America – specially designed accommodation, restaurants, activities, transportation, entertainment, etc for people with disabilities. This website provides information to travels on accesible holiday destinations.

Visit the website:
http://www.whistlerforthedisabled.com/whistler-accessibility.htm

Towards Best Practice in Provision of Transport Services for People with Disabilities in Ireland

Ivor Ambrose — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:21:00 GMT

The adequate provision of an integrated accessible public transport service is one of the significant services that impact on the quality of life for people with reduced mobility and sensory impairments.

Towards Best Practice in the provision of public transport is one in a series of reports which presents research commissioned by the NDA to provide baseline evidence on the quantum and range of service provision. In commissioning this work, we found strong concurrence across key policy areas that there were large data gaps. We have established where those gaps are most evident. We hope that it can assist in setting priorities for data strategies, coordinated service delivery and integrated policies in meeting the demands for an integrated accessible public transport service in Ireland.

The timing of this report is opportune given the exciting and challenging developments currently taking place within public transport in Ireland. The Government is committed to further enhancing the accessibility features of our public transport infrastructure and this provides us with a unique opportunity to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are included. The NDA recommendations are heavily influenced by the shared understanding about ‘Transport for All’. This encompasses the whole experience of a journey, from accessible information and infrastructure to disability awareness training for staff and measuring customer satisfaction. The priorities set out in this document focus on issues where we can make an impact and are set to appear in our policy work over the next three year period under the second strategic Plan 2004-2006-"Progressing the Disability Agenda in Ireland"