blind_html Re: [Fwd: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind]
- From: "The Elf" <inthaneelf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind_html@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:26:19 -0800
Fred's Head Companionthat's some good information there, thanks, especially
since I plan to do some out of the country travel this year or early next year,
Tahiti here we come!
have a good one,
elf
----- Original Message -----
From: Nimer Jaber
To: blind_html@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 4:42 PM
Subject: blind_html [Fwd: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for
the Blind]
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Fred's Head Companion - American
Printing House for the Blind
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:25:19 -0600 (CST)
From: Fred's Head Companion <fredshead@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: Fred's Head Companion <fredshead@xxxxxxx>
To: nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx
Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
Accessible Breast Cancer Information
Posted: 12 Jan 2009 08:02 AM CST
The National Braille Press is offering free copies (in braille or
PortaBook) of the American Cancer Society booklet, For Women Facing Breast
Cancer. The publication covers mammograms, biopsies, cancer staging, treatment
options, and breast reconstruction as well as how to join clinical trials and
where to find emotional support.
Each section includes a list of questions that individuals might want
to ask their doctor or nurse. Copies are limited to one per customer
NBP has other health-related braille publications, including:
a.. After Diagnosis: Prostate Cancer, free
b.. Menopause Guidebook, free
c.. Simple Ways to Control Your Weight
d.. Atkins Carbohydrate Gram Counter
e.. Diabetes Cookbook: Desserts
NPB also offers a free four-week trial of Syndicated Columnists Weekly,
a braille magazine that includes columns and editorials print and online
newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington
Post. You can download a free sample (text or braille) on the National Braille
Press website: http://www.nbp.org.
Business Travel Tips for the Entrepreneur With a Disability
Posted: 12 Jan 2009 07:49 AM CST
Into every disabled businessperson's career some travel must fall. Make
the experience less stressful with these travel tips geared to people with
visual impairments.
Be Prepared
Travel Advice From a Pro
Traveling Abroad
Other Tips and Tricks From Travelers With Disabilities
These Are the Rules
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Be Prepared
Business travel can be tense enough without the added hassle of being
blind or visually impaired. I talked to some experienced visually impaired
business travelers to see what they do to make the process more pleasant so
they can concentrate on doing business.
Being prepared for your business trip that will lessen or eliminate
headaches which commonly plague travelers but which are even greater hassles
for people with disabilities. Here are a few tips for being prepared that I
found specifically for blind or visually impaired travelers:
a.. Write down the names and addresses of all destinations, such as
hotels, meeting places, and even airports. Don't assume taxi drivers and others
will know where they are, and don't rely on your own memory. Bring the
information in a form accessible to you. Include phone numbers you may need to
get help at your destination, including hotels, ground transportation, business
contacts, and tourist bureaus.
b.. Make it known to everyone you deal with (starting with your
travel agency) what your disability is. Don't assume people will figure it out
themselves. Tell them directly and specifically what help you need. If you keep
it to yourself out of reticence or pride, you may discover that something you
really need will be missed or that you will be overlooked, for instance, in an
emergency. Believe me, it's not worth it.
c.. Don't hesitate to ask people for information or help. If you
cannot see the departures monitor, just cheerfully ask someone standing near it
if they can help you out. In my experience, most people are more than happy to
help, especially if you are specific about what you need. Be courteous and
grateful. It's called "positive reinforcement."
d.. Carry your white cane whether you are going to use it or not. At
the very least, it will validate your requests for help, and you may run into
situations, such as dark stairways, where you will need it. Bring an extra
folding white cane in your luggage in case something happens to your regular
cane or your guide dog.
e.. Keep valuables and important documents on your person: keys,
money, tickets, identification etc. You can get a small zippered pouch that you
wear around your neck under your clothes where you can carry these items
securely, but make sure you can get to them when you need to -- such as when
going through security.
f.. Have small bills in your pocket for tips. Chances are you will be
asking for more help than the average person. It is only right to show you
appreciate rather than demand it.
g.. Find out ahead of time whether you can bring your guide dog. (See
this article's Traveling Abroad section.) Don't assume just because you are
traveling within your country that you will be able to bring it along. Hawaii.,
for example, limits the circumstances under which you can enter the state with
a service animal.
h.. Find out if your health insurance will cover you when you travel,
especially to other countries. And bring your medications with you in their
labeled bottles so they can be identified as prescription drugs if you are
searched.
i.. Do your research. One handy tool for getting information about
airports is International Airport Guide. For a review of what airport travel
involves post 9/11, see Remaking the Airport.
j.. Research hotels. A hotel is a hotel, right? No! If you have
concerns about sharing of a bathroom, availability of toiletries, locations of
transportation or availability of meals, find out about all of these services
before you make your reservation. At a hotel I stayed in Paris the "toilet" in
the room was not a toilet but a bidet -- the toilet was down the hall. And
every morning there was a tray with coffee and a baguette on the floor in front
of the door. I'm glad I did not find out about this by tripping over it!
k.. Search disability travel sites. While the dozen or so sites
dedicated to accessible travel emphasize wheelchair users, it is wise to read
every one you find. Use the words "accessible travel" in a search engine
because there is plenty of helpful advice that is applicable to all
disabilities.
l.. Read general travel advice meant for the average traveler. What
you learn may be even more important to you -- such as not assuming you will
find a room with a vacancy when you arrive like my friend Ellen and I did when
we spent a night in Juneau, Alaska, one August. One great resource on the Web
is Rick Steve's Travel Tips, which has advice about packing, safety,
communicating, using money, staying healthy and other potentially risky aspects
of traveling.
m.. Read about your destination ahead of time. I can't tell you how
many times I've come back from a business trip where I had extra time only to
find out that something I would have loved to see or visit was down the block
from my hotel!
The airline and other travel industries are slowly adapting to the
disabled market, but, with each travel or hospitality worker you meet, there is
the potential for running into unexpected problems. Other obstacles can come up
from your own lack of knowledge (understandable enough) of the nuances of each
industry. You can lessen the chance that an inconvenience will become a serious
problem by learning a thing or two about the destination, the transportation
and the services you expect to use.
Each aircraft, for instance, has emergency exits, some of which are
right by passenger seats. People with disabilities are not allowed to sit in
those seats because the person in them is responsible for the lives of every
other individual on that flight. When you make your seat selection, be sure to
tell the ticket agent you have a disability to prevent being given an
emergency-exit row seat and then having to later haggle over who has to trade
with you.
The Disabled Traveler suggests you choose an airline based on its
record of accommodating disabled travelers.
Go to Top of Page
Travel Advice From a Pro
Mika Pyyhkala, who travels more than 50,000 miles a year for business
and pleasure, gave me several tips. In fact, they are so helpful that I'm
giving Pyyhkala a whole section in this article! Here is advice from a pro:
a.. Join and get to know airline/hotel frequent travel programs. If
possible, try to become an elite/prefered/premier member. You receive many
published and unpublished benefits once reaching these levels.
b.. Get to know (at least by first name and face) people who work at
the airports and hotels you frequent. These people can really make or break
your travel. I just completed a trip where I ran into a ticket agent who just
recognized my face, and she waived a $100 change fee for me, even in the era of
supposedly no waivers and no favors.
c.. Keep a person's direct telephone number when you have a complaint
or problem -- when you want to issue a compliment. These key people can help
you. Last summer, I had to change a trip. I called a friend of mine who I have
dealt with over the years at Boston Logan, and she said, "Usually there is a
charge for this, but I will waive it for you since I know you have had problems
in the past." Also, this past summer, I needed a two-bedroom suite at a major
hotel but wanted to pay just the standard room charge. I got a contact name
from someone I had worked with, and presto, I got the two-bedroom executive
suite for the price of an economy room.
d.. Use the internet as a resource. An excellent web site is
FlyerTalk.com, which has forums or chat areas about all major airline and hotel
companies. There are countless tips and useful undocumented sources of advice.
For example, on FlyerTalk.com, I learned of a deal where I could fly the BA
Concorde for $1,200 round-trip (usual price is $10k -- give or take a few k).
e.. Try to get bumped from over-sold flights in order to get free
tickets, upgrades, and other benefits.
f.. Ask the venue for a tour of the facilities at a convention
center. I recently did this at the Orlando Convention Center, and it worked out
very well.
g.. Get a laptop with an ethernet connection, and an 802.11 (wifi)
wireless connection, so you can stay connected wherever you might be. Look at
an ISP called i2roam.com for dial up and other connections around the globe.
h.. Learn to get around by yourself at the airports you use most
frequently. It is easier than you think. This way, you do not have to wait for
or be dependent on others for connecting flights etc.
i.. Rethink your need for special assistance. I prefer not to request
special assistance from the airlines. I find that this type of service gets in
my way more than it helps.
j.. Trade favors. If you frequent a particular hotel, ask for guest
service information in braille. Offer to publicize this fact for the hotel and
help the facility find a vendor to do the work.
k.. Be careful when checking into hotels because many front desk
agents think a person who is blind needs either a room near elevator or one
equipped for people in wheelchairs.
l.. File a complaint if you encounter disability-related issues. You
would be surprised at the compensation you might receive for your trouble. Plus
you may help the company in its service efforts.
m.. Plan for computer access. I bought a very thin and small Cannon
scanner to do OCR on the road. There may be difficulties if you need to go to a
client site, for example, and access a lot of paper files etc.
n.. Try to get the materials ahead of time in electronic format when
you go to conferences.
Thank you, Mika!
Go to Top of Page
Traveling Abroad
Access laws and customs for people with disabilities are far from
universal. Your "rights" where you live may not be what they are in another
country. They may be more limited. They may be stronger. Further, the age of
buildings, roads and other public places may affect their potential for
accessibility. A 13th century cathedral is not likely to be as accessible as a
21st century hotel and so forth.
Customs vary as well, and these include attitudes towards people with
disabilities. My husband tells me that tourists from overseas often look with
shock at me as we walk by them in malls -- white cane in my hand and all. I
have noticed that some immigrants appear to be unaware of what my cane even
means and make no effort to move out of my way. On my part, I'm sure that, if I
were in a part of the world where "the crippled" sit on the street and beg, my
very American look of reproach would not be appreciated.
In particular, attitudes towards service animals, whether regulated or
cultural, can cause blind or visually impaired people some problems. The United
Kingdom has strict rules about admitting dogs because, being an island, it can
prevent the spread of rabies in do so. In some countries, dogs fall into the
same category as rats and, as a result, are regarded as unclean. My friend,
Bern, has had rotten fruit thrown at her when she ventures out with her guide
dog, Hazey.
It is critical that you do your homework before you travel abroad,
whether for business or pleasure. Fortunately, AccessAble Travel Services has
made this rather easy. In its "World Destinations" database, you can select the
country or countries you will be visiting and obtain information (including
links about local access issues, laws and customs.
Definitely look at foreign travel advice intended for every type of
traveler to get information about communicating, money exchanges and so forth.
Rick Steve's Travel Tips is very thorough.
Go to Top of Page
Other Tips and Tricks From Travelers With Disabilities
a.. Be selective when it comes to seating. In my own travels, I try
to take an airlines such as Southwest Airlines which allow me to choose my own
seat. When I can't go Southwest, I always take the airline's offer of priority
seating so I can get help finding my seat and get settled before the rush of
boarding really gets started.
b.. Don't kid around when talking to travel and security personnel.
Sure it's tempting to respond "Always!" when the airline check-in person asks
you if your luggage has been out of your sight for any period of time or to
hold your white cane like a sword when going through security. We use humor to
deal with others' awkwardness, but these people are required by law "not to
take a joke." You may be detained or even jailed for your witticism.
c.. Don't assume being disabled means travel and security people will
cut you slack. You must be as much or more serious and responsive.
d.. Ask about discounts when planning to visit entertainment venues
such as amusement parks. Many charge people with disabilities the same lower
rate they do seniors.
e.. Ask about companion fares. Some modes of transport charge lower
fares or allow you to bring a companion at no extra charge, if you are
disabled. When my husband and I took a bus across country, we only had to pay
for one ticket. It was worth it to the bus company not to have to have drivers
and station staff helping me out.
f.. Make hotel card keys accessible. Kathy Blackburn suggests, "For
hotel key cards, ask the desk clerk to place a piece of tape on the side of the
card that should be toward you when you insert the key into the slot. Make sure
the clerk doesn't place the tape on the end of the card in such a way that some
of it is on both sides."
g.. Make luggage tags accessible. Blackburn also recommends the large
plastic luggage tags which can be brailled with a slate and stylus.
h.. Book your hotel yourself. Vicki Ratcliffe says, "When traveling
alone, I always book the reservation for the hotel rather than have the agency
book it for me. By doing this, I can choose a hotel that meets my needs such as
one that has a restaurant for meals or one with interior corridors to get from
place to place."
i.. Select gift shops which allow you to touch. AccessAble Travel
Services offers this advice: "Enhance your sensory experience by going on tours
and visiting gift shops. Some tour groups allow travelers who are visually
impaired to experience an exhibit by touching objects otherwise off-limits.
Gift shops often sell small scale replicas of monuments you can touch."
j.. Don't forget your tape recorder. On Rick Steve's Travel Tips, a
site visitor writes, "When a blind friend of mine travels, he takes a small
tape recorder. He tapes all sorts of things -- from pub conversations to train
announcements to the sounds of nature. These tapes are his 'photographs.' It is
so much fun listening to the sounds of places he has visited. I think I'll take
a tape recorder on my next trip!"
Go to Top of Page
These Are the Rules
Wonder about a specific rule or regulation while traveling? Check these
resources.
a.. Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements Preserve and
Respect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities - USA. Post September 11
security measures affecting air travelers have been developed to improve rather
than hinder people with disabilities.
b.. State Department Travel Warnings - USA. The U.S. Department of
State monitors traveler safety issues around the world and issues these
advisories, called Travel Warnings (updated promptly) about whether it is safe
to travel in certain cities, countries or regions of the world. The web site
gives safety advisories for each country as well as some other very significant
information about conditions for travelers, entry and exit requirements,
incidence of crime, air travel and traffic safety, health concerns, customs
law, and a lot more -- even disaster readiness advice. For example, I
discovered that, if I should plan to travel with my child to Papua, New Guinea,
I need to bring her birth certificate and other legal documents that prove she
is not being abducted. This site is fascinating reading, even if you are only
armchair traveling!
Article Source:
http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=1152
Accessible Everything: An Accessible and Inclusive Travel Blog for
People with Disabilities
Accessible Everything is a blog about accessibility for disabled people
with a special focus on the tourism industry. From the author:
"I have travelled quite extensively and indepedently in Europe and I
think it's important to share these experiences, both good and bad, with other
disabled people."
"I worked for several years with the Spinal Injuries Association in the
United Kingdom which gave me many opportunities and broadened my knowledge of
Spinal Injury. I also volunteered for other disability associations which
helped me understand other types of disabilities."
"In January 2002, I moved to Barcelona and taught English as a Second
Language for several months. During this time I travelled independently in
Germany for over a month, going from town to town by train. I had some problems
in Berlin due to the lack of information for disabled travellers, such as
accessibility in museums, hotels and restaurants."
"When I returned to Barcelona, I decided to help disabled people that
wanted to visit the city by writing a short access guide. This guide,
AccessibleBarcelona is available on the internet at
http://www.accessiblebarcelona.com and I hope that it helps many people to
travel more confidently."
"I still live in Barcelona and I should imagine that much of this blog
will be related to my experiences both here and whilst travelling in other
countries."
Click this link to visit the Accessible Everything blog at
http://www.craiggrimes.com.
British Website Lists Accessible Rentals in More than 20 Countries
AccessAtLast.com is a one-stop shop for accessible bookings (it
guarantees level-access showers) to vacation home and apartment rentals from
England to Indonesia.
The site bills itself as "the only website in the world advertising
only accommodation with at least one room with a level access shower."
The company's goal is to make life accessible for mobility impaired
people wishing to travel the world, regardless of one's physical limitations.
The website provides detailed information covering all aspects of accessibility
for its property listings, located in twenty countries around the world,
including the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Turkey, Indonesia, and the
United States.
Most properties are high end, such as a Normandy farmhouse that
includes a private heated pool fitted with an Oxford Dipper Hoist (there's one
in the house, too), or the Cotswold cottage with an electric bed, shower chair,
and teletext; Canary Island bungalows, Turkish hotels, Italian resorts, all can
be booked through AccessAtLast.
Each AccessAtLast listing includes enough information for a disabled
traveler to determine if the house, apartment, or villa meets their
accessibility needs. Listings specify such details as:
a.. Width of doorways
b.. Bed, toilet, and clothes rack heights
c.. Availability of electric beds
d.. Level-access showers (guaranteed)
e.. Manual shower chairs and grabrails
f.. Teletext
g.. Pool and indoor wheelchair lifts
h.. Availability of accessible transportation.
Disabled travelers seeking getaway ideas can find inspiration in the
site's Accommodation of the Month. Bargain hunters might search the site's
"Last Minute Offers" section for even greater deals!
AccessAtLast's WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant
website, which supports screen readers used by the blind, also includes
customer reviews, a mobility shop featuring wheelchairs and accessories, and a
signup for an accessible travel newsletter. A recently added feature is an
advanced-search capability for multi-room accommodations sorted by country or
region.
Click this link to visit AccessAtLast.com.
AbilityPLUS: Adaptive Snowsports and Recreation
Posted: 12 Jan 2009 07:30 AM CST
Since 1997, AbilityPLUS has sought to make year-round recreation, such
as snow sports and cycling, accessible to those with physical, emotional, and
sensory disabilities.
AbilityPLUS, located in Waterville Valley in the heart of New Hampshire
ski country, is dedicated to availing the disabled of opportunities to
experience adaptive sports, including Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing,
sled hockey, kayaking, hiking, bicycling, and therapeutic horseback riding.
Executive director Kathy Chandler founded AbilityPLUS in 1997 with the
help of a small group of volunteers who were inspired by the athletic
achievements of the region^D>'s disabled skiers.
The organization now runs affiliate and partner program with major New
England ski centers, Attitash-Bear Peak (Bartlett, Mount Snow, VT, and
Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, Mass) and over 250 volunteers who have helped
thousands of individuals and their families experience the joy of outdoor
recreation.
AbilityPLUS serves people from every demographic, including a growing
number of disabled veterans in the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project,
which it coordinates with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The program, now
in its fifth year, pairs veterans with specially trained instructors at
Waterville Valley to learn the use of mono- and sit-skis.
Click this link to visit the AbilityPLUS website to learn more about
their programs.
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