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How to Advocate for Accessibility - July 2012 Newsletter
How to Advocate for Accessibility – When I travel in my wheelchair, I often encounter opportunities to explain to hotel staff, a tour operator, or a restaurant owner how accessibility can be improved. Most of the time an able-bodied person may not realize the subtle nuances of accessibility, and they generally appreciate you doing so….if you do it the right way.
The email below is an excellent example of advocating for accessibility. I was copied on this email sent from Rob, a Sage Traveling client who will be traveling to Venice.
He was successful in persuading the hotel to purchase a shower chair before his arrival. I have no doubt that part of the reason he was successful is that he did it the right way. His email was:
1) Polite
2) Gave plenty of advance notice
3) Presented a solution rather than just identifying a problem
During you travels in Europe, try to take Rob’s approach. When we advocate for accessibility, we all benefit 🙂
Buon Giorno,
My name is Rob Richardson and i will be staying with you in a handicapped accessible room from November 8, 2012 for three nights. My reservation has been made by Sage Traveling. In observing a picture of your handicapped shower on Sage’s website I am concerned that the small chair in the shower will be inadequate for my disability. I use an electric scooter which cannot be wheeled under a shower. I am also a big man and that chair is too small and low for me to make a transfer without danger of falling.
I have included a couple of pictures of shower chairs of the type that would be much more satisfactory for (me and other disabled clients). As you can see they are not expensive—-less than a 100 Euros, easily. I would even be willing to pay for such a chair. Both chairs are much higher and have arms—-both of those attributes are of great help in transferring to a shower chair.
Would you please give serious consideration to acquiring such a shower chair? Any medical supply company or pharmacy can provide one.
Grazie,
Rob Richardson
What’s New at Sage Traveling?
I’m very busy planning for our Mediterranean cruise later this month! My wife and I will visit 10 cities and conduct accessibility research in all of them. I’ll be developing some exciting, fully-accessible cruise excursions in the coming months….stay tuned!
We’ve spent thousands of hours researching accessibility across Europe. If you’d like us to help plan your trip, please contact me at john@sagetraveling.com.
Travel Wisely,
"We could go on and on but this was the best trip that we could ask for. Our next trip will definitely be through you..."Read More...
"The Paris Accessibility Guide is the most valuable travel document I have ever encountered…"Read More...
"We had a splendid time in Europe, thanks to all your planning. We remarked again and again how difficult it would have been without your planning! Thanks again for the wonderful trip!"Read More...
"I wanted to let you and Mr. Sage know that we loved our accessible private tour of the Vatican…"Read More...
"Let me thank all you guys at Sage Traveling. I got my scooter in Berlin. It was a brand new Orion…"Read More...
"I am a wheelchair user and have just returned with my husband from a cruise which started in Istanbul and ended in Venice. The information you provided on both these cities was absolutely invaluable…"Read More...
"The hotel you recommended was very centrally located and within convenient walking distance to the Louvre and Notre Dame. We even walked to the Latin quarter and to the boat tour! Thank you again for making our trip a wonderful and manageable experience…"Read More...
"I just wanted to thank you for an excellent experience in Paris. The wheelchair was delivered exactly on time and we’ve been everywhere with it over the last two days…"Read More...
"We will certainly recommend your services to others and use you again in the future…"Read More...