Located in the central region of Portugal, Lousã is an area which epitomises the unspoilt beauty of the Serra da Lousã mountain landscape. Following an initiative to host the first National Accessible Tourism Conference in April 2007, Lousã civil society organised a Task Force to plan for the development of Lousã as the first Accessible Tourism Destination in Portugal. The project aims to serve as an example both nationally and internationally. The website which is currently in Portuguese, will be available in English, French and Spanish in due course.
"The issue of adapting environments that have been created over the centuries represents a major challenge. New functions and techniques have to be added to old environments, at the same time as we cherish our unique cultural heritage. Preserving and changing at the same time is a task that demands special skill, creativity and prudence."
The latest newsletter published today by the Standards Unit of Ireland's National Disability Authority (NDA) shows a lively state of activity in new and forthcoming standards which target accessibility for everyone in tourism and at heritage sites.
In Thailand, the Disabled Peoples' International - Asia Pacific (DPI-AP) and the Asia Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) and partners organised the Second International Forum on Accessible Tourism (ICAT 2007) from 22-24 November 2007.
The Disability Directory is intended as guidance for all museums and galleries in improving their services to disabled people. With the wider implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act a legal duty is added to the obligation that in any case exists for all museums and galleries to have appropriate policies and plans in place to ensure access to their collections and services for all.
Prepared by the Irish National Disability Authority, this draft code of practice explains the obligations of public bodies to ensure that, as far as practicable, the whole or part of a heritage site in its ownership, management or control and to which the public has access, is accessible to people with disabilities and can be visited by them with ease and dignity.
