PTaccess analyses the state of accessibility of public transport systems for people with disabilities in Europe. Furthermore PTaccess analyses the costs and benefits of good practice examples in making public transport accessible and will deepen the understanding of the transport related contexts of social exclusion of people with disabilities. This project is supported through the Research for policy support heading of the European Union's Sixth Framework Programme, PRIORITY 8.1 Policy-oriented research, Scientific support to policies -- SSP
The Municipality of Arona, Tenerife Sur, has taken up the challenge to make its tourist offers available to everyone, including people with disabilities, through the Arona Integral Accessibility Plan. An access guide to Tenerif Sur, produced in 2007, covers information bureaux, facilities, transport and accommodations in three languages, Spanish, English, German. The Guide has 170 pages and is richly illustrated.
Based in the Mont-Blanc Range, the Loisirs Assis Évasion Association has for 10 years been developing mountain nature activities for adults and children in a handicapped situation. After the ski tandem, backed by the Foundation in 2005, the association is branching out into the creation of all-terrain tandems for ramblers.
Avis Rent A Car System announced a new pilot program that will give customers the ability to rent a mobility scooter and have it waiting in the trunk of their next rental vehicle or delivered to the customer’s location.
Professional ski instructor, Thodoris Petropoulos introduces the adapted skiing programme taking place in Vassilitsa, Grevena, throughout the winter season. The programme offers people with disabilities, individually or as parts of schools, clubs and institutions the chance to take winter vacations learning how to ski, along with appropriate training, equipment and accommodation.
Directly addressing the EU regulations on public procurement, the BFA project, involved partners from the European building industry, architects, public sector and NGOs, to produce a Reference Manual and training materials for professionals in the field, in relation to public procurement, accessibility and the built environment.
The title of this report refers to 2010, the year which was set as the end-point of the European Disability Action Plan. The plan was launched in 2003, to combat discrimination and improve the participation of disabled citizens in European society. The report examines European tourism policy developments over the past two decades and argues that new policies are needed to make tourism accessible for all on a much wider scale. This is due to three critical factors: global competition, demographic ageing - with more older and disabled citizens wanting to travel, and
the strengthening of disability rights, which will bring increased demand for accessible tourism services. The report presents new policy objectives and targets, and a 'Road Map' for how accessible tourism policies might be implemented across Europe in the years ahead.
As part of the two year ENAT work programme 2006 – 2007, a study of services and facilities for accessible tourism in Europe was conducted by Toegankelijkheidsbureau (Belgium). This report presents definitions of accessible tourism, the target public and their specific needs, leading to an overview of services and facilities that tourism providers can adopt to improve accessibility.
The Build-for-All Manual presents the rationale and a method for applying Design-for-all principles and criteria in the public procurement of buildings and infrastructure works.
Two new studies produced by ENAT research staff are now available for download from the ENAT website. The first report, " Rights of Tourists with Disabilities in the European Union Framework" examines the key legislation and the way in which the rights of people with disabilities are being extended and safeguarded. The second report, "Services and Facilities for Accessible Tourism in Europe" presents definitions of accessible tourism, the target public and their specific needs, and an overview of services and facilities that tourism providers can adopt to improve accessibility. Both reports include many examples of good practice drawn from several European countries, illustrating a range of accessible tourism and travel services.
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.
At a congress held last week by the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), over 200 representatives from international disability organisations, tourist boards and private enterprise came to the overwhelming conclusion that accessible tourism is the fastest-growing business opportunity in the tourism industry.
