Accessibity is not just about wheelchair access
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April 26, 2007Australia For All, a one stop shop for accessible tourism in Australia launches. Are you a small tourist business looking for a niche market? This may be your competitive edge!
Australia For All is a tourism devoted to accommodation and tourist venues which cater for the requirements of the 4 million people in Australia who have a disability.
Run by Hervey Bay’s Access For All Alliance, it is a new national e-service which allows tourists with disabilities and their families to obtain information about the accessibility of the accommodation and tourist venues which they wish to visit.
And will assist tourist providers within the tourist industry to improve their services and therefore encourage more tourists with disabilities to use them.
As Australia For All maintains, accessibility is not just about wheelchair access. Here are ten of the many questions tourist operators should ask themselves when thinking about making their venues accessible to the disabled:
Q Do you find it hard to read some signs from a distance?
A You could benefit from clearer signage
Q Have you ever found it hard to determine which tap is hot or cold?
A A You could benefit from clearly visible hot and cold indicators on taps
Q Do you often wonder which floor the lift has arrived at?
A You could benefit from audio and visual floor level indicators
Q Do you ever go to pull open a door and find it’s a push?
A You could benefit from clearer signage around doors
Q Do you worry what would happen if the lift broke down?
A You could benefit from well trained staff who know the exit procedure
Q Have you been walking & needed to sit down and could not find a seat?
A You could benefit from seats placed around grounds and buildings
Q Have you ever thought you were at the bottom of the stairs but still found you had a step to go?
A You could benefit from clearer markings on the top and bottom steps
Q Have you ever had difficulty carrying out simple tasks with your hands?
A You could benefit from many of the recommended criteria e.g. grab-rails, wide corridors and doors and lever-type taps.
Q Do you ask for directions but only catch the first part of the answer?
A You could benefit from clear signage at regular intervals
Q Do you find it hard to hear someone speak above background noise?
A You could benefit from seating away from areas of noise
Approximately 120 facilities and tourist venues such as Gippsland’s Frog Gully Cottages have seen the value in the project.
To sign up to Australia For All venues are asked to complete these Self Assessment Documents, and for their effort will receive free advertising for a year on the website.
But Australia For All need many 100’s more, as there are huge gaps covering the states of NSW, SA & NT.
If you know of a hotel/motel or other venue such as a restaurant, theatre or museum who go out of their way to make their venues accessible to people with disabilities, expecially for those with mobility aids email Australian For All at australiaforall@bigpond.com.
