Hi
You should try European Disability Forum. Since the implementation of the new European regulations on air travel in July this year we would expect improvements in service and possibly in design for the future (although I do not expect quick changes!).
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Maddalena Botta
Sent: 11 September 2008 17:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: lobbying for more wheelchair-friendly airplanes: current situation??
dear all
I am an Italian student, I am a wheelchair user, and I love travelling! or rather, I would love travelling... if airplanes were handicapped friendly! as a matter of fact, I don't know if things have changed very recently and I am not aware of it, but it seems to me that toilets on airplanes (in spite of the handicap symbol on the restrooms' door...) are never quite wheelchair-handicap friendly. They are way too narrow! For instance, not even the very small wheelchair which SOMETIMES (and here again it is wrong: this kind of chair that fits between the isles on the airplane should always be kept on board, on any plane. instead this doesn't happen, at least not to my knowledge...) are on board fit in. Or again, when someone needs assistance (which is unfortunately my case) there's no way the person helping you can fit in. Briefly, wheelchair users simply are not allowed to use toilets. As for me, when I happened to fly long distances, I started two days prior to my flight avoiding eating and drinking, so that I could have less chances to need a toilet ;-)
but here we come to my question: does anybody know if there are certain disabled people's organisations active, lobbying to this regard? what is the current situation? has something been achieved?
I would be very happy to give my contribution to a legal-social fight, in order to build new airplanes with wheelchair accessible toilets.
I know... you'll all think I am just a dreamer, and that companies will never spend money to change their aircrafts...but who knows... if the international disabled community makes enough noise...
after all, why should presidential airways with living rooms and luxury sofas etc etc be built, and not one single really accessible toilet? my opinion is that, both considering the costs and the room that would be occupied, it wouldn't be that big deal at all. it would be enough to take away some seats, let's say what, 6 seats? (maybe even 4), and use that room to build an adapted bathroom, wide enough for a person in the "on board wheelchair" (the tiny one I was talking about before) and for a helper, when needed.
let me know what u think ;-)
SECOND AND SEPARATED QUESTION:
since I am writing to this mailing list, it comes to my mind that this list might be the best place indeed to look for information on another topic. here it comes: my brother is also in a wheelchair, but he also suffers from low vision. he suffers from Stargardt disease.
does anyone know about any special devices that could help him see better, and deal with everyday life activities? (he uses Beecher Mirage, but very rarely. he is not that happy with them. then he has a screen , like a pc, for reading and studying).
but more important: do you know by any chance some support groups, peer groups of people affected by similar multiple disabilities? I think it would be really good and helpful for him to be able to talk with other people who experience similar difficulties. and maybe support groups would provide him with ideas... you know it's hard, when you can't quite do sports (our physical disability affects both arms and legs), you don't see well tvs or a movie screen, etc etc... sometimes we just would need some inspiration :-)
thank you for your kind attention if you read so far
best regards
Maddalena Botta
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Poco spazio e tanto spam? Yahoo! Mail ti protegge dallo spam e ti da tanto spazio gratuito per i tuoi file e i messaggi http://mail.yahoo.it
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|
