Konrad Kaletsch on Who’s “Normal”

The fundamental cognitive shift necessary to apply Universal Design is to overcome the mental barrier that attributes "normalcy" to some and results in "exclusion by design" for others. Konrad Kaletsch is tackling that problem in his post Universal Design: You Are The Expert: You unknowingly became an expert by the very attributes that make you unique. What works for you doesn’t always work for someone else. Someone with great physical strength uses force; genius uses intelligence. What emerges is that the variety of human ability is infinite. It is variety that is normal, not some standard... Read more »

Mike Vowels on the Triple Bottom Line fo Universal Design

Mike Vowels of Stewardship Remodeling has just published an article on sustainability's triple bottom line for the Eastside Business Journal - Sustainability and Remodeling your Home.. He observes that "Only in the past five years, however, has sustainability become a catchword capable of capturing the attention not only of environmental scientists and activists but also of (some) mainstream economists, other social scientists, and policymakers.' He goes on to succinctly make the case. Note his approach. It's quotable: Potentially, sustainability can have a three-prong effect on the... Read more »

Accessible Portugal Online Magazine

Accessible Portugal Online Magazine offers some travel itineraries based around the arts in Portugal. http://www.accessibleportugal.com/revista/2008/Novembro/site/home.html Dear friends, Our last issue of the year is already online. In this one, Accessible Portugal Online Magazine is going to present you a little bit about the Portuguese artistic culture, tracing some curious and original routes based on our artistic heritage. In 2009, we will return in February. Then you’ll understand why. For now, enjoy your reading at: http://www.accessibleportugal.com/revista/2008/Novembro/site/home.html Best... Read more »

GAATES special Award of Recognition to Eduardo Alvarez

From GAATES: It is with praise and thanks that the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) presents Eduardo Alvarez with a special Award of Recognition in honour of his outstanding leadership in the creation of the first International Standard for Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment (ISO TC59/SC16). Mr. Alvarez has demonstrated great leadership, perseverance, and determination in the development of the Accessibility Standard that will impact the lives of people with disabilities around the world. This award will be presented on December... Read more »

Follow up on Rami Rabby, DragonAir, and the CRPD

You may recall Jim Fruchterman's report on the injustice he witnessed being done to former US State Department employee Rami Rabby on a DragonAir flight. Below are further developments including Ravi's letter to Chinese president Hu Jin Tao To: President Hu Jin Tau People's Republic of China Dear Mr. President, I am a blind person, retired from the diplomatic service of the U.S. Department of State and now living in Israel. On September 16, 2008, I travelled on an El-Al flight from Tel-Aviv to Hong Kong where I joined a small group of sighted American friends,... Read more »

Eden Social Welfare Foundation and ICAT 2009

Eden Social Welfare Foundation of Taiwan has been a driving force behind the development of Inclusive Tourism throughout Asia. Taipei was the site of the First International Conference for Accessible Tourism (ICAT) 2005 (Opening keynote address here.) The organization continues to track news and support training on the topic. Tourism for those with disabilities in the region is about to get a boost through the Third International Conference for Accessible Tourism (ICAT) 2009. "Tourism Unlimited: Access for All" is the conference theme. The Disabled People's Association or DPI-Singapore... Read more »

Entornos Maritimos Inclusivos (”Waypoint-Backstrom Principles”) (Spanish)

El Diseño Universal es una tradición, pensada para tierra, originada por el arquitecto tetrapléjico Ron Mace y sus colegas durante los años 70. Aplicado sistemáticamente y modificado al entorno marino, esta aproximación de diseño comenzó a ser conocido como los Principios Waypoint-Backstrom a comienzos de los 2000. La tradición marina como historia documentada conforma la experiencia humana. Aunque especie aparecida sobre tierra firme pero fascinada con el agua, el género humano siempre ha mirado los cursos de agua y el mar en las naves. La navegabilidad es una medida de ajuste... Read more »

Taxi! (Portuguese)

Enasio sensivel por Laurinda Alves no blog A minha crónica de sexta-feira passada no jornal Público. É impossível não ficarmos indignados perante as reacções e declarações de responsáveis que se recusam a incluir os que têm necessidades especiais. A mim repugnam-me todas as formas de exclusão e por isso aqui fica o texto da minha indignação. Incluir? Não obrigado! Num país onde a esmagadora maioria de pessoas portadoras de deficiência são obrigadas a ficar em casa por não terem condições para vencer os obstáculos na rua, é perverso ouvir declarações públicas... Read more »

Responsible Tourism at WTM

From eTurboNews.com by Nelson Alcantara Messages and pleas for providing clean water and spearheading peace through tourism in the next 20 years have been conveyed in the past four days at London’s largest travel exhibition. The word responsible has taken over this year’s World Travel Market. Wherever you turn, “responsible” seems to be the buzzword. If it were a destination, there would be an exodus moving towards that direction. Tuesday proved to be a remarkable day in this regard, as the International Peace through Tourism brought together leaders from key tourism organizations... Read more »

New in Canada: Accessible Travel

Community Solutions Limited of Greater Toronto Canada has launched a new service and web site Linking People & Places. Congratulations to CSL and especially Nancy Gagnon who guided creation of this initiative from its inception and now serves as Accessible Travel Coordinator! Linking People & Places advertises a Cottage Getaway package and will expand their travel packages to include more: COTTAGE GETAWAYS Everyone loves the cottage! Community Solutions Limited: Linking People & Places, has been providing opportunities for cottage vacations since 2007 in response... Read more »

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