February 2010 - Posts
Name and shame
Accessible car poarking needs to be mananged properly as these pictures prove.
I should add that there is ample parking at this hotel but nobody manages the car park. Customers are lazy and if they see someone get away with this then they think they can to. The result is a disabled person having to park a long distance away. And when you bring it up with reception the person just shrugs their shoulders.
At last a hotel understands
Congratulatins to the Holiday Inn Express at Wandsworth as this is the sign they display by their accessible parking spaces.
Firstly it says the space is for Blue Badge holders only but most importantly it gives a telephone number vwhere the person with a disability can get help.
I have lost count of the hotels that I have suggested it to, at least one hotel has got the message.
This is simple and inexpensive to do so why is it not more common?
An accident waiting to happen, again!
This was taken in a hotel and I can't believe this has not been corrected. It is an accident waiting to happen. You can see how the seat slopes down and this seat will soon be wet and slippery. It means that it is very easy for a person with a disability ro slide off. Why are these things not picked up by housekeepers and reported to maintenance. This has happened over time and should have been picked up and rectified.
The cost of an accident could run into many thousands of pounds so not doing anything is a false economy.
Good or bad?
What do you think of this accessible bathroom?
Here are my thoughts:
- There is a bin but I think this should be specifically identified for used dressings. MRSA is very easy to transmit and with it being in the community as well as hospitals it can kill and disable people very quickly because it is so easy to transmit.
- There is a good seat that is supported underneath. This is much safer than those that just hang on the wall.
- There is good drainage so the water gets away quickly.
- There are no grab rails. This makes it difficult for someone to stand up and use the shower. If they have had a stroke for example a grab rail can be very helpful. The grab rails should be on both sides of the shower and be in addition to the rails at the side of the seat..
- Everything is so shiny that it makes it very difficult for someone to use with a visual impairment. Also many customers have glasses and will take them off to have a shower and items made of stainless steel are very difficult to understand. I think bathroms should use fittings that are clear and easy to use e.g. colour finish with contrasting colours. I have nearly burnt myself on several occasions because my disability makes it very difficult to move quickly when I accidentally knock the controls.
- The alarm cord only stretches down about 18 inches making it useless.
- It is good to see there is a telephone in the bathroom.
- This set up can easily be used by able bodied people that just want a shower.
- This hotel should be congrtaulated for having a wet room for people with disabilities as so many hotels don't. As an amputee there is no way I can use a bath.
- There are suport rails on either side of the seat and this is very helpful.
But what do you think and how do your accessible roms shape up?