Small acts, big impact?
- accessibility in travel and tourism
InFAcTo -International Food and Activity Tourism -project
InFAcTo
Small acts, big impact? - accessibility in travel and tourism Accessibility in travel? Accessibility in travel can be considered from three viewpoints: the functional environment, service process and communication. Issues to be considered in terms of accessibility of the functional environment include the destination being easily reachable, the design and implementation of the structures, and equipment. All these are questions of physical access. Service-process aspects under consideration include the readiness of staff to encounter diverse customers. Communication factors include matters related to the channels, methods and tools used in marketing and communications, and the issues of easily reachable and reliable information. Easy-to-read -materials and accessible web pages, for example, are helpful also in ensuring that marketing reaches its target audience. From the perspective of predictive business operations, accessibility in travel can be viewed also as containing a competitiveness factor which can be used to even out seasonal fluctuations in travel destinations. Accessible destinations and restaurants may be the future trump card within tourism, as the number of senior citizens increases. Senior tourists may perhaps need more services, but they also have time and money. For this reason, accessibility should not be viewed as a superimposed element, detached from overall activity development. Instead, it should be seen as an integral aspect of developing and marketing the travel environment and travel services and products.
2
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
An accessible environment benefits everyone The purpose of this booklet is to demonstrate the advantages of physical accessibility in the implementation of tourism services. Even small acts provide a venue through which everyone can mould the functional environment so that it is more accessible for themselves and others. Physical accessibility guarantees the suitability of services and their availability for use by all target groups – regardless of age, gender, mobility and nationality.
What is accessibility? The environment or an individual building is accessible when it is functional, safe and pleasant for all users. Accessible facilities and the functions within them are as logical and easy to use as possible, and access to all spaces and floor levels within the building is easy. Nowadays, accessibility and being easily reachable are justifiable topics for discussion. Largely, they have the same meaning. An environment that is suitable for everyone is physically, psychologically and functionally accessible, and thereby reachable. There are many factors which impact physical accessibility. With regard to outside areas, surface materials, variations in surface shape and the existence and clarity of signposts have an impact on how easy it is to move around in the area. Buildings and accommodations must be effortlessly accessible, but moving around and functioning in indoor areas must also be as accessible as possible.
ergonomic solutions support accessibility and service availability. Taking accessibility into consideration in advance is useful also in emergencies.
Reaching the travel destination – accessible passage in outdoor areas Upon arrival, signage is of primary importance. It must continue uninterrupted all the way through to the destination and it must be clear and easy to understand. Signs are noticeable when placed accessibly and with regard to the direction of sight, logically at the height of the eye (1.4–1.6 m). The colour scheme of the signage must be consistent. If different parts of the building have identifying colours, the colour can provide additional information. Light letters against a dark background are the most visible. In addition, the signs must be non-glossy and non-reflecting. Particular attention must be paid to the clarity of text and symbols. It would also be useful to introduce visual signs to support the textual ones. Marked parking spaces (minimum width 3.6 m) designated for the physically disabled must be placed such that the route to the entrance is short and unobstructed.
While coherent indoor areas are easy to pass through, attention should also be paid to furniture and its placement, surface materials, lighting, colours and contrasts, as well as acoustics. Successful
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
3
InFAcTo
Accessible passage indoors Accessibly must also be taken into consideration in constructing the outdoor passageways. It does not necessarily occur to pedestrians to consider what kinds of obstacles a person in a wheelchair encounters. The inclination of outdoor passageways must not be higher than 8 %. The surface of the passageway must be hard and non-slippery, and as even as possible. There must not be any collision, stumbling or falling hazards on the passageways. Benches, bicycle stands, light posts and flower boxes must be placed on the sides of the passageways. Outdoor passageways must be kept clean and in good condition; snow and ice make it even more difficult for a person in a wheelchair to move around. In addition, good lighting must be ensured in yards and passageways.
The front doors of accommodations and restaurants must be constructed such that sizing, automation and opening are taken into consideration, among other things. When the door opens inwards, there must be about 2 metres of space in the vestibule to prevent one from being “trapped” in it. Heavy doors pose a further hindrance to easy passage. In the image there is sufficient space in the vestibule.
Signage must be provided from the parking spaces and main routes to the building entrance. The entrance must be well-lit and noticeable. In terms of accessibility, a functional entrance is one that is covered, level with the building and has no thresholds.
4
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
The doors must open effortlessly. When to door is sufficiently light to allow for effortless opening, it is easier for everyone to pass through. It takes strength and effort to open a heavy door and to keep it open. Also, technique is required to pass through a heavy door. If the door is automated, 25 seconds should lapse before it closes. In terms of accessible passage, the width of the doorway should be at least 90 cm. In the image the doorway is sufficiently wide for all passers-by. Unfortunately this doorway cannot accommodate motorized wheelchairs and mopeds.
Door and light switches must be placed so that they are easy to notice and close to the target. In terms of placement, it must also be taken into consideration that the height of the switches is suitable for everyone and access to them is unobstructed.
Thresholds, corridors and ramps Front-door and inner-door thresholds have different requirements. The maximum height of the threshold is 2 cm and the brim should be rounded.
In the image the threshold has been removed from the doorway and replaced with a plastic moulding. Crossing the threshold is easy and effortless.
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
5
InFAcTo
Adequate width for the passageways is approximately 1.5 m. In that case, a person using a wheelchair can turn around unobstructed.
should be paid to ramp inclination; the angle must not be too steep. A long ramp must have an even rest stop at the halfway point.
Non-slippery floor surfaces are important to the physically disabled moving on foot or with canes. In addition, they need places to rest along long stretches and corridors and in lobbies. Seating levels should be of varying height.
In the image the ramp is functional for a person with physical disabilities. However, it’s important to remember that turning a motorized wheelchair and moped around requires care and precision, and in every ramp there may not be sufficient room to complete the turn.
Use of ramps is recommended when the level differences are one metre at most. Particular attention
According to the recommendation, the ramp should have handrails on both sides. Handrail makes it easier for a physically disabled person on foot to pass through the ramp. In physical exercise facilities, the accessibility of the facilities and equipment must be taken into consideration. For example, a ramp facilitates access to the swimming pool.
6
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
At exercise halls and gyms, it should be ensured that there is enough space around the equipment so that a physically impaired person can access the equipment safely. In addition, it is a good idea to take into consideration the differences in height when placing equipment and devices.
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
7
InFAcTo
Lifts
Seats
For level differences in excess of one metre, the use of a lift or hoisting apparatus is recommended instead of a ramp. A lift cage with a diameter of 1.5 metres is sufficiently spacious to allow a person in a wheelchair to turn around. There must be a mirror on the back wall of the lift and it must reach sufficiently far down: it is helpful when operating the wheelchair in reverse.
A person in a wheelchair would benefit from the occasional availability of seating other than the wheelchair. If possible, facilities should be equipped with different types of seating to suit different needs.
The lifts should have distinct push buttons, preferably with elevated numbers. The image shows the appropriate height for the buttons.
Chairs must have backrests. Armrests can facilitate moving from one chair to another. The seat should be horizontal, with a depth of 30–40 cm. It would be desirable to equip the seat with a rounded front edge so it does not press on the posterior part of the thigh and impede the circulation in the legs. The chair must not have a horizontal crossbar or other solid structure down in front to hamper getting up from the chair. Varying seat levels are required for benches and chairs. Moving from the wheelchair to another seat is easiest when the seats are of approximately the same height. Forty-five centimetres is usually a comfortable seat height. The seat height for persons of short stature (children) is 30 cm. A seat height of 50–55 cm is suitable if the knees or hips are stiff. In addition, there are individual differences.
8
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
Cafes and restaurants In cafes and restaurants, accessible passage should be taken into consideration when contemplating the placement of plants and other decorative elements. Coat racks should be designed to suit the needs of all users. The suitable height of a coat rack or clothes rail for a person in a wheelchair is 1.2 metres from the floor. Coat rack with no plinth is easy to reach from a wheelchair. Clothes rails and coat racks must be placed on the side of the passage or in a recess to avoid any collision hazards. The coat rack on the right is exceedingly well-suited for use by a person of short stature.
The tables and chairs should be placed so that they are accessible also to persons in wheelchairs or those using a walker or forearm crutches.
When furnishing the dining area, spaciousness should be a consideration, and the furniture should be light and easy to move around. In many cases, the lines or the buffet may be placed too high for a person in a wheelchair and a person of short stature. A person in a wheelchair may be able the help himself/herself to the food but for a person of short stature the dishes nested in the serving table may be difficult to handle. An adjustable service counter would be ideal.
If customers are expected to return the dishes and leftovers themselves, the return points should also be accessibly arranged. Illustrated signage makes it easier also for international diners to manage. Returning the dishes to a free-standing cart is easier for a person in a wheelchair and a person of short stature.
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
9
InFAcTo
Accessible sauna facilities, bathrooms and toilets An extra handle on the inside of the toilet door makes the door easier to handle. There must be sufficient room in the toilet to move the wheelchair and turn it around. There must also be sufficient room near the toilet seat to make transferring to the seat as simple as possible. Roominess is essential also in terms of a possible assistant. The supports must be long and sturdy and their distance from the toilet seat should be approximately 10–12 cm. The supports function best if bolted to the floor or wall.
In placing the alarm system (usually string or button), suitable height and distance from the toilet seat must be taken into account. The wash-hand basin shown in the picture is functional because the user can adjust the height of the basin as needed. It is important that the washbasin is easily accessible to a person in a wheelchair. The automatic tap would be more user-friendly.
Users of different sizes have been taken into consideration in designing the toilet facilities by installing the mirror and coat racks so that small persons and those in wheelchairs can use them.
10
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
Accessibility is not a disadvantage to anyone, but to many, it is a necessity.
Summary From the user’s perspective, physical accessibility comprises the functionality, safety and comfort of a facility. In everyday life, it does not always occur to people to think about how facilities function, for example, from the point of view of someone using a wheelchair or a walker. Being conscious of matters and viewpoints related to accessibility is important especially when remodelling the old, designing and constructing the new or acquiring furniture, equipment and supplies. Achieving a perfectly accessible environment is a challenge but in most cases, good design is enough to reach compromises that will suffice for all. It should be taken into consideration that this guide focuses on the accessibility of the functional environment from the point of view of the physically disabled and persons using wheelchairs. Had accessibility been viewed from the perspective of the visually impaired or the hearing-impaired, there would have been even more things to consider. However, even people with visual or hearing impairment would benefit from the accessibility factors presented here.
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
11
InFAcTo
A checklist for ensuring accessibility:
12
•
entranceway
•
stairs and lifts
•
rooms / lounges
•
toilet facilities
•
bathrooms
•
signage
•
cafes and restaurants
•
sauna and pool areas
•
indoor and outdoor exercise facilities (for example, passageways)
•
brochures and other marketing materials
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
Checklist – what should be taken into consideration in an accessible environment: •
parking spaces with a disabled sign
•
the yard area and doorways are clearly visible and well lit
•
the building entrance is equipped with a ramp
•
•
there are no unnecessary thresholds or other obstacles in the corridors and lobbies
•
indoor passageways are wide enough and multisensory (colours, contrasts, surface materials) and well-lit
the doors are light and wide
•
the stairs have handrails on both sides and contrast stripes on the edges
•
there is clear signage in the building for the different facilities
•
the placement of furnishings allows for spaciousness and clarity
•
a multi-storey building is equipped with a lift
•
coat racks are placed at a suitable height
•
a person in a wheelchair has access to the spaces he or she needs
•
each floor has a toilet suitable for a person in a wheelchair
• everyone is able to exit the building in an emergency
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
13
InFAcTo
List of references:
More info (in Finnish):
Laine, M., Leino M., ja Mäenpää M.: Esteettömyysopas – Kohti esteetöntä Kiipulaa. 2009.
Anttalainen, H. ja Tapaninen, R. (toim.) 2009. Liikkumis- ja toimintaesteisille soveltuvat perusopetuksen, tilat, kalusteet ja varusteet. Opetushallitus.
Linna, Eila: Esteettömyys liikunta- ja luontomatkailussa –seminaari. Luentomoniste. 26.11. 2010.
Eskola, S., Metsola, L., Miettinen, K., Piha, L., Rahikkala, M-L., Ruuskanen, U., (toim.): Kaikille yhteiseen ammatilliseen oppilaitokseen - puheenvuoroja esteettömyydestä ja saavutettavuudesta. Invalidiliiton julkaisuja. 2007.
Internet-pages: www.esteetonamis.fi www.invalidiliitto.fi www.invalidiliitto.fi/portal/esteeton.fi/fi www.kuulonhuoltoliitto.fi www.kuulonhuoltoliitto.fi/fin/kuuloliitto/materiaalipankki/esitteet_ja_oppaat/ www.nkl.fi www.nkl.fi/tietoa/esteettomyys/ www.valineet.fi
Esteetön rakennus ja ympäristö. Kaikille soveltuva liikkumis- ja toimimisympäristö. Suunnitteluopas 1998. Rakennustieto Oy, Helsinki 1998. Helsinki kaikille -projekti - Ohjeita suunnitteluun
Nevala-Puranen, N., Innanen, T., Ekroos T. ja Alaranta H, 2001. Esteetön Työympäristö liikuntavammaisille. Opas työterveyshuolto- ja työsuojeluhenkilöstölle. Työterveyslaitos, Helsinki.
Onnela, J. 2007. Toimiva ympäristö näkövammaisen näkökulmasta. Teoksessa: Eskola ym. (toim.) Kaikille yhteiseen ammatilliseen oppilaitokseen – puheenvuoroja esteettömyydestä ja saavutettavuudesta. 2007.
Perkiö-Mäkelä, M., Nevala, N. ja Laine, V. 2006. Hyvä Koulu. Työterveyslaitos, Helsinki.
Tulonen, S. 2007. Fyysisen ympäristön vaatimukset huonokuuloisen opiskelijan näkökulmasta. Teoksessa: Eskola ym. (toim.) Kaikille yhteiseen ammatilliseen oppilaitokseen – puheenvuoroja esteettömyydestä ja saavutettavuudesta. 2007.
14
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
InFAcTo
Small acts will make big impact!
– Accessibility in travel and tourism –
15
InFAcTo - International Food and Activity Tourism -project www.infactoproject.eu
Kiipula Foundation Postal address: P.O. BOX 13 14201 Turenki Finland tel. +358 3 685 21 www.kiipula.fi
Editors: Pirkko Mykkänen, Piia Kokko-Parikka. Photos: Minna Leino ISBN 978-952-5788-07-5 (english version)
The material on this publication reflects solely the author’s views. The Central Baltic INTERREG IV A Programme 2007-2013 Managing Authority is not liable for any information published here. - InFAcTo - International Food and Activity Tourism -project All rights reserved. 2013