Accommodation
Leaving a familiar, often specially-equipped home to stay somewhere strange can
pose one of the most difficult problems for disabled people, which makes
it vitally important the hotel and guest house industry is keenly aware
of their needs. Accordingly the accommodation questionnaire, filled out
by the Accessible Portsmouth team, was extremely detailed covering more
than 80 subjects.
These ranged from suitable parking facilities, drop kerbs outside and
accessibility to buildings to whether receptions were equipped for people
in wheelchairs or with hearing aids. Lifts were obviously a vital issue
as were corridors which were wide enough for wheelchairs to negotiate
sharp corners and bedrooms suitably laid out for turning. People with
hearing impairment need a specially-adapted public telephone, dining areas
need to be accessible and if there are large conference rooms or board
rooms do they have a hearing loop system?
The Hilton, in Farlington, proved accessible for wheelchair users, The
Solent Hotel, in South Parade, Southsea, also satisfied these requirements
with the added bonus of having staff trained to help people with disabilities.
The Forte Posthouse, in Pembroke Road, also came up trumps.
For Accessible Portsmouth volunteer Lisa Bailey, who is severely deaf,
fire safety is her biggest concern when she stays away from home. 'Hotels
need to have blinkers to show there is someone at the door,' she said.
'It is a little light on the back of a door which flickers when someone
knocks on the outside. But the main concern is fire. You might not hear
an alarm so hotels need flashing lights to alert you in an emergency.,
or strobe lights to wake you up if the alarm is raised when you are asleep.'