Disabled Accessible Travel to Jamaica, St. John's, Virgin Islands, Boston, Theme Parks Access, AMTRAK

GLOBAL ACCESS NEWS TRAVEL E-ZINE
VOLUME VI, NUMBER 8, August 2005
Copyright © 2005, Global Access News
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/

Please note: Any Internet links mentioned in this E-Zine were verified as functioning as of the date on this E-Zine. Websites and e-mail addresses, however, change frequently, so changes may have occurred after that date.

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Welcome to the August 2005 issue of the Global Access News Travel E-Zine. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to write us and share your travel experiences.

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CONTENTS

1. JUDGE RULES IN AMTRAK’S FAVOR
2. JAMAICA REACH MOBILE
3. ST. JOHN’S, V.I. ACCESSIBLE TENTS
4. THEME PARK ACCESS GUIDE
5. BOSTON, MA: MINUTEMAN CAMPGROUND
6. ALSO OF NOTE

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1. JUDGE RULES IN AMTRAK’S FAVOR

In June, a U.S. federal court judge ruled that Amtrak can charge a group of wheelchair users extra if they need to have seats removed in order to accommodate all their wheelchairs in the same train compartment.

Members of Pennsylvania’s Disabled Action Group sued Amtrak for telling them that they’d have to pay $200 more than the usual ticket price to compensate for the cost of Amtrak removing the seats for them. The group thought that Amtrak’s policy violated ADA (Americas with Disabilities Act).

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2. JAMAICA REACH MOBILE

Donald Lawrence wrote us to share his new service: Reach Mobile, an accessible tour bus with a wheelchair lift in Jamaica. Visit http://reachmobileservice.com
or write Lawrence at rmsjam@earthlink.net

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3. ST. JOHN’S, V.I. ACCESSIBLE TENTS

Thanks to Veronica J. for informing us about this recent “New York Time’s” article announcing the availability of accessible luxury tents at the Concordia Eco-Tents resort on St. John’s, Virgin Islands. http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/travel/17advstjohns.html

See the tents at https://www.maho.org/AccessibleEcoTentsNews1.cfm
and https://www.maho.org/AccessibleEcoTents2.cfm

The four luxury tents designed to accommodate disabled guests opened last December at the Concordia Eco-Tents Resort, part of Maho Bay Camps. For further information, call (800) 392-9004.

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4. THEME PARK ACCESS GUIDE

I’m surprised someone didn’t do a website like this long ago. If you want to check the access of Disneyland Paris, Universal Studios or other fun venues, visit TAG (Theme Access Guide) the brainstorm of Tony Phoenix and Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix. Well done! http://www.mouseplanet.com/tag/paris_tag.htm

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5. BOSTON, MA: MINUTEMAN CAMPGROUND

Thanks to Jane Danielson for her insights on Boston Minuteman Campground. Jane Danielson has been disabled for 17 years. She uses a cane, a wheelchair and a scooter that she calls her “Freedom Machine” She has been widely published as a writer for disabled travel in North American and Europe http://www.globalaccessnews.com/bostoncamp05.htm

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6. ALSO OF NOTE

New Adventure Forum

Gordon Rattray’s Able Travel site, which focuses on adventure travel, just added a new forum. Check it out at http://www.able-travel.com/forum/

Rome Dumps Cobblestones

I’m happy to report that Rome, Italy is dumping cobblestones in favor of smooth asphalt in many of their historic areas. It seems there are only eight trained people available to replace the wretched things that are guaranteed to offer a jaw rattling experience for wheelchair users and babies in strollers alike. Vehicles traveling on cobblestones in the historic areas also cause vibrations that damage the monuments, according to Rome’s mayor.

Because the process of replacing the cobblestones is labor-intensive and costly, Roman residents and visitors alike can soon look forward to more people friendly streets.

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Global Access News welcomes your travel reports, tips and comments at clearpath@cox.net Thanks for sharing!

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