GLOBAL ACCESS NEWS VOLUME II

GLOBAL ACCESS NEWS TRAVEL E-ZINE
VOLUME II, NUMBER 2, February 2001
Copyright © 2001, Global Access News
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/

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

Welcome to the February 2001 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. ORLANDO, FLORIDA VACATION VILLAS
2. CRUISE CHECK LIST
3. CAMPING IN FRANCE & AUSTRIA
4. COLUMBIA RIVER HWY. STATE TRAIL
5. SEATTLE’S PIKE PLACE MARKET
6. ASPEN REVISITED

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1. ORLANDO, FLORIDA VACATION VILLAS

Four years ago, Walter Bernstein, a disabled Viet Nam Veteran, and his wife, Yvonne, bought a vacation home in a nice subdivision in Orlando and modified the home before renting it to disabled vacationers. Now, they have 50 rental homes a short distance away from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. The couple has almost completed 17 additional wheelchair accessible vacation villas called Yvonne’s Villas. They feature roll-in showers, wide doors, ramps at all entrances, low counters, and, of course, grab bars in all of the necessary places. The first round of these new modified homes will open in February 2001 and more will follow shortly. A 5 bedroom, 3 bath, fully modified wheelchair home is now available for vacation rental. To learn more, visit our Accommodation of the Month page at http://www.globalaccessnews.com/yvonne_villas.htm
Or visit the Yvonne Villa web site at
http://www.villasinorlando.com
Email: info@villasinorlando.com
Phone toll-free: 877-714-1144

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2. CRUISE CHECK LIST

Gwen, R., of Boston, MA, offered the following checklist to help disabled travelers determine which cruise ship to travel on: According to Gwen, here are some of the key questions to ask the cruise line representatives or your travel agent:

What are the sizes and layouts of any ship cabins reported to be accessible?

Do the accessible cabins feature a roll-in shower and handrails by the sink and toilet?

Can a wheelchair user visit all public rooms on the ship via barrier-free entrances or ramps?

How does the crew help disabled travelers embark and disembark from the ship?

Are all ports of call reachable for wheelchair users?

Can a disabled passenger reserve on-shore tours in advance?

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3. CAMPING IN FRANCE & AUSTRIA

Brent H., of Brighton, England, reports that a group in England called Camping For The Disabled can provide disabled travelers with a list of accessible camps sites for disabled people in France and Austria. This group personally checked out each site’s facilities to determine access.
To learn more, write

Camping For The Disabled
c/o Mobility Information Service
Unit 2 Atcham Estate
Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4UG
Phone: 01743 761889
Fax: 01743 761149

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4. COLUMBIA RIVER HWY. STATE TRAIL

James R., of Portland, OR, was delighted to discover a trail featuring disabled access at Oregon’s Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail (70 miles east of Portland), overlooking the Columbia Gorge. According to James, no part of the trail, which, has more than a 5 percent grade. Disabled parking and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom are included near the trail, and signage is conveniently placed at wheelchair level. “The new trail provides stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge, and I didn’t have to struggle to get there,” said James.

To learn more about the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, visit
http://slm-dbserve.prd.state.or.us/showpark.phtml?id=155

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5. SEATTLE’S PIKE PLACE MARKET

Cathy S., of Eugene, OR, reported on the good access of Seattle’s’ famous Pike Place Market. According to Cathy, wheelchair users can expect level sidewalks in the area, along with a lot of crowds. “I used an accessible streetcar to reach Pike Place, and after disembarking, I found two accessible elevators available to take me up to the market,” she said.

For additional information on the Pike Place Market visit their web site at
http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/

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6. ASPEN REVISITED

In July 1997, Ronald Davies made his first visit to Aspen, CO and reported on that trip in our Travel Archives. Davies liked the city so much that he made a return trip there in the summer of 2000 and graciously detailed his further accessible adventures in the land of the Rocky Mountains.
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/aspenrevisited01.htm

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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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