GLOBAL ACCESS NEWS E-ZINE VOLUME

GLOBAL ACCESS NEWS TRAVEL E-ZINE
VOLUME II, NUMBER 7, July 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 July 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. PHILIPPINES TRAVEL
2. EORABUS LODGE, ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND
3. ACCESSIBLE L.A. SHUTTLE
4. ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS: CORAL WORLD MARINE PARK
5. MORE ACCESSIBLE BOSTON TAXIS
6. ACCESSIBLE JAPAN
7. MORRO BAY, CA

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1. PHILIPPINES TRAVEL

We frequently receive queries about access to the Philippine Islands and until now there wasn’t much data available. The wheelchair users at the following website offer island tours, including Sampaguita Beach Resort on Bantayan Island, Kawason Falls, Santa Rosa and Cebu City. Learn more about their tours at http://iserit.greennet.gl/marjorie/

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2. EORABUS LODGE, ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND

Michael C, of Virginia Beach, VA, wrote us about the wheelchair accessible Eorabus Lodge, located on Scotland’s western Isle of Mull. This self-catered home is owned by 14-year-old disabled activist Hero Joy Nightingale and her parents of Canterbury, England. Her parents originally bought it for Hero’s use but have since found it necessary to rent it out in order to afford this property. Check out the Eorabus Lodge at http://www.quietshore.co.uk/

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3. ACCESSIBLE L.A. SHUTTLE

LA & Orange County California residents can now “Call Oscar,” which provides ramped taxi service to residents in those counties. The Super Shuttle folks created Call Oscar. Their new vans rent for $20 per pickup and $2 per mile. Check out their web site at www.calloscar.com

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4. ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS: CORAL WORLD MARINE PARK

To provide maximum accessibility to disabled travelers, Coral World Marine Park and Undersea Observatory on St Thomas, V.I., installed a wheelchair lift at the entrance to their Caribbean Reef Encounter. This exhibit is one of the world’s largest living coral reefs in a man-made setting. The lift transports disabled visitors safely above the steps to the center of the 80,000-gallon doughnut-shaped tank. The park was redesigned to provide accessibility to as many exhibits as possible, including wheelchair accessible walkways to the major exhibits.

Walkways and ramps allow guests to enjoy the Palm Court with nearby Shark Shallows and Touch Pool exhibits. Pathways provide views of the Sting Ray and Turtle Pools, and a ramp around the Mangrove Lagoon gives access to the Marine Gardens, where twenty-one jewel-like aquariums are housed. The top level of the Undersea Observatory – 100 feet offshore across a bridge - is open to all to enjoy spectacular views of neighboring cays, St. John and several British Virgin Islands.

New restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and interpretive signage is available for deaf or hard of hearing visitors. To learn more, call 340-775-1555 X249 or write rbutler@coralworldvi.com

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5. MORE ACCESSIBLE BOSTON TAXIS

Boston, MA has doubled the number of accessible taxi vans on its streets. The city recently auctioned off 50 new taxi medallions, which are reserved for these accessible vans. In comparison to other large cities, Chicago, for example, has about 25 accessible taxis.

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6. ACCESSIBLE JAPAN

Japan, a longtime inscrutable destination for disabled travelers, just got a boost from the Wakakoma Independent Living Information Center. They just debuted their Accessible Japan website, which provides information on accessible lodgings, transportation and access to popular sites throughout Japan. Accessible Japan is located at http://www.wakakoma.org/aj/

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7. MORRO BAY, CA

Cynthia Bernstein recently found the perfect escape from Los Angeles summertime heat. She and her husband headed up the coast to the little fishing village of Morro Bay and found it to be the perfect accessible getaway. Read more at http://www.globalaccessnews.com/morrobay.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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