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As an NGO representing 19 organizations of and for Persons with Disabilities, the Barbados Council for the Disabled is aware of the need for an accessible environment that will offer equal opportunities to PWD which are enjoyed by the rest of society.

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Fully Accessible Barbados has been designed to encourage a barrier free environment for all service recipients.

It recognizes and accredits facilities which embraces the FAB Goals.

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Raise the quantity and quality of services available to persons with disabilities.

To achieve an all inclusive society, where there is recognition that PWD are potential customers.

Encourage the necessary changes in our structural environment to enable persons with disabilities , both visitors and residents, to have access to all facilities.

To achieve international standards of access.

To attract more visitors to Barbados

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FAB GOALSFAB GOALS

• To award public and private sector initiatives that have made their facilities and services accessible for all.

• To promote Barbados as an inclusive Society.

• To raise the awareness of the local business community to the benefits of receiving an access award.

• To raise the standard of service delivery by incorporating a “universal design”

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OBJECTIVES OF FABOBJECTIVES OF FAB

The FAB award is a well designed logo and plaque which can be used nationally and internationally to publicize the recipients accessibility status.

Applications for the award will be judged by a set criteria and chosen by a panel of judges.The criteria is split into three categories:

mobility impaired blind or visually impaired deaf or hearing impaired

FAB was officially launched in November 2005.

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FAB AWARDFAB AWARD

AccessibilityThe removal of barriers that can prevent all persons in society from participating in substantial life activities, including the use of services, products, and information.

Barrier FreeIs an environment designed to facilitate freedom of access to the widest range of people.

“Universal Design” Is an approach to the development and improvement of products, services and the environment so that they are usable by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation.

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DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

Physically Challenged Deaf and hearing impaired Blind and visually impaired Intellectually Challenged Persons with respiratory challenges Children or persons pushing a carriage/stroller Older Persons Persons carrying wide or heavy loads Customers and Employees Visitors

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ACCESS FOR ALL EMBRACESACCESS FOR ALL EMBRACES

Everybody benefits from an accessible environment; it acknowledges human diversity and offers Service Excellence.

An accessible environment provides flexible use therefore attracting more business and increased revenue.

It provides customer satisfaction and encourages repeat business.

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WHY MAKE YOUR FACILITY ACCESSIBLE?WHY MAKE YOUR FACILITY ACCESSIBLE?

Disability travel is growing. Out of the US alone, 71% of adults with disabilities (or more than 22 million people) have traveled at least once in the past 2 years.* This includes: 5.6 million business travelers 21 million pleasure/leisure travelers 5 million travelers who combine business and pleasure

Based in part on studies by *Open Doors 2002, as well as the numerous requests for accessible accommodation, received by the Barbados Council for the Disabled via its website.

Accessible tourism is not a niche market; it's a demographic explosion and we will all feel the effects.

We have to improve access now.10

RATIONALERATIONALE

More than a quarter of all tourism trips are taken by people over 55.

An age group that is most likely to have the spending power and most likely to benefit from increased accessibility.

Within the next 20 years a large proportion of the population will be over 60 years of age.

Making your facilities more accessible can only help to develop this growing market.

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AGING POPULATIONAGING POPULATION

At age 50 adults are likely to experience age related physical changes. While they may not think of themselves as having disabilities, this group often seek out those businesses that accommodate those changes.

These visitors frequently book well in advance and often return on a regular basis once they find a holiday destination with facilities and services that meet their needs.

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There are approximately 10 Million persons with disabilities living in the UK with an estimated £80 billion purchasing power.

In England alone, over 2.7 million persons with disabilities travel annually.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) places a duty on services providers and facilities not to discriminate against persons with disabilities.

The act regulates that service providers take reasonable steps to remove, alter, or avoid physical features that makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a person with a disability to use the service.

Cont’d…

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UK MARKETUK MARKET

The National Accessible Scheme (NAS) aims to help service providers within the UK tourism industry make their services more accessible, allowing more disabled people to use them.

This scheme has been extremely beneficial in promoting travel and vacation within the United Kingdom.

Further sources : http://www.direct.gov.uk

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The US Census Bureau reported in 2005 that 1 in 5 US Residents reported some form of disability. Approximately 20.9 million families have at least 1 member with a disability

Vacations taken by PWD rose 50% from 2002

Overall, adults with disabilities take about 2 trips every 2 years (or approximately 63 million total trips), the majority of which are for pleasure. And, each trip generally lasts 5 days.

Cont’d

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US MARKETUS MARKET

There is also a subgroup of more frequent travelers in the disability community – 20% of all adults with disabilities travel at least 6 times every 2 years.

Adults, in the US with disabilities, spend an estimated $13.6

billion a year on travel.

The Caribbean is ranked fourth behind Canada, Mexico and Europe, as their most popular international destination.

*This data is based on the 2000 U.S. Census which estimates that there are 209,128,094 people age 18 years and older in the U.S. population. The data on incidence of adults with disabilities was obtained through The Harris Poll (November 2002).

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The Conference Board of Canada reported in 2001 that the combined annual disposable income of working aged Canadians with disabilities was Can $25 billion.

Vancouver alone is providing a one-time grant of $1.4 million to 2010 Legacies Now to ensure that people with disabilities, mobility impairments and other challenges can enjoy all that BC has to offer.

The grant supports a key component of British Columbia’s annual government $4 billion investment in disability programs.

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CANADA MARKETCANADA MARKET

Singapore is going after this growing Accessible Tourism market and will open its doors to the 3rd International ICAT 2009 Conference in April 2009, which aims to bring People with Disabilities to the heart of a more inclusive global society.

Themed, "Tourism Unlimited: Access for All“, the event endeavors to break down barriers to accessibility and allow free mobility for all. As this event promotes accessible tourism in the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore offers a strategic location, as the ICAT’s objectives fall in line with the country’s aim to become a “Global City for All” where unlimited access is allowed by universally-designed buildings and facilities.

http://www.icat2009.com.sg/

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SINGAPORE – “SINGAPORE – “A GLOBAL CITY FOR ALLA GLOBAL CITY FOR ALL””

The current economic climate dictates that we target these emerging markets which includes the increasing number of PWD resulting from wars, vehicular accidents and violence.

Persons with disabilities usually travel with care-givers, family or friends.

Conference venues and locality of conferences, is frequently selected with accessibility in mind.

Hotel users say they would stay in hotels 2 more times per year if hotels were to accommodate their needs as a person with a disability. This translates into 34.5 million more hotel stays – and means that hotel spending by the disability community could double if hotels were to make necessary accommodations. The same is true for the Airline Industry.

85% of those who travel say they share their travel experiences with others, indicating a powerful network among travelers with disabilities.

An Accessible Barbados will attract new and repeat business.

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INCREASED REVENUEINCREASED REVENUE

Approximately 14,000 persons with disabilities reside in Barbados.

There is a white paper on disability in parliament, which addresses the needs of persons with disabilities.

The building code, which is expected to be laid before Parliament will regulate the building standards of new and adapted buildings.

The codes will include standards for disability access.

Having signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the onus lies with all stakeholders as well as the Barbados Council for the Disabled to persistently and strenuously lobby for an accessible environment in pursuit of Barbados’s ratification of the Convention.

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BARBADOSBARBADOS

Persons with disabilities, from Europe and North America rights of access are protected by legislation. There is an assumption that as a highly developed country Barbados should have a similar standard of access.

Visitors as well as Barbadians, expect an accessible environment, good services, and comfortable facilities.

US Dept of State, in their website states that Barbadians with disabilities face discrimination. The New York Times also gives negative publicity to the Caribbean with regards to access.

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RIGHTSRIGHTS

Restaurants and Bars Hotels Conference centers Businesses and retail outlets Government services Recreational Facilities Churches Educational establishments.

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POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS for FAB AWARDPOTENTIAL RECIPIENTS for FAB AWARD

Service providers only need to make changes that are 'reasonable'. These might include simple changes to layout, improved signage and information and staff training which can improve accessibility to disabled customers.

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It's about what is practical to the service provider's individual situation and what resources they may have. They will not be required to make changes that are impractical or beyond their means

A National promotional campaign on accessibility. Assessment and advice to FAB applicants. Presentations of the FAB Accreditation. Encourage sensitivity Training for personnel at

accessible facilities Support the promotion of accessible venues locally and

internationally

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ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

Enhanced facilities which will improve the market potential of a highly competitive tourism industry

Provision of access for “all”.

Improved physical environment which would attract visitors to the island.

Accessible Information and venues which encourages service excellence and facilitate customer choice.

Increased revenue for accessible establishments and Barbados

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ANTICIPATED OUTCOMEANTICIPATED OUTCOME

Continued assessment and accreditation of properties

Ongoing surveys on accessible tourism in Barbados

Continued Public Awareness Promotions on the importance of FAB

Sustained cooperation with FAB Stakeholders

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SUSTAINABILITY OF FABSUSTAINABILITY OF FAB

Barbados Tourism Authority Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association Ministry of Tourism Ministry of Social Care United Nations S.O.J.E. Lonsdale Advertising Inc. Events Unusual Organizations of Persons with Disabilities.

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COLLABORATING PARTNERSCOLLABORATING PARTNERS

Fully Accessible Barbados will offer an opportunity for an all inclusive Barbados

…beyond our imagination

Thank you.

Barbados Council for the Disabled

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