Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas

I am just back from Strasbourg where I spent Christmas. Strasbourg is self styled the Capital of Christmas. It is a place where the old traditional European connections are still very much in evidence. Somehow while it is has all the commercial trappings, the magic is still there, it is not commercial as it is in London with the impatient laden expectations of after Chistmas’ sales and bargains. It has the slight flavour of the fairy tale magic of Hansel and Gretel land like many of the villages in Alsace which has that chocolate box picturesque touch in the air.

It is not just the half timbred multi coloured houses with the many elegant lights in the streets, nor the spiced cookies or even the hot mulled wine – its something in the air. Just as being at the Christmas service at the Cathedral had a resonance just  by being held in that beautiful and grand edifice, the Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame  – the atmosphere in the cathedral seems to be steeped in tradition, suffused with the many years of  prayers that had gone yesteryears and everyday.

Strasbourg Cathedral stained glass window

Transport for London DES (Disability Equality Scheme)

Today I spend some time reading the Transport for London DES. It is impressive giving a clear indication of what, who, when is happening to make London more accessible. It is also available in Cantonese, French, among other languages.  Interestingly enough, I’ve never seen the term  ‘non handicape‘ used in France. I think they use the term ‘valide’ to mean non disabled, similar to the term ‘able bodied’

In the document, disabled people is reported to say that the key elements identified as adversely
impacting on disabled people are:

• Step Free access to London Underground

• Attitudes of other passengers

• Inconsistency in service provision –particularly in assisted travel options

• Reliability of equipment – particularly ramps on buses

• Staff’s understanding of the barriers faced by some disabled customers

• Manager’s understanding of reasonableadjustments and how to implement them

I am most interested in the plan of making the undergound more accessible too. Surprisingly a lot of the plans are due to be complete in 2012. Not prizes for guessing the correct answer.

Writing content

They say content is king. I am furiously writing content for the website. I guess I should have prepared but it is only now I feel inspired and I love the feel of the site.
I feel like holing myself in some cavern to just get it all done but life and other work does interrupt but I am now impatient for it to get going.

Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship and probably no to the lovely jacuzzi type bath

Today I had to go to the Coventry TechnoCentre to see my mentor and report on how I am getting on – now that I am almost launched, I am looking to see if I should maintain a base there. I am toying with the idea of doing a Phd at the new Institute using Connect Culture as the applied case study and experience – that is what the applied entrepreneurship refers to.

I am also offered help by Coventry city in being the social entrepreneur – I now have a long business plan form to fill in. I am not sure the social entrepreneurship quite conforms to the global entrepreneurship model that the Institute is offering.  After saying that I have been reading Nick Temple from his School for Social Entrepreneurs blog and his experiences in China. We’ve had a discussion on blogs before from the Shine conference and I read his blog from time to time. Its interesting how many of people I know have been to China since the Olympics events. It makes me wonder what is the perception there in Beijing on social entrepreneurs. My main contact with colleaques there have been on webaccessibility and usability issues from having been an editor of uiGarden and being a forum administrator there. Sharing an ethnicity does not give me a better perception of the enormous changes there. I am hoping to develop a Chinese version of Connect Culture and facilitating them to visit here. Maybe I should enlist their help.

I also had a visit from the Sanspa salesman. He came to do some measurements. I would dearly love to have one but I just cannot see how it can be made accessible for me as a wheelchair user. There is a step and then I have to close the door. Unless I have someone to be there to move the chair – even if I get into the bath, I need to be able to close the door. I am very upset, I’ve always wanted a hydrotherapic bath. I think there are just some things I have to give up on.  Can one have an inclusive bath? Aren’t baths normally a very individual affair – except for public baths and they are not normally accessible neither.

I’ve just been invited for an interview in London. I have to plan my travel there. If I get the post, I will definitely get involved in using transport in London.

Inclusive transport in London

Accessible Content Management System for Connect Culture and the Not Dead Yet Campaign

One reason why its been taking sometime for Connect Culture to get launched is because I think accessibility and usability should go together with any inclusive design and for each and every step. I have known Jim Bryne for some time and have asked him to provide me with his CMS

My own efforts at doing graphic design and logo were unsatisfactory for me and I had asked Lea Chapman to help. I think having specialists do make a big difference.

Of course we have worked together in the Not Dead Yet UK campaign website when I was approached for help by Jane Campbell. And as I write this an email popped in to inform me that there is a debate on ‘Newsnight’ tonight (BBC2 10:30pm) which will be covering the assisted dying debate. This is in response to this morning’s press coverage of the programme to be screened on the Sky Real Lives channel tonight in which a British man is filmed dying at the Dignitas clinic. Liz Carr will be batting for our side. If you get a chance to view the programme, please comment afterwards to the ‘Newsnight’ web site and/or anywhere else you consider appropriate.

Coventry University, collaboration and project for an accessible home using inclusive design

I have been communicating with Peter Atkinson from the School of Art & Design at Coventry University about giving a talk to the West Midlands Access Association on his collaborative projects (eg Microcab) with disabled transport users with Coventry & Warwickshire Accessible Transport Committee. Unfortunately that had to be cancelled but it may be rescheduled next year.

We got on to talking about other projects so I told him about connect culture and how I hope to make a feature of my own personal project of creating an accessible space in the flat I am buying and adapting/customising it for my needs. Apparently this is not the right time to get students’ interest in it as a project. I am not waiting for the timing for students project to be right before embarking on it. I am making a home!

Stewart McGough suggested a guide Wheelchair housing design guide by Stephen Thorpe and Habinteg Housing Association, BRE Press, 2006. However I suspect it is interior design I need since I am not building my own house but adapting an existing flat.

I have also spoken to Denise Stephens of Enabled by Design and she’s excited by it too and there is talk that we might do a before and after video. My intentions is to use mainstream resources and stretch their flexibility to accommodate my needs as a wheelchair user. I want to use Ikea – its only 3 minutes walk from my flat after all.

I did attend the enABLE Show and am excited by Independence Showers with its removable shower seat which swings and rotates as well as SanspaUK walk in jacuzzi.  I need to do some measurements and think seriously about which is the best one for me.

As part of the journey, I called up the OT/ICES (Integrated Community Equipment Services) and asked for an assessment. I hear there is now an improvement from 18 months to 12 months waiting list. I am not sure what they will say to me as to my eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant.Will they offer anything? News today is that Coventry Council has to make up a budget shortfall of £13m with up to 190 jobs cut and services to families affected. I am not overly hopeful. We shall see.

Hotel accessibility

This week for work, I stayed at 2 different hotels – a budget hotel at Euston and one in Kensington famous for its accessibility for disabled guests.

budget hotel accessible shower/wet room

Euston budget accessible room

Okay, the budget hotel was new so it had not had a chance to go grotty and mouldy yet  but I was very pleased with the access and the generous dimensions of the room. The staff was friendly and even gave me a phone number so that I did not have to go down to reception. In fact they bent over backwards to be helpful.

The other hotel room was very small and the shower seat sloped down so I felt I had to hang on the way one does horse riding – I was worried I might slip off my seat.

I know if I have to recommend an accessible hotel which I would recommend. Having said that – Kensington High Street is a great place for shopping. We did not have much luck getting a restaurant which was accessible neither. We tried the Min Jiang, at the Royal Garden Hotel, reportedly to be very good – when we did make it to the restaurant, it was full and they did not have room for us (on a Thursday night!). Next time, book, they said.

Giraffe across the street looked tight (there were two of us in power wheelchairs) so we went to Wagamama Noodle Bar which was accessible but had benches instead of seats so one of us transferred onto a bench. It was my first time in Wagamama’s – I thought the food was okay for a chain restaurant, the service was a little slow however.

I wished I had managed to persuade my friends to pay a visit to Wholefoods also on Kensington High Street. It was my local grocery store when I lived in Austin. I love it. Its funny to have it here as a specialty store with a snob value.

Whole Foods Store, Kensington High Street

Accessibility vs design

I have fooled about playing with the different templates here for the blog but the one which I really like -fyords -  has a really cool design unfortunately …always a but….the font chosen to go with this blog is so small, I fear it is difficult to read for anybody who has a sight problem – like me. Nothing more than specs/glasses but it wont do – not easily accessible therefore not truly usable.

A shame but I dare not really tweak the CSS.

However, I have found loads of really nice photos to put on my site once it is up. The award money from UnLtd has arrived in my bank account and I can think about buying a nice camera or camcorder. Again, the question of size versus quality comes up. As a lone traveller should I get photographic equipment which is cumbersome?

I am getting ready to go to Strasbourg for Christmas – my tickets have been bought for Eurostar and the hotel room is booked.

In Strasbourg, it is now time for the Christmas market!

Mulled wine stand