An important area for the future of accessible tourism research: Why Social Sustainability is a Foreign Concept in Relation to Disability?

This article is a theoretically driven piece which tracks the development of social sustainability. The focus is on where people with disability fit in the discussion of social sustainability. A conversation like this is very important for accessible tourism because too often our access to all areas of social participation is restricted for no other reason but being overlooked, omitted or 'othered' due to poor planning, a lack of consideration or deliberate exclusion that constitutes both indirect and direct discrimination by those charged with all levels of decision-making.
                                                                                     
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.

Social Sustainability and Its Indicators through a Disability Studies and an Ability Studies Lens

Gregor Wolbring

Theresa Rybchinski

Abstract

The present journal recently stated in the call for a special issue on social sustainability, “[t]hough sustainable development is said to rest on ‘three pillars’, one of these—social sustainability—has received significantly less attention than its bio-physical environmental and economic counterparts”. The current issue promises to engage the concepts of “development sustainability”, “bridge sustainability” and “maintenance sustainability” and the tensions between these different aspects of social sustainability. The aim of the present study is to identify the visibility of disabled people in the academic social sustainability literature, to ascertain the impact and promises of social sustainability indicators put forward in the same literature and to engage especially with the concepts of “development sustainability”, “bridge sustainability” and “maintenance sustainability” through disability studies and ability studies lenses. We report that disabled people are barely covered in the academic social sustainability literature; of the 5165 academic articles investigated only 26 had content related to disabled people and social sustainability. We also conclude that social sustainability indicators evident in the 1909 academic articles with the phrase “social sustainability” in the abstract mostly focused on products and did not reflect yet the goals outlined in the “development sustainability” aspect of social sustainability proposed by Vallance such as basic needs, building social capital, justice and so on. We posit that if the focus within the social sustainability discourse shifts more toward the social that an active presence of disabled people in this discourse is essential to disabled people. We showcase the utility of an ability studies lens to further the development and application of the “development sustainability”, “bridge sustainability” and “maintenance sustainability”concepts. We outline how different ability expectations intrinsic to certain schools of thought of how to deal with human-nature relationships (for example anthropocentric versus bio/ecocentric) impact this relationship and “bridge sustainability”. As to “maintenance development”, we posit that no engagement has happened yet with the ability expectation conflicts between able-bodied and disabled people, or for that matter with the ability expectation differences between different able-bodied groups within social sustainability discourses; an analysis essential for the maintenance of development. In general, we argue that there is a need to generate ability expectation conflict maps and ability expectations conflict resolution mechanisms for all sustainable development discourses individually and for ability conflicts between sustainable development discourses.

Keywords: social sustainability; disabled people; people with disabilities; disability studies; indicators; social determinants of health; ability studies

Full reference:

Wolbring, G., &; Rybchinski, T. (2013). Social Sustainability and Its Indicators through a Disability Studies and an Ability Studies Lens. Sustainability, 5(11), 4889-4907.

www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

For further information on the paper please contact:

Gregor Wolbring
University of Calgary
3330 Hospital Drive
NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N4N1, Canada
gwolbrin@ucalgary.ca

Photo 1: Social sustainability for some groups of people with mobility disability is as simple as a continuous pathway of access to reach points of visual interest or cultural heritage © Bruce Cameron, Simon Darcy and Easy Access Australia

Australian Accessible Tourism Data Module

In 2016 an opportunity arose for Prof Simon Darcy to work with Tourism Research Australia on developing a disability module for inclusion in the 2017 National Visitor Survey (Tourism Research Australia, 2017). This was the first time that such data was collected in Australia since 2010. After a number of months working with TRA we had agreement on a disability module shown in Figure 1 that included:

• a screening question;
• a dichotomous question asking whether the respondent identified as having a disability or long term health condition lasting longer than six months;
• the disability type; and 
• levels of support needs

The module was included in the 2017 first quarter data collection but unfortunately not to the other three quarters of data as had been the case in 1998, 2003, 2009, and 2010 when the modules had been previously included. However, even with this limitation the data has been well used in producing a number of government and industry based outcomes that will be documented over the coming months on this blog (Darcy & Hergesell, 2018; Michopoulou, Darcy, Ambrose, & Buhalis, 2019; My Travel Research & Childs, 2017; Pavkovic, Darcy, & Ryan, 2017; Pavkovic, Lawrie, Farrell, Huuskes, & Ryan, 2017). Providing any sort of evidence base for business or government relies on appropriate research being collected on a regular (preferably annual) basis. If this is not done all we have is a series of data snapshots rather than a continuous understanding being built of the phenomenon or having data on which a business case can be presented. 

Figure 1: The disability module included in Tourism Research Australia's 2017 National Visitor Survey first-quarter data

Photo 2 shows an example of such a social enterprise that would benefit from regular data collection with the author at Sargood on Collaroy, which is a relatively new boutique wellness resort targeting people with spinal cord injury. Sargood on Collaroy sets itself apart by not just providing accommodation but a series of accessible destination experiences from a specialist gym, yoga, fishing, tennis, darts, swimming in an ocean pool, inclusive surfing and scuba diving. The enterprise has a person centred approach where the individual with a disability and their family or friends are able to holiday knowing that they have access to the best available expertise, equipment and community connections.

Photo 2: Simon and Fiona Darcy enjoying Sargood on Collaroy - a boutique spinal cord injury accessible accommodation and wellness resort (source: Sargood on Collaroy with permission)

References

Darcy, S., & Hergesell, A. (2018). Supplementing the NVS 2017 Q1 with Additional Insights on People with Disabilities. Retrieved from Sydney:

Michopoulou, E., Darcy, S., Ambrose, I., & Buhalis, D. (2019). Accessible hospitality and tourism: opportunities and challenges. Paper presented at the 27th Council  for       Hospitality       Management    Education            (CHME)  - Innovation  in         Hospitality:      connecting       all        stakeholders     to            deliver memorable       experiences

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/council-for-hospitality-management-education-2018-tickets-37838282321?_eboga=1715778101.1516471310#tick, 22-25   May     2018    Bournemouth   University,       UK                                           www.bournemouth.ac.uk/CHM.

My Travel Research, c., & Childs, C. (2017). Understanding the Opportunity for Australia in Accessible Tourism, final report. Retrieved from Canberra:

Pavkovic, I., Darcy, S., & Ryan, R. (2017). Infographic of Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Economic Data. Retrieved from University of Technology Sydney

Pavkovic, I., Lawrie, A., Farrell, G., Huuskes, L., & Ryan, R. (2017). Inclusive  Tourism: Economic Opportunities. Retrieved from University of Technology Sydney

Tourism Research Australia. (2017). National Visitor Survey Questionnaire Final with Disability Module.   Retrieved from https://www.tra.gov.au/research/International-Markets.html

Three charts on: disability discrimination in the workplace

 Many workplaces do not make reasonable adjustments for employees with disability.: Shutterstock

               

Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney and Tracy Taylor, University of Technology Sydney

Only 53% of Australians with disability are employed, compared to 83% of all working-age people. Australia ranks 21st out of 29 OECD nations when it comes to employment rates for people with a disability.

But looking at the data reveals an even darker story – complaints about disability discrimination are the largest category of discrimination reported to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), and the numbers have been steady for around 20 years.

Lower employment levels translate into Australians with disability living in poverty at the highest rates in the OECD.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics also found that the employment rates vary radically depending upon the “disability type”. Those who have a “psychological disability”, for example, have the lowest employment rate at 29%.

Employment also varies by “disability severity” (defined as mild, moderate, severe and profound). Employment decreases as severity increases. Only 26% of people with profound or severe physical disability are employed.



As you can see in the chart above, complaints to the AHRC are categorised by the legislation they fall under – Disability Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Racial Discrimination Act, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act, and Age Discrimination Act.

Using this, we can see that disability discrimination has consistently represented the highest proportion of complaints, currently 37%. When you consider that the Racial Discrimination Act and the Sex Discrimination Act total 41% of cases combined, this gives some insight into the prevalence of workplace discrimination faced by people with disability.

The next chart shows the proportion of disability discrimination complaints that relate to the workplace. This is approximately 35% from the latest figures but  has peaked at a much higher rate.

While we can’t explain the fluctuation, at various times there have been changes to the system, cuts in funding and political tensions. What can be interpreted from the figures is that disability discrimination has been sustained and ongoing over the two decades.



In our research, using publicly available complaint case summaries, we found that employers incorrectly assumed that the costs of employing people with disability were higher than they are, or were unaware of government programs to offset the costs of reasonable adjustments in the workplace. In other cases, people were discriminated against by the strict adherence to guidelines and policies. 

We found several distinctive themes in the disability complaints made.

For instance, many employers do not provide adequate access to the workplace. This could be as simple as tactile ground surfaces for people who are blind. Many cases also involved managers, or human resource procedures, being too quick to dismiss an employee who acquired a disability. Reasonable adjustments can often be made to the position descriptions.

Hiring practices were often biased and discounted the abilities of applicants (otherwise known as unconscious bias). In many cases, workplaces were not inclusive of assistive technologies, such as screen reading software or hearing loops. These would have allowed employees with a disability to do their job.

Mental health complaints have doubled in prevalence over time suggesting the dynamic nature of disability discrimination and the willingness of those with mental health issues to disclose their disability who previously may not have instigated a complaint case.



In reading the summaries of the complaints to the AHRC, it is apparent that employers, co-workers and third-party organisations (e.g. insurance companies) directly or indirectly treat people unfairly, or, in the worst cases, display open hostility to Australians with a disability.

In doing so, those involved show a lack of understanding of the basic legal principles of the Disability Discrimination Act. These include sections covering direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, unjustifiable hardship, inherent requirements and reasonable adjustments.

What can be done?

Some may argue that Australians with severe levels of disability would be unable to work. But their experiences show that, with the correct assistive technology and attitudes that focus on ability rather than disability, employment is not just possible but imperative. 

A recent OECD report singled out Denmark and Switzerland for their targeted intervention for younger people with disability or medical conditions. This ensures they have the highest chances of being employed rather than becoming welfare-dependent.

The foundation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme shows the government’s desire to give people with disability the opportunity to move from welfare to employment. While we wait for the major policy change to take effect, other immediate options are available to bring about positive social change.

Positive exposure in the media (see Attitude Foundation), personal contact and education could change attitudes to disability. The government and non-profit organisations have a multitude of resources available for businesses, to raise awareness about best practice and inclusive assistance.

One good resource is Job Access. This government site provides education and resources to assist with workplace adjustment. It also provides direct assistance to people with disability.

Other organisations like the Australian Network on Disability can help businesses to become strategically more inclusive. In the end it will come down to employers giving every Australian job seeker with disability a fair go and not judging “what I can do by what you think I can’t”.

Simon Darcy, Professor of Social Inclusion - UTS Business School - Centres for Business and Social innovation, and Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, University of Technology Sydney and Tracy Taylor, Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

An article based on work we undertook on the Australian Human Rights Commission's complaint case and conciliation outcomes.
Darcy, S., Taylor, T., & Green, J. (2016). ‘But I can do the job’: examining disability employment practice through human rights complaint cases. Disability & Society, 31(9), 1242-1274. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2016.1256807

United Nations World Tourism Organization develops policy and manuals on accessible tourism

For those who may not be aware the United Nations World Tourism Organization together with contributing organisations and individuals have developed and published a set of resources to assist destinations in developing accessible tourism information, marketing, products and services.

The resources draw on the best academic, industry and policy practice from around the world with impetus gained from the San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism and the subsequent UNWTO recommendations on accessible tourism.

Hopefully all manuals will eventually appear in English as well as Spanish.

The remainder of the page is reprinted from http://ethics.unwto.org/en/content/accessible-tourism 

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UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism

The UNWTO Recommendations on Accessible Tourism for All are meant to be used as a general, basic mainstreaming framework for ensuring that people with disabilities have access to the physical environment, the transportation system, information and communications channels, as well as to a wide range of public facilities and services. 

The Recommendations incorporate the most relevant aspects of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities of 2006 and the principles of Universal Design.

In the context of a trilateral agreement between UNWTO, ONCE and ENAT, the recommendations were adopted by UNWTO General Assembly Resolution A/RES/637(XX) of August 2013, updating the 2005 UNWTO Recommendations. 

Read the Recommendations in English Español Français

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Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All

One of the most significant outcomes of a major collaboration framework between UNWTO and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), particularly the Spanish ONCE Foundation for the Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities, the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), and the Spanish ACS Foundation, are the Manuals on Accessible Tourism for All.

The manuals are meant to assist tourism stakeholders in improving the accessibility of tourism destinations, facilities and services worldwide.

Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Public-Private Partnerships and Good Practices

Full text: English  Spanish   Executive Summary: English Español Français

The first tangible outcome of a fruitful collaboration between the UNWTO and the ACS Foundation features the inclusion of both cultural and natural heritage assets into the accessible tourism value chain as well as the technical knowledge necessary for making tourism infrastructures and attractions accessible to all. The English translation of the Spanish original was published in January 2015. The Publication been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA)

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Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices 

Executive Summary (of all five Modules): English Español Français

1.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices,  Module I

Full text: Spanish 

UNWTO's second publication on universal accessibility has been co-produced with the Spanish ONCE Foundation for social inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Network for Accessible Tourism - ENAT. Module I is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

2.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices,  Module II

Full text: Spanish 

Module II of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices suggests specific recommendations targeting the tourism sector with the aim of creating accessible tourism destinations. The proposed actions are based on the need to respect the integrity of the entire value chain of a tourist experience when implementing universal accessibility plans, and thus cover the five main areas of the same: planning and information, transportation, accessibility of the natural and built environments, shared public spaces and specific spaces. It is essential that people with disabilities and special needs complete their travel experience without any obstacles like all the other tourists. Module II is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

3.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices, Module III

Full text: Spanish

Module III of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices, co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, highlights the necessary actions that need to be undertaken in order to make the universal accessibility in tourism a reality. These actions should result from an overall policy framework and specific strategies fostering Accessible Tourism which are being discussed in this module. The policy framework should provide the basis for proper planning and development of strategic areas of intervention, such as legislation, awareness-raising and training, research, as well as marketing and management of accessible tourism. Module III is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

4.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices, Module IV

Full text: Spanish

Module IV of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Best Practices, co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, proposes a series of indicators developed for tourism destinations to assess, control, and manage their accessible tourism offer. Accompanied by a detailed methodology for their application, these indicators can serve as a practical tool not only to assess the current situation within destinations but also to consider further actions that may be required. Module IV is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

5.Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: Principles, Tools and Good Practices Module V  NEW!

Full text: Spanish

Module V of the Manual on Accessible Tourism for All: principles, tools and best practices, co-produced with the ONCE Foundation and ENAT, provides an overview of case studies and good practices which have proven a successful implementation of universal accessibility in different spheres of tourism, such as promotion, market research, travel agencies, transportation, accommodation, training & capacity building and destination management. The examples featured therein analyze a wide spectrum of conditions which were decisive in making accessible tourism a reality and are meant to inspire the key stakeholders to engage in similar initiatives in their respective areas of influence.  Module V is currently available in Spanish only, in a digital accessible version. It has been laid-out following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (level AA). 

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San Marino Declaration on Accessible Tourism 

The Declaration which resulted from the 1st UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe, held on 19-20 November 2014 in the Republic of San Marino, can be downloaded here:

English
Español
Français

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Relevant UNWTO Events and Reports on Tourism and Accessibility 

FITUR 2015: "Technology at the service of Tourism for All"  

FITUR 2013: “Accessibility: A Competitive Advantage for Tourism Destinations" (Final Report - Spanish)

Acquiring a disability through sport: implications of insurance, compensation and quality of life through an Australian case

This story is not about accessible tourism but what happens when a person acquires a high-level spinal cord injury, questions of insurance, compensation, cost of disability and quality of life. Of course quality of life and cost of disability are inextricably linked to accessible travel where the type of disability and a person's support needs affect the extent to which a person is able to travel. Without the requisite resources to be able to pay for the extra cost of disability with regards to tourism, a person may be unable to travel to the extent, to the destinations, the length of time that they would like to be on holiday for. We hope you find this article of interest.

No other recourse but to sue? The implications of Alex McKinnon's lawsuit against the NRL

Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney and Paul Jonson, University of Technology Sydney
Alex McKinnon, who was left in a wheelchair following an on-field tackle in an NRL match in 2014, is set to sue the league and the player deemed responsible for his injury, Jordan McLean.
The legal circumstances are only part of the questions raised by a case like McKinnon’s. There are also discussions to be had over compensation and insurance, and the personal impact of spinal cord injury.

A legal first

McKinnon’s case marks the first time a player has directly sued rugby league’s national governing body over an on-field injury in Australia.
Previously, players have sued other players over injuries deemed to have resulted from illegal play. In other cases, players have also cited the club of the player regarded as having caused the injury.
These cases have tested the legal concepts of:

• duty of care: that is, to whom one is responsible for the negligent behaviour that resulted in the injury and why;
• voluntary assumption of risk: that is, whether the injury arose from behaviour that was an inherent part of the activity and to which the injured party had tacitly accepted the risk, so therefore no-one was legally liable for the damage caused; and
• vicarious liability: that is, the employer is legally responsible because the behaviour that caused the injury occurred while the employee was carrying out their work duties, albeit negligently.

The tackle that injured Alex McKinnon.

Workers’ compensation and sports insurance

In any other sphere of life, if a person is injured at work they are covered by workers’ compensation.
In Australia, depending upon the state you live in, such claims have been limited with respect to monetary compensation. For example, in New South Wales a person acquiring a spinal cord impairment similar to McKinnon’s is limited to a one-off lump-sum payment of A$231,000.
Under any circumstances this figure can be regarded as grossly inadequate when you consider home modifications, purchase of assistive technology, and ongoing care and medical expenses.
Any sportsperson taking to the field typically does so under their state’s sports injuries insurance scheme. However, it is open to the sporting organisation to opt for private insurance as a substitute or complement.
Under the sports injury insurance scheme, payments of benefits are made in respect of deaths and certain injuries suffered by people participating in sporting and recreational activities.
Significantly, the benefits payable are predetermined and limited, with a maximum benefit for a single incident capped at $171,000. Hence – unless private insurance has been taken out – under workers’ compensation or the sports injury insurance scheme the degree of coverage for spinal cord injury is inadequate.

Spinal cord injury

There are around 12,000 people living with spinal cord injury in Australia, with some 370 new cases each year. Of these, some 80% are male and 20% female. Most occur through motor-vehicle accidents (23%), unprotected road users (23%, including cyclists or pedestrians), high falls (18%), low falls (10%), being struck by objects (9%), or water-related injuries (9%).
Of those injuries, some 20% occurred in sport or leisure activities and 15% in work-related environments. Once a person has a spinal cord injury their employment rate declines from 78% pre-injury to 29% post-injury.
Any spinal cord injury is devastating to the person involved, their immediate family, and their circle of friends. At best it can be a lengthy hospitalisation, and end in a “miracle” story of the person walking out of the hospital.
Medically, spinal cord injury is at worst a lifelong change that affects every daily function of the human body – beyond merely walking. Socially it can mean a loss of job and income, the family home requiring major modifications if it can be made accessible, changes in family responsibilities, and the way members of the family relate to each other.
On top of all this, McKinnon has had his spinal cord injury and circumstances played out in the public realm.
As the tackle that injured McKinnon shows, spinal cord injury can take place in a split second. Whether the person is an elite athlete or not, there is a massive psychological adjustment that takes place. This period of adjustment can go on for years.
Depending on level of injury, personal care is an ongoing cost that is essential to maintaining good health and a functioning family unit. Then there is transport, housing modifications, assistive technology, ongoing medical expenses and specialised equipment for work and leisure. These have been estimated at a lifetime cost of $9.5 million for a quadriplegic.
As McKinnon progresses in his recovery, the true cost of disability and his needs over a lifetime are only just starting to be realised. He has said:

It’s only been in the last few weeks that I have understood that it will cost $100,000 per year just to get me up out of bed in the morning.

The love of McKinnon’s partner, family and friends can only do so much where professional allied health, medical and therapy interventions are required to lead an independent and dignified life as possible.
While the NRL has been supportive and offered McKinnon a job for life, he is starting to realise the real ongoing costs of disability may not be met by the generous charity that has already been provided.
McKinnon does not just want his basic needs met; he wants to be compensated for the life he envisioned a professional football career would give him, and what has been taken away through catastrophic injury. While the National Disability Insurance Scheme will provide for his basic needs, it does not provide for everything people with disability require to offset all loses because of their disability. Instead, it only meets requirements that can be regarded as “fair and reasonable”.
Given these circumstances, McKinnon has been left with no other recourse than to litigate to receive compensation for his loss of lifestyle.

Simon Darcy, Professor & Co-Director Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre - UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney and Paul Jonson, Associate Professor, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

New article- Inclusive by Design: Transformative Services and Sport Event Accessibility

Originally published at Dickson, T. J., Darcy, S., Johns, R., & Pentifallo, C. (2016). Inclusive by Design: Transformative services and sport-event accessibility The Services Industry Journal, 36(11-12) pp532-555. Article available for no charge athttp://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/WdSae6GJGPG7rNXBV9qh/full 

FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Canada

Quote from abstract:

This paper examines the service dimensions required to be inclusive of people with access needs within a major-sport event context. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities seeks to counter disability discrimination and enable citizenship rights of people with disabilities, including access to goods and services, across all dimensions of social participation including major-sport events (e.g. Olympic and Paralympic Games, world cups in football, cricket and rugby union). Providing for people with disability and access needs is also an emerging tourism focus with initiatives addressing accessible tourism included in the World Tourism Organizations mission and recent strategic destination plans. To enhance the understanding of service delivery for an accessible tourism market in a major-sport event context, a case study of the Vancouver Fan Zone for the FIFA Womens World Cup Canada, 2015 ^TM is analyzed through the lens of transformative services. From this analysis future research directions are identified to benefit those with access needs who wish to participate in major-sport events.

Photo 1: signage and wayfinding is so important at major events particularly where temporary overlays are used -photo courtesy of Dr Tracey Dickson ©2015.

The paper uses service blueprinting and a "traffic light" approach to assessing the fan experience from a disability perspective. Table 3 from the document is provided to give an understanding of the approach. The font and colours are explained as  Normal font or green = OK; Italics =or yellow = caution; Bold or orange = problem. The colours chosen were recommended to support screen readers.

Table 3 Traffic light service blueprint: assessment of stages of Fan Zone experience

STAGES	EVIDENCE	MOBILITY	VISION	HEARING	COGNITIVE
Research and planning	Websites (FIFA; Vancouver City)	No accessibility information for Fan Zone. Links to accessible transport information	FIFA Website not fully WCAG 2.0 compliant	No accessibility information for Fan Zone	No accessibility information for Fan Zone
Travel	Websites (FIFA;  Transit), Access Audit; observation	Public transport is accessible for independent travel  HandyDART available for other support	Transit website is not fully WCAG 2.0 compliant	Buses and trains have LED signs indicating next stop	HandyDART available for other support
Arrival	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	Clear path of travel	No tactile tiles	Signage is clear	Only one entry
Activations	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	No overt mobility support or participation opportunities	No braille information; noise levels too high to hear instructions. Most activations assume vision	No written information available for instructions	Noisy, crowded
Food and Beverages	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	All vendor trucks serving areas inaccessible to wheelchair users. 3 step process to buy alcoholic drinks not helpful for those with mobility needs	No braille information, but servers can speak to customers	Signage is clear	Typical lining up process, but no guidance about where/how to line up
Toilets	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	Unisex accessible portable toilets available in unisex toilet area	No braille information. No staff nearby to give directions	Signage is clear	Standard port-a-loos, but in unisex layout
Watching matches	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	Iterations of accessible viewing not appropriate; no crowd management to support viewing	Sound system not clear. No match commentary No hearing loops	No subtitles on screen. No sign language for MC	No ticketing, reserved seats or spaces.
Leaving & emergency exits	Access Audit; Observation, photo analysis	Clear path of travel	No tactile tiles. Sound system did not cover all Fan Zone area if emergency exit info needed, but there were security staff and volunteers	Signage is clear; security staff and volunteers available	One main exit clearly marked; security staff and volunteers available