Travel for persons with limited mobility

[Sanity Claws]

I'm posting on behalf of some friends. They would like to travel to Venice but are concerned that much of the city would be inaccessible to one of them because she uses a wheelchair and has limited mobility. How would you go about researching whether the City is accessible to the disabled? Are there are any guidebooks or websites that you'd recommend?
Thanks in advance!

[medeak]

1. paralyzed friend has traveled all over world

he hires people to carry him if necessary..with the dollar so crappy right now perhaps not so good?

[Sanity Claws]

2. That's an idea

I know I wouldn't mind being carried by a strong handsome Italian guy.

[medeak]

5. we had disabled friend visit us in Italy

he had severe emphysema and our villa had 500 yrds of steps to a cliff. We hired two delivery guys (who carried our groceries and wine in everyday) to carry him up and down.. have a great photo of them all smiling. It was the best trip of his life.

[pop goes the weasel]

3. check with this guy

http://www.rollingrains.com/

He's a wheelchair using travel agent.

[Sanity Claws]

6. Will do

Thanks

[srains]

8. Better yet, Check with Jill in Italy!

I am a travel agent and I do use a wheelchair but I'm always the first to tell people when there is a better resource than me to answer their questions!

Check with Jill Paradis at [e-mail] . She has set up an inbound travel agency specializing in Inclusive (accessible) Travel in Italy.

Scott Rains
The Rolling Rains Report on Travel, Universal Design & Disability

http://www.RollingRains.com

[pop goes the weasel]

9. it's scott!

Thanks for posting here. I am always appreciative of your work to make travel more accessible to all.

[srains]

11. Thanks.

Over the years we have built up a really great network around the world - so sometimes it is just plain fun to do this work (and know we are leaving accessible infrastructure, changed attitudes, and exciting new opportunities for others).

Here's from a "meet-up" we had in Brazil that included running a zipline that is 1 kilometer long:

http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/002219.html

[Sanity Claws]

12. Thank you

I apologize for the late response but I normally do not go to this forum. My friends will appreciate this additional information.

[Traveling_Home]

4. The Disaboom website as a section on travel. Link below

http://www.disaboom.com/Living/Lifestyle/travel/Articles.aspx

[Sanity Claws]

7. Looks like a promising site

Thanks.

[KamaAina]

10. Here you go

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/accessible_venice.htm

Disabled travelers are frequently intimidated by Venice. The city was built long before "equal access" became part of the architect's vocabulary, and the city is dotted with hundreds of bridges that require climbing and descending steps. It's no wonder that many physically disabled tourists are tempted to skip Venice when traveling through Europe. And that's a shame, because it's certainly possible to enjoy Venice with a wheelchair, walker, or crutches if you know what to expect and plan your touring strategy accordingly...

In the past, the Tourist Office offered a free map (see inset photos) with information for walking-impaired travelers. The map had a yellow overlay to show areas that were considered accessible. (To see an excerpt from that map, click the thumbnail image.)....

Massimo Micotti's Accessible Italy has been serving disabled travelers since 1993. The company offers four-day packages in Venice, Florence, and Rome that include transfers and half a day of guided sightseeing. Signor Micotti's staff also operates Accessible Europe, which works with local travel agencies in more than a dozen European countries to provide accessible hotel accommodations, minitours, van rentals, and cruises.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Thank you

I apologize for the slow response but I don't usually come to this forum. I'm sure my friends will appreciate this information. Thanks.