Because in wheelchair sitting we need a bit different accommodations: higher bed as the average (58-60 cm) which is a level in the wheelchair that allows of lifting somebody.

The room door is wider, there is no threshold and carpet. The room is so big that the car can turn, the handles, switches are available and if it possible there are sliding doors. The red wire hanging from the wall needed for help request.

In the bathroom are the biggest weirdnesses: there is no shower tray because we couldn’t roll in with wheelchair. We need there a folding seat, and on both sides of the toilet properly equipped clingings. A bigger place is also needed here. Under the sink there must be access to a wheelchair and the mirror has to be lower or adjustable.

Maybe this all sounds like a lot but it’s the only way we can travel. A barrier-free accommodation usually can be created with good intentions without a problem.

It’s good to be on your guard and before booking a room should be consulted the reception if the barrier-free advertised hotel really is!

Thank you for reading this!

And thank you for Alexa Dékán and Zoltán Koppány the assistance in the description!

nother piece of our WHY? campaign:

Have you ever seen “something” during your city walks, in public institutions  or somewhere else, that stands out on the floor and has a different colour? So this is the blind guide lane, that makes access easier for blind people.

The right blind guide lanes are higher than the pavement therefore can be perceived with the white stick and if you step on it. They are marked with distinctive colour for those who can still see a little bit.

Usually they are made for  two purposes:

1. Indicating direction for those who can’t see in front of them at all, especially the absolutely blind people. The guide lane is followable, provides security when approaching frequently visited objects (e.g. crosswalk, toilets, junctions, tracks at the train station).
2. As warning signals, most commonly at junctions and  at the end of the sidewalk. This is a well perceivable dotted surface, also with feet and this is even a little higher. Near crosswalk and stairs it can save lives.

Blind guide lanes are very useful but only if they have been made with expertise. Unfortunately there are many negative examples. Sometimes the lane has no end, it disappears after a while or there is nothing to follow after the starting direction. It also happens that the lane brings the person in the wrong direction: to the building’s walls, shop-window or drive-way.

There are very few blind guide lanes in Hungary, they can be found only at the busiest locations of cities.

Thank  you to our members Róbert Rauch of sharing experience!

(MIÉRT? = WHY?)   

Disability vehicles are often larger by design, as wheelchairs have to fit in them.

The size of the front passenger door and how wide it can be opened is a crucial aspect: the wider the door opens the easier it is to roll close to the car and get into the front passenger seat. However to do this you need room. This is (only) one of the reasons why disabled parking spots are so wide.

To get into the front passenger seat you need someone to help. The wheelchair needs to be right next to the car and there has to be extra room for the person helping.
Getting into the seat is an art in itself and most of us have developed our own tricks. One thing is for sure though, it requires space, time, lots of patience and calm circumstances. The helper and the disabled person need to coordinate every single movement, and this requires lots of space.

When arriving in a van, a ramp needs to be attached either to the side or the back of the car for the disabled person to get out. This requires space too.

Thank you for our member Koppány Zoltán the description!