July 24 - Universal Access

Universal access means that everyone should be able to go anywhere regardless of their differing abilities and disabilities.  In general, the modern world tries to accommodate this.  While I sometimes have trouble with print access, I rarely have problems with actual physical mobility - at least until this past week.

Lyle and I are on a family holiday with Holland America Cruise Line.  Most areas of the ship are easily accessible with my white cane - but there is one exception.  Access to the swimming pool and hot tub area is horrific for someone with limited vision, and also I am sure for anyone with limited physical mobility.  Getting into the hot tub was the worst for me, and that is where I fell.

Now I always hold a handrail when going up or down steps.  I do this with the anticipation that the railing will follow beside the steps.  This was not the case on the older style ship, the Zuiderdam.  I held the rail, and while my first foot found the anticipated step into the hot tub, my other foot lurched into space.  I fell.  The pain was instant as my foot, knee, thigh and buttock stretched into a most unnatural position.

Older style structures such as ships, were often built around cosmetic specifications rather than safety requirements and accessibility accommodations. The Zuiderdam fell into this category.

It was the following day before I visited the medical clinic on board and filled out an accident report.  I must say that the ship staff were great with follow-up but it hasn’t minimized the pain.

In all this, I am glad that I reported the incident. According to to the security officer who checked in with me later, Holland America is planning on looking into redesigning the pool and hot tub area so that it will be safer and more accessible to all passengers. I look forward to the new design with universal accessibility.