Invitation to a Special Concert in a Special Place

Press Release


Cape Town Stadium is proud to host Filia School’s Laduma concert in celebration of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup®.
Filia School is a special needs educational facility from Goodwood. This is the third, and final, annual concert that they have been staging in the build up to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup®, due to start on 11th June.

The concert performed by the children at the school celebrates the cultural diversity of our world. It is fitting that this final event should be held in the newly completed, accessible, Cape Town Stadium. It will be the last event before the stadium will be handed over to FIFA for the event in June. We hope to join with the children in welcoming the overseas visitors to South Africa, and to celebrate the new, world class facility we have here in Cape Town.
We would like to invite you, your colleagues, and your children to this special event.

    Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010


    Time: 10h00 – 12h00


    Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Please note this is a free event, although we will be asking for donations for future events for the school.

We are hoping that we shall be joined by the local & international media, local dignitaries, family & friends. Please join us for the very special event. Should you require any further information, please contact the school directly on 021 592 1361/2/3, fax 021 592 1369.
Filia School is a training centre for learners between the ages of 4 and 18 years who are physically and intellectually challenged. Learners attending the school have severe physically disabilities such as those caused by cerebral palsy or genetic abnormalities. In this environment every effort is made to provide the learners with quality education specially designed to meet their particular needs and technology has to be specially adapted to cater for their requirements.

Some comments sent to the school from the last concert:

• Filia You’ve done it again!!

• What a wonderful morning!!!

• You tugged at my heart strings.

• How talented your children are

• Thanks to such a dedicated staff.

• I take my hat off to you

• Thanks to your dedication your patience, your love.

• I salute you

• This calls for a repeat. Please!

• Others need to see this!

• It was such a joy to see your learners on stage yesterday.

• Keep doing the lovely uplifting work that you do.

• My compliments to you & your staff for having such an appropriate and spectacular event just before world cup soccer.

• The whole production touched my heart.

• My wife and I were privileged to attend your concert; it was great

• Just to inform you what a soul refreshing time we had.

Polished Apartheid

Discrimination with style.


Maybe I should wait a while to calm down before posting this. The following may get deleted, as my blood pressure drops.

I thought that every (volcanic) cloud has a silver lining… Well I was wrong. What I should have realised is that I always get the shitty end of the stick again.

A good friend is in the international tourism business. He had arranged for a whole trip (for a BMW promotion) to fly a group out from Germany, and show them around South Africa, prior to the World Cup. One of the "highlights" of the trip was to have been a trip on the famous Blue Train, from Cape Town to Pretoria. But the flight restrictions meant that they could not fly out… So this friend had to cancel what he could, but he could not cancel the train, as he had booked out the whole train. So he contacted all his friends, offering us a trip on the Blue Train at a really good price (normally the trip from Cape Town to Pretoria is over R10,000 per person).

So, as it is my birthday coming up, and my wife felt that we deserved a break after a really hectic few months, we joined the trip. Now, our friend obviously knows that I am a wheelchair user, and double checked with the Blue Train management that the train was accessible. We were informed that the whole train is fully accessible, and that there is a specific cabin for wheelchair users. So we booked…and paid several thousand Rand over. We also booked return flights, and then last night, took my car to the airport, so we would be able to get home again when we flew back on Sunday night. We were really excited about the trip; the Blue Train is famous all around the world, and having the whole train full of our friends promised to be a once in a lifetime experience…

So this early this morning, we were collected by the minibus we organised, and drove through to Cape Town Station. We were greeted in the Blue Train lounge with champagne and bucks fizz, and checked in. Our wheelchair accessible cabin was booked… So we caught up with all our friends, and excitedly discussed the trip ahead. Then we were called to the train…

I began to get a sinking feeling with the way that the staff were treating me. Each of them trying to push me, even though I each time told them that I prefer to roll myself…and have no handles on my wheelchair for that reason. So we get taken to the train, and the feeling sank a bit further when the doorway into the train was a typical narrow door.

    "Can you walk a few steps?" Hmmm…sink a bit more…

    "No, I am sorry, I cannot walk or even stand at all"

    "oh…." Sinking fast now.

They then 'find' the train's wheelchair, which is a bit narrower than my own wheelchair, and inform me that I will have to use that. OK…even though I am much more comfortable in my own wheelchair, and the wheelchair they offer is certainly not in keeping with the 5 star plushness of the rest of the train; it looks a really tatty old thing. The baggage trolleys look much smarter!

But even that narrow wheelchair cannot fit through the door... They all scratch their heads for a while…delaying the train. Friends begin to come out of their cabins to see what the problem is. Some of them offer well meaning, but useless advice… I am really sinking fast now… No ramp, no way in… And the departure time has now been passed. So…against my wife's advice, I bum shuffle onto the train, and lift myself into their narrow wheelchair. OK, at least I am on now…and hopefully the crowd will dissipate.

So I roll down the narrow corridor (there is no way my wheelchair would fit), thinking that it is pretty stupid to have the wheelchair accessible cabin so far from the dining car & bar… The smoking lounge is also at the opposite end of the train…never mind… So I decided to check the "accessible cabin".

Now remember that this costs over R10,000 per person, and I could have been a traveller from Europe for this experience. Surely the cabin will be fantastic, to make up for this… But that sinking feeling is still with me, and going down, as I graze my knuckles down the corridor… I get to the cabin, but I cannot manoeuvre the tiny wheelchair through the door… It is impossible…

Oh, no, this is getting worse!

So my 'butler' lifts the wheelchair across and into the cabin…but I still can't get in. I am stuck in the doorway, as the furniture inside (the specific wheelchair cabin) means that a wheelchair cannot get in. So I am lifted out of the room again. Still the train has not moved, and I warn the manager not to let it leave until we have this sorted… The furniture is then lifted out of the room…and I am lifted back in… But then I try to get into the one suite bathroom, and no way. The door from the "wheelchair accessible" cabin into its "wheelchair accessible" bathroom is too narrow to fit a wheelchair through.

At this stage there are tears rolling down my wife's face… I am feeling shit, for again being the reason for spoiling another nice weekend… This is not going to work… So I decide to get off… If I cannot go to the toilet, get into bed, and have to be assisted in and out of my room, I am not going to be good company for this weekend. My wife wants to get off with me, but, through her tears, I convince her to stay on, and to enjoy the weekend with our friends. The staff look on hopeless… The manager is getting increasingly irate calls asking why the train is delayed… They all look suitably embarrassed. I am keeping my increasing anger under control. Several friends come along, and try to remonstrate with the staff, but I point out it is not their fault, and I do not want to spoil all their weekends… So I reverse down the corridor, and bum shuffle off the train, back into my wheelchair… The crowd has reformed, and while keeping my anger under control, I squirm in their collective sympathetic looks and comments. They all mean well, but I just need to get out of here.
The train manager assures me that someone will come to collect me, and they will arrange for a taxi to take me to the airport to collect my car. I kiss my wife, and tell her to enjoy the trip…while she wishes me a happy birthday… Our other friends look on helpless…

The doors close, and the train pulls out of the station…

But no one comes, as expected… So I make my own way back to the lounge. There is only the receptionist there…everyone else has gone. She then phones to ask for a taxi to the airport, and I decide to leave before I say or do something that I may later regret. Having to pay (R200) for my own taxi did not help my mood… I think the taxi driver could sense there was something wrong…as I was not able to enter a conversation with him… Angry that we were all given false information… Angry that a world recognised icon of South African tourism is not accessible… Angry that I have left a bad taste of the weekend with my friends… Angry that I cannot enjoy this special adventure… Angry that it has upset my wife… Angry that I can't enjoy my birthday surprise… Angry that the management compounded their mistakes by not following through, and leaving me to pay for the taxi… Angry that the situation has embarrassed my friend who organised the trip…. Angry that I was put in the situation where all my friends could see my predicament, and angry that they are all feeling sorry for me now… Angry that I have hurt my shoulders & skinned my knuckles more getting into and out of, and around an inaccessible train… Angry that a 5 star luxurious facility has absolutely no idea of how to deal with people with disabilities… Angry that I have been discriminated against directly because of my disability… Angry that I am missing out on a once in a lifetime experience… Angry that something as well known as the Blue Train all around the world is blatantly breaking South African laws, and ignorant of the responsibilities it has under our constitution…. Angry not only that they are inaccessible, but that they claim to be accessible, which makes it worse...

Really angry…

I shall calm down slowly over the weekend at home alone… Next week I shall write them a long letter, explaining where they went wrong, and how they need my company's services to ensure that they comply with their responsibilities as a South African company. But not just yet. I am too angry. I have been excluded from joining my friends for a wonderful weekend, because of my disability. This is the same (in the eyes of the law) as kicking me off, because I have the wrong colour skin. Let no one tell you that we have got rid of Apartheid in South Africa. I got a dose of it today. I know how it feels to be excluded, discriminated against. Sod "Previously" disadvantaged individuals, how about trying to fix things for "Currently" disadvantaged individuals??

Just had a phone call from a tearful wife… She tells me that the friend who has organised the trip is feeling really awful, as are a number of our friends… There was talk apparently of them all getting off the train in support of me, but my wife pleaded with them not to do that, as it would only make me feel worse…

I need to go and kill something now...

Challenge to the Premier of Gauteng Province

OK, maybe it is not hard to offend me these days. But the recent speech by the Premier of Gauteng really rattled me:

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has called on people living with disabilities to “stop relying on social grants and become active participants in the country’s economy”.

Nice...if only if it were that easy!!! This is so offensive on many levels. It makes the assumption that all people with disabilities are just sitting back, happy to sponge of the state...expecting everything to be handed to us.

Thankfully, I do not live in your province, but I do visit it, regularly. I do know many people with disabilities who do live in your province, and have to face dreadful conditions, and discriminations every day, due to YOUR inabilities to apply the existing legislation that we have.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we are barred from using public transport?
• We have laws, which should mean that all forms of public transport are fully accessible to all, and yet YOU preside over a province which has transport facilities which are inaccessible to many PWD.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we are not able to access state schools?
• We have a Department of Education White paper which calls for an inclusive educational system, and yet YOU are premier of a province, where most of the schools & tertiary educational establishments are inaccessible to PWD. We have been working with a particular university in YOUR province, which accepts that it is grossly inaccessible, and wants to address these issues, but has no funding (from YOU) to do so.

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we cannot move safely about your cities?
• I challenge YOU to spend a day in a wheelchair with me, touring around YOUR cities, and you will find several occasions where we will be risking our lives, as we have to roll down streets amongst the (inaccessible) minibuses, because YOU have not done anything about providing accessible pavements (curb cut outs, blister paving, etc., etc.)

• How do many people with disabilities become active in the country's economy when we cannot find employment?
• The country has the Employment Equity act requiring YOU to ensure that a minimum of 2% of your workforce are people with disabilities, and YOU are nowhere close to even that pathetically low figure! Once YOU start getting close to the real figure (10 - 20% of any society can be viewed as PWD, then you can start issuing such challenges.

Your speech is sickening, and patronising! I write as a person living with a disability, who has never received a hand out in my life (merely because I was fortunate in my circumstances). But your words speak of a massive lack of understanding of the needs of people with disabilities within your province. The vast majority of people with disabilities do want to work...they don't want to try to live on the pittance of a Disability allowance that is paid to them. But they cannot because YOU have not done your job properly. You preside over a province which allows active discrimination against all people with disabilities every day. How dare you insult us, by suggesting that PWD want to be reliant, and not financially independent. There are so many PWD, living in your province who have no education, no way of leaving their homes, and even if they do leave they face such challenges that you seem completely ignorant of. To release this crass statement on the International Day of People living with Disabilities is sickening.

I have a mind to try to arrange a meeting with you...in any building belonging of your choice, belonging to the Gauteng Province. If I can find any access issues with the building then I shall bring a case against you, and your province in terms of the Equality Act. By barring me from any part of the building due to my disability, would be the same as barring me due to my skin colour. If I cannot find any problem...then I am willing to put a full page apology in the national papers, along with a naked picture of myself… Are YOU up for the challenge???

Please remember, People with Disabilities do not want special treatment. We do not want to live off the state. All we want is the same chances as everyone else. We will know when we have true equality when people with disabilities get the same lousy damn service as everyone else. We don't want your money, your sympathy, or your words. We DEMAND our rights. The same rights as everyone else, which your province ignores on a daily basis.

We will know when we have true equality when people with disabilities get the same lousy damn service as everyone else. We don't want your money, your sympathy, or your words. We DEMAND our rights. The same rights as everyone else, which your province ignores on a daily basis.

So Premier, stop relying on words, and inaction, and start making active steps to ensure that PWD can become active in your province. We expect, and have a right to: accessible homes, accessible public transport, accessible public buildings, accessible cities, and streets, accessible schools, colleges, universities. We demand that YOU obey the laws of the land, and meet the targets set by the Employment Equity Act. We demand that every single part of every single public building is accessible to all...

Apartheid by design: Disabled people in PMB

For fear of being accused of a little self promotion, and I would hardly call myself an "Activist", this is a brilliant article:

ONCE upon a time in South Africa, buildings had separate entrances and facilities for people of different races. The practice was outlawed as discriminatory along with the policy that created it: apartheid.

That discredited philosophy was replaced with a Constitution hailed for its commitment to human rights that is also enshrined in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000. Despite this, another kind of apartheid still operates: discrimination against people with disabilities. Inaccessible environments have been called “apartheid by design”.

Have a look at the full article, and please comment!!

What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service, environment, building etc.) is accessible by as many people as possible. That is easy isn't it?

Well, no, it is not that easy. I want to explain what accessibility is all about, and why you need to think carefully about it.

I was looking to book a B & B for myself. So, like most people, in the modern world, I fired up my web browser and began to search for accommodation in the area where I want to go. It is a popular area, and I shall be travelling there out of season, so there was plenty of choice. Or at least it appeared that there was plenty of choice. As I am a wheelchair user I need to find accommodation which is accessible. Now, according to regulations, and establishment offering more than 25 beds has to be accessible…but we all know that laws like that are not enforced, and just plain forgotten about here. So once I narrowed down my choice, I had to contact each of the establishment to find out if they are accessible.

This goes back to the understanding of what is accessible.

Me: "Excuse me, I would like to come and stay with you, are you accessible to wheelchair users?"

Them: "Yes, we are, can I take your booking?"

M: "So you have an accessible room?"

T: "Yes, we do. It is a large room, with a large bathroom, with enough space for a wheelchair."

M: "Great, so the WC has grab handles, so I can transfer, and the shower is a roll in shower with a seat then?"

T: "……………..oh……..err……..no. There are no handrails, and the shower is up a step"

M: "so I guess you are not accessible then?"

T: "no, I suppose we are not."

M: "thank you for your help, but unless I am able to use the loo, and take a shower when staying with you, I shall have to take my money elsewhere. It is a shame, as looking at your website, we were looking forward to staying with you."

This basic conversation has no been repeated at 6 different locations…with basically the same outcome. And this is the problem, that many people face on a daily basis not just with accommodation, but restaurants, shops, transport, houses, etc. I am not writing this, looking for sympathy, or as a sob story, but to try to explain how accessibility may effect any of us, at any time.

• Accessibility comes down to a way of thinking, it is about giving a shit about other people.
• Accessibility is not just a tick box.
• Accessibility is a mind-shift.
• Accessibility is a personal issue.
• Accessibility is a business issue
• Accessibility is a human rights issue.

There are some excellent laws in place (such as the Equality Act) which outlaw discrimination such as this. But I would hope that people do not always have to be forced into providing accessibility. There is a clear business case. Each one of these establishments has lost my business, and the business of my family. Had one of them been able to accommodate me in comfort and safety, then I would have told others (as unfortunately, it is still unusual to find accessible facilities in South Africa).

Can I give you all a challenge? For the rest of the day, imagine that you join the 10-20% of society who live with a disability? Imagine, that you lose your sight, or the use of your legs, or your hearing, or whatever. Take a look around you. Could you continue doing what you are doing now? Could you even get to where you are now? If the answer is no, then does that loss of ability have a direct bearing on your activity, or could that activity be adapted so that you could still carry it out with a disability? If the answer is yes…then double check. Have you made the same mistake as the example above and assumed accessibility. Is there a step at the entrance to your building? Is there a toilet that a person in a wheelchair could use? And this even applies if you are at home, and not at work. Maybe a family member or a close friend becomes disabled (86% of people with disabilities were not born with the disability). Could they visit you? Do you give a shit??

So Sorry!!

I have certainly been ignoring my blog here for a while. I should try to rectify that I guess. My (feeble) excuse is that I have been rather busy lately. The following photos show what I have been busy with

Accessibility

Is your house accessible? Probably not. A recent survey in the UK found that 98% of all new, privately built dwellings are inaccessible (to wheelchair users). My anecdotal (therefore untrustworthy) experience, would suggest that that figure would be similar here in SA. What about your place of work? Or you local restaurant / café? What about your place of worship? Cinema? Doctor's surgery? Post Office?

So let's assume that your house is inaccessible. So what? No one in your house is disabled, and you certainly would not entertain the idea of inviting me around!!! Why go to the expense of making it accessible when it will never have a use?

Great question. Well, here comes the answer. A recent piece of research in the US (yes, I know all these are overseas figures, and things are different here…but please bear with me), has some fascinating findings. They predict that by 2050 (due to aging populations etc.) that 21% of all households will have at least one resident with a “long-lasting, severe mobility impairment” . Therefore (as people move houses) there is a 60% chance that any house will have to accommodate a long term disabled occupant, during the lifetime of the dwelling. However the figures are even more compelling when both short term impairments (such as injuries) & visitors are taken into account - they estimate that the figure rises to 93%.

The interesting point is that the trend towards accessible housing (so called lifetime housing) is being driven by the insurance industry in terms of cost saving. It is much more cost effective to design a house from the outset, to be accessible, rather than have to bolt on later. The sort of figures that are generally accepted is that to design any facility to be fully accessible from the outset adds 0.2% to the capital costs. Later adaptations can be as high as 10%.

It is not expected that every part of every house would be fully accessible (although that would be nice!), rather there are 3 main issues:

1. At least one level entrance into the dwelling (can be front, back or side).
2. All doors on the main floor, all doorways wide enough (>800mm) for easy access.
3. At least an accessible half (but preferably full) bathroom accessible on the main floor.

The bottom line, is that it makes financial sense to design, and build our houses (and all other built environments, by extension) to be fully accessible to all. Any of us may benefit from this accessibility one day…indeed, one could suggest that we all hope that we live long enough that we will benefit.

The research paper can be read here.

21/06/2008 Shopping Trolleys blocking Accessible Bay at Paarl Mall

21/06/2008 Shopping Trolleys blocking Accessible Bay at Paarl Mall
Originally uploaded by dissol2

This REALLY annoys me. 3 people at Paarl Mall were just too bloody lazy, and decided to leave their trolleys blocking one of the accessible bays. Amazing the lack of thought that some humans display!!!

Case study: Brighton & Hove City Council - Talking Bus Stops for the blind and visually impaired (linked to Real Time Bus Information signs) :: Public

This is a very interesting piece of news. A city in the UK has won a technology award for the provision of talking bus stops. I would suggest that people read the full article. They do say that this can be replicated in other areas, and I hope that will happen.

Case study: Brighton & Hove City Council - Talking Bus Stops for the blind and visually impaired (linked to Real Time Bus Information signs) :: PublicTechnology.net :: e-Government & public sector IT news job vacancies:: "A multi-disciplinary working group was been formed, including councillors, officers, system designers, users, local politicians and consultants. A partnership was formed with the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) to evolve a RNIB React system from providing orientation messages to include Real Time Information. The interface to provide a text to speech link with the Siemens VDO Passenger Information Displays was created by working with SFX Technologies, whilst Atkins Consultants helped with project management. The resulting system can be replicated in other areas and interest has already been shown from London local authorities."

Inaccessible pavement in Cape Town

Inaccessible pavement in Cape Town
Originally uploaded by dissol2

Kloof Street Cape Town. The Electrical box made passing bad enough in a wheelchair, but now they have ripped up the pavement, one has to take on the traffic on Kloof street...which is a scary activity...

Parking Bay Abuse...in another way

23022008232
Originally uploaded by dissol2

Outside of Sportsmen's Warehouse in Tygervalley. They had carefully positioned the trampoline in one of the accessible parking bays, but it also blocked the use of the second one. We did point this out to the management, and it was slightly moved, although the problem remained.

VOA News - China Prepares to Host Paralymics

It will be interesting to see how accessible the Olympics and Paralympics will be this year.

VOA News - China Prepares to Host Paralymics: "China is preparing to hold its first Olympic Games this year, and along with it, the Paralympics Games for disabled athletes. Chinese officials acknowledge that they are far behind in providing equal access for the country's disabled citizens, and they hope the games will help improve the situation. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing."

The article goes on to say:

Beijing says, for the first time in Paralympics history, the city will pay all travel expenses for disabled athletes and team officials.

WorldChanging: Tools, Models and Ideas for Building a Bright Green Future: Redesigning Buses

I know it is stating the obvious, but sometimes we need to. Here is more evidence of better, accessible design paying off.

WorldChanging: Tools, Models and Ideas for Building a Bright Green Future: Redesigning Buses: "Sightline Institute's blog The Daily Score recently noted that people always prefer streetcars and other light rail to buses. They aren't just being subjective, either--history backs them up. In 2001 the Denver Business Journal wrote of new light rail systems being mobbed in Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake City and St. Louis because they were so much more popular than forecasted, saying 'In Dallas, ridership on a new rail line was three times greater than ridership on an express bus that used the same route' and quoting government officials who were realizing 'How people respond to rail is different than how they respond to bus'.

So, why the mysterious preference for light rail? Two words: Better design."

P Jordan on people with disabilities

This is exciting news...I really hope that it turns into action. Of course I applaud the move. Although I must admit that I smiled, when you see how a politician announces this...as though it is a huge favour, and we all need to be suitably thankful. The reality is that if access is not provided to places of culture, then they are in direct contravention of (their own) laws, and open to court action.

P Jordan on people with disabilities: "12 December 2007

The Ministry of Arts and Culture has pledged R162 million over the next three years to make cultural facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. The plan was announced by Minister Pallo Jordan as part of the government's plan to improve the plight of people with disabilities.

He said the funds earmarked for the three forthcoming years are R39 million for 2008, R43 million for 2009 and R80 million for 2010. 'We have detailed information on the provision that has been made for the upgrading of security and access for person with disabilities at the department's public entities.'

'These would include places like museums, playhouses and other institutions that bring people together to not only enjoy artistic expressions but witness and experience the heritage of our beautiful country,' said Minister Jordan. In fact, buildings and structures built since 1994 have disabled access, while older ones have had to be renovated and adapted.

At present the department is in the process of ascertaining the requirements of the public entities in terms of security and accessibility. A service provider will be appointed in the near future to report on the current status. 'The upgrade of security and accessibility for persons with disabilities is a priority to make the arts accessible to all the people of the country,' said Minister Jordan."

Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian

I wonder if some local airlines are taking note of this... Perhaps it would be a good time to finally go ahead with the court action against Nationwide Airlines, before they completely disappear!?

Airlines warned not to bar disabled | The Australian: "'It's fine for low-cost or budget airlines to reduce services,' human rights commissioner Graeme Innes said yesterday. 'But not carrying passengers with disabilities can't be part of those reductions and to do so is against the law. 'As commissioner, I intend to ensure wherever I can that airlines meet their obligations to all passengers, not just passengers without disabilities.' Tiger is offering affected passengers a full refund and says the problem stems from the inability of its third-party ground handler to obtain special hydraulic devices capable of lifting wheelchairs on to planes. It did not expect the lifters to be available at all destinations until the end of February. Tiger's application comes as a report, due to be released this week by the PIAC, says an analysis of the experiences of 110 airline passengers demonstrates a systemic failure of legislation introduced in 2002 to set standards for disabled access to public transport. The report finds recent development and application of airline policy, and changes to baggage handling, have made disabled access more difficult, particularly for people with motorised or bigger wheelchairs. 'Some passengers who travelled independently for many years now find themselves barred from travel or facing the imposition of unreasonable conditions,' it says."

Inaccessible Nedbank Branch

Inaccessible Nedbank Branch
Originally uploaded by dissol2

This makes me mad!!! This is the new location of the Nedbank branch in Fourways shopping Mall in Jo'burg. Probably one of the busiest Malls in Gauteng, and therefore South Africa. Nedbank in its infinite wisdom(?!), moved from their ground floor location to here...on the first floor. But the only way to access this level is via the escalators. So, not only wheelchair users, but also parents with prams, or shoppers with trolleys are prevented from accessing the branch. I did complain, and asked, at the time to speak to the manager...but what can I say...they are a bank...and have ignored my complaint...

I posted this on my Flickr site a while ago, but have only just worked out how to link them...I will post some more from there shortly

Putting people first � UK usability market to grow 20% in 2007 - new report

Putting people first � UK usability market to grow 20% in 2007 - new report: "The UK market for usability and accessibility will grow by 20% in 2007 to a value of around �180 million, according to a new report published this week by E-consultancy.

Research for the 2007 Usability and Accessibility Buyer’s Guide found that increased competition in the online marketplace is driving investment in a user-centred design approach"

BBC NEWS | Technology | Smart hat brings play to disabled

Another interesting use of modern technology... I don't think of myself as a geek...but I do get a kick out of how different new technologies can be used to remove barriers that have in some cases been put there by other (older) technologies.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Smart hat brings play to disabled: "A 'smart' cap that allows disabled children to 'drive' radio-controlled cars and boats, has been launched.

The Dream-Racer device has four motion sensors that detect small movements of the head, which are then fed wirelessly to control the toy's direction.

The UK invention has also been adapted to allow disabled people to play games on Sony's PlayStation consoles."

Noesis: VeeSee

Hmm; a counter point to the previous post, Alison was able to point out some issues with VeeSee. I decided to do some more research (I apologise for posting before doing co earlier!). I think her comment to my previous post is well founded. Perhaps, as I come form a country ahead there is precious little sign language available, that I tend to get excited whenever I see that more may be more accessible to a wider audience...

Noesis: VeeSee: "VeeSee is a website that has been launched in the UK by an interpreter, Susie Grant. The site is operating under the Deafeatures Ltd.

Before I go any further, I really want to be positive about online development, but I'm really struggling here. More about that later. The site has a very strange mix of web 1.0 content and design, mixed with a web 2.0 approach through a social network. On the face of it, the site offers:"

BBC NEWS | Technology | IPTV for deaf people takes off

Another interesting development

BBC NEWS | Technology | IPTV for deaf people takes off: "A new web-based television service, or IPTV, for British Sign Language (BSL) users has recently launched in the UK.

VeeSee TV airs news and other programmes in BSL and is available 24 hours a day.

The channel can be viewed on a computer or via a set-top box and is the brainchild of BSL interpreter Susie Grant."