STRANDed in London
My 3rd access review is of a communication we had with a London Hotel.
All I remember about the hotel is that it was absolutely boiling hot and the windows wouldn't open so none of us slept. The room must have been accessible because I used a wheelchair then.
Pre-pandemic, my mum and I travelled down to London 2 or 3 times a year to attend medical events, charity fundraisers and catch up with friends and go to the theatre.
Lately, we've been missing the bright light of the big city . After reading that the strand palace has recently been refurbished, we made enquiries about their accessible rooms.
As you can see below, the reply is disappointing.
Why doesn't this make the the headlines? Is it because as Disabled people we've been conditioned to be grateful for any small kindness, from bus driver letting us on, to a door being opened by a kind stranger. We perhaps have become too nervous of the repercussions, too anxious of any comeback, or maybe we are simply too busy to kick up a fuss. However, we need to stand up for our rights! we need to highlight your discriminatory acts I suppose that the point of this blog, do please share it!
What can the strand palace London Hotel do to become accessible?
*have a ramped entrance with automatic doors.
*have a lower door for wheelchair users.
*have a lift with large print, braille numbers and voice over to announce the floors.
*accessible rooms on ground floor and/or near lift/fire evacuation point.
*wide corridors.
*wide doors with braille, large print in a contrasting colour to highlight the room number.
*a room large enough to turn in.
*a tv with subtitles/audio description
* information in different formats (e.g. Braille, large print).
* the choice of a wet room shower or lower bath.
*safety/balance bars on toilets and bath.
If the travel lodge can do this, I don't see why the strand Palace Hotel London refuses guests who are disabled by forgetting about 14.1 million disabled and chronically ill living in the UK (not counting the international tourist), when sketching out the architects plans.
If a hotel want to be really fancy and top notch access wise, they could offer a hoist and safe bed.
The strand Palace Hotel London is an independent hotel it has all the more reason to become accessible to all people. Facing competition from travel lodge, premier inn, Imperial hotel group, the crown plaza group, all of which do have access and are nationwide , the strand palace may struggle going forward.
Pre-pandemic, my mum and I travelled down to London 2 or 3 times a year to attend medical events, charity fundraisers and catch up with friends and go to the theatre.
Lately, we've been missing the bright light of the big city . After reading that the strand palace has recently been refurbished, we made enquiries about their accessible rooms.
As you can see below, the reply is disappointing.
I sincerely hope the owners are reading this as I want to let them know just how angry I am.
At some point during each of our lives, we will become disabled and/or care for someone who is. It may be a short term broken bone, or a long term chronic illness, like mine.
In the strand palace not having rooms with turning space, or a balance bar in the bathroom, a wet room etc, they are excluding a large majority of the population, as well as losing out on the income.
I am disgusted!
When planning a refurbishment, a priority should be 'how can we make you as accessible to all people? How can we include and welcome everyone? and, perhaps most importantly, how can we obey the law? ' because by having no accessible rooms whatsoever to offer your disabled guests, you are proudly and blatantly flouting the law, which, in the equal opportunities act 2010 that replaced the disability discrimination act 1995, dictates that 'businesses and premises must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate all people'. This means letting people in to spend their money regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and there's another, what is it now? oh yes, disability. Why does this last section of society always get overlooked? A gay couple made the headlines a few years ago when they were refused a hotel room. If I sued every business that has refused me access, many would not be functioning, so why doesn't this make the news do the media assume we enjoy not getting in places? Is the strand Palace Hotel London scared of our wheelchairs, peg feeds, blind cane and other equipment will frighten the able-bodied guests? Does the strand palace London Hotel not want to see a face like mine damaging their idea of the ideal picture of Health patron? Am I really so terrifying?
Isn't it terrible that in the 21st century people have to ask permission by a building Enter. Only to be told that a person such as yourself will not "benefit the hotel" all because I use a wheelchair! What an insult!!!. As for letting paying customers borrow a wheelchair. A refurbishment is the ideal time to become accessible, but according to them, wheelchair users "are not beneficial to the hotel".. Thank you strand Palace Hotel London, I feel so valued as a human. Its a total confidence boost to know that your company places such little worth on potential paying customers who happen to need some help . This is why I started this blog-to highlight this happy to discriminate and praise those who care.
At some point during each of our lives, we will become disabled and/or care for someone who is. It may be a short term broken bone, or a long term chronic illness, like mine.
In the strand palace not having rooms with turning space, or a balance bar in the bathroom, a wet room etc, they are excluding a large majority of the population, as well as losing out on the income.
I am disgusted!
When planning a refurbishment, a priority should be 'how can we make you as accessible to all people? How can we include and welcome everyone? and, perhaps most importantly, how can we obey the law? ' because by having no accessible rooms whatsoever to offer your disabled guests, you are proudly and blatantly flouting the law, which, in the equal opportunities act 2010 that replaced the disability discrimination act 1995, dictates that 'businesses and premises must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate all people'. This means letting people in to spend their money regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age and there's another, what is it now? oh yes, disability. Why does this last section of society always get overlooked? A gay couple made the headlines a few years ago when they were refused a hotel room. If I sued every business that has refused me access, many would not be functioning, so why doesn't this make the news do the media assume we enjoy not getting in places? Is the strand Palace Hotel London scared of our wheelchairs, peg feeds, blind cane and other equipment will frighten the able-bodied guests? Does the strand palace London Hotel not want to see a face like mine damaging their idea of the ideal picture of Health patron? Am I really so terrifying?
Isn't it terrible that in the 21st century people have to ask permission by a building Enter. Only to be told that a person such as yourself will not "benefit the hotel" all because I use a wheelchair! What an insult!!!. As for letting paying customers borrow a wheelchair. A refurbishment is the ideal time to become accessible, but according to them, wheelchair users "are not beneficial to the hotel".. Thank you strand Palace Hotel London, I feel so valued as a human. Its a total confidence boost to know that your company places such little worth on potential paying customers who happen to need some help . This is why I started this blog-to highlight this happy to discriminate and praise those who care.
Why doesn't this make the the headlines? Is it because as Disabled people we've been conditioned to be grateful for any small kindness, from bus driver letting us on, to a door being opened by a kind stranger. We perhaps have become too nervous of the repercussions, too anxious of any comeback, or maybe we are simply too busy to kick up a fuss. However, we need to stand up for our rights! we need to highlight your discriminatory acts I suppose that the point of this blog, do please share it!
What can the strand palace London Hotel do to become accessible?
*have a ramped entrance with automatic doors.
*have a lower door for wheelchair users.
*have a lift with large print, braille numbers and voice over to announce the floors.
*accessible rooms on ground floor and/or near lift/fire evacuation point.
*wide corridors.
*wide doors with braille, large print in a contrasting colour to highlight the room number.
*a room large enough to turn in.
*a tv with subtitles/audio description
* information in different formats (e.g. Braille, large print).
* the choice of a wet room shower or lower bath.
*safety/balance bars on toilets and bath.
If the travel lodge can do this, I don't see why the strand Palace Hotel London refuses guests who are disabled by forgetting about 14.1 million disabled and chronically ill living in the UK (not counting the international tourist), when sketching out the architects plans.
If a hotel want to be really fancy and top notch access wise, they could offer a hoist and safe bed.
The strand Palace Hotel London is an independent hotel it has all the more reason to become accessible to all people. Facing competition from travel lodge, premier inn, Imperial hotel group, the crown plaza group, all of which do have access and are nationwide , the strand palace may struggle going forward.
Comments
Post a Comment