Requesting nonhandicapped rooms?

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by tinkgrl
Hi,

This is interesting!!! I need a h/c room @ hotels. I have cerebral palsy & use a wheelchair to get around. I was told during my open house that 20% of all Disney resorts are HC. Which I find wonderful. At other places (non-disney) if we ask for an HC room it not even close to being workable or its not one @ all. I have been very happy with Disney accommendations!!! That's partly the reason for becoming members of DVC. Just my thoughts! PS: the beds can be low in some places.

Allison

20% of rooms sounds high. As Sue said above, there are 19 studios/1 bedroom lockoffs at OKW, plus 1 or 2 GV's. No way that's 20%, OKW has 500 some rooms, more like 5%. If it was 20%, more people would be getting them who didn't need them, that would be 1 in 5 rooms.

 

[SueM in MN]

20% of rooms sounds high. As Sue said above, there are 19 studios/1 bedroom lockoffs at OKW, plus 1 or 2 GV's. No way that's 20%, OKW has 500 some rooms, more like 5%. If it was 20%, more people would be getting them who didn't need them, that would be 1 in 5 rooms.

I've got an answer that takes care of both the number I was given and the 20% that tinkgrl posted. I asked specifically for the number of fully wheelchair accessible units at OKW. Those are the only ones that have roll in showers and sinks with roll-under access and are the ones that people who don't need wheelchair accessibility complain about.
There is another classification of rooms that are "handicapped accessible" with things like grab bars in the tub and next to the toilet. People probable get those rooms all the time and don't even notice, because other than grab bars, the rooms are exactly the same. Both those rooms and the fully accessible ones would be included in the 20% figure that tinkgrl was told, but only the fully wheelchair accessible ones are included in the number I had.

 

[erikthewise]

In his interview on this site (http://www.wdwinfo.com/dvc/bcvillas/bcchat.html), GM Sam Pensula stated
"Appx 10 per cent of our rooms at Beach Club Villas (29) are handicapped accessible, most with roll in showers."

So some HC units do not have roll-in showers?!

Even 10% seems to me about twice what is likely to be ever needed barring some statistical fluke, but what do I know? And I may need one too by 2040! Although I request non-HC, I accept that someday we will end up in an HC unit; seems a small enough price to pay to make sure people have what they really need.

 

[CK1]

Originally posted by Lisa F
Hope I'm not putting words into Cindy's mouth, but the way I read that paragraph of her post is that there are interesting posts from people who have disabilities that do not require them to use a wheelchair for whom the accessible features of these rooms creates more of a hinderance than a help (such as someone with a back injury that allows them to walk but makes getting in and out of a lower bed VERY difficult). I don't think she meant offense or to imply that anyone who doesn't use a wheelchair is only handicapped by some "technicality" or anything like that.

THanks. Lisa -- never any offense intended.

Wherein handicap is defined (by Webster) as something that "hampers a person" or "puts them at a disadvantage" (i.e. physically), then those who fit this "technical description" are many (some from temporary conditions such as recent surgery or injury, some more permanent). And among this widely varied group, there does not appear to be a perfect "fit" for meeting all limitations or needs -- beds are too high or too low, etc. What arrangements reduce one person's limitations may not be suitable (or may even be an added hindrance) for another.

I use (perhaps overuse) the word "technical" a lot... (I'm a rsch chemist by day, bad typist / board poster by night) Please don't read too much into my choice of words -- I never intended to offend!

Cindy