Why ARE handicapped accessible rooms inferior?

[wdwendyd]

Hi everyone!
I have been reading many threads about people's unhappiness with and the CM's difficulty of placing people in the HA rooms. Our last trip we were given a HA room (without being told first.) We didn't complain even though it wasn't as nice as the regular rooms for all the reasons that many have stated: creepy shower that is difficult to use, water on the floor, no place to put your stuff, etc.
I kept telling myself to be grateful that none of my family is handicapped, but in one way that made me feel even worse because I kept thinking that handicapped people and their families are getting stuck with these inferior rooms!
What should have happened is in the planning of the construction, the handicapped rooms should have been given extra space so that there could also be a tub and storage areas just like "normal" people get. But because the upper management did not want to spend the extra $$ to make this happen, everyone else is getting stuck dealing with this.
I don't know how this can be resolved in the buildings that have already been built but maybe people at the top should be made to think about this for buildings in the future.
Thanks for listening!
Wendy

 

[JimC]

The HA rooms are not inferior. They are modified to accommodate the needs of various disabilites, mostly mobility related. Much of what DVC does is covered by the ADA. The CMs have been very helpful in trying to meet needs and accommodate those who prefer to not have those rooms. Marriott goes a step further and has an ADA compliance group to assist disabled guests in having their needs met.

I have stayed in HA rooms out of both need and availability and other than the accommodation modifications have not noticed any difference in the quality or enjoyment of these rooms as compared to non HA rooms. I never have any problems with the shower. The one bedroom and larger HA rooms still have the large soaking tubs. There is plenty of space to store your stuff.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

On our first trip to Vistana in Orlando, the gentleman said, oh, we have you booked in a handicape unit, it is all available, but you will love it, it is bigger than the regular units!!! It was awsome! Sure it had the chair in the shower that swings out. But still had full tubs, etc. just the room was larger to accomodate a wheelchair, the kitchen counters were lower, not a big deal, we were on the first floor, again no big deal. Did Disney not make the rooms larger to accomodate a wheelchair, etc?

 

[CarolA]

The HA rooms are not inferior. They are modified to accommodate the needs of various disabilites, mostly mobility related. Much of what DVC does is covered by the ADA. .

I agree. The rooms are fine and are in no way inferior and I think it is rude to say they are. How would you feel if you needed a handicapped room and kept hearing they were inferior?

 

[jennypenny]

There's nothing really wrong with the HA units, but it can be inconvenient on long stays. My hubby and I are really tall and everything in the HA unit is lower. The bed is lower, the counters are lower (way too low for us to use comfortably) and the racks in the closets are so low that our trousers and dresses are puddled on the floor at the bottom.

I have no problem with the amount of HA units the DVC resorts have, and if it's all that is available when we get there, that's fine. But I don't like being in one for a long period of time and would probably ask to switch accommodations when a non-HA unit became available.

BTW, when we stayed at HHI in a one bedroom we got a HA room there also and there was no tub at all. Maybe they are not all the same. My inlaws stayed in a HA studio at SSR and there was a tub.

Jenny

 

[Poohs Pal]

We are a family in need of a H/A room and I find these threads kind of funny. When we go to a hotel and need a H/A room and when none are available we complain but with the opposite problems. Need a shower not a tub, roll under sink never mind the extra storage . The main reason I purchased DVC was due to the great H/A rooms and the extra size compared to staying in a hotel which makes us feel squeezed in. I also understand the complaint about the water running out of the shower, you would think they could be a little more carefull here. I plan on purchasing rubber door stopper stuff that comes at an angle and somehow gluing to pieces flat sides together and cutting it to lenght and putting it across the shower entrance to prevent the overflow of water on the floor. That is if any one will ever call be back with measurements. Have put in 3 calls to three different departments still no results. Good thing I have until December before our first trip with DS. As far as ADA compliant these rules are so generic that they just don't work well in a vacation resort or hotel room . I have always said to handle the problem they need real people with many different disabilities for imput. Susan

 

[lisareniff]

...the handicapped rooms should have been given extra space so that there could also be a tub and storage areas ....

I agree. They should have made the HA rooms more accessible by making them bigger. My sister is in a scooter and is adding on to her house so she can make everything bigger (bathroom, kitchen, etc) from it's current, more normal size. With the bigger size they also could have made up for the loss of storage us currently non-handicapped miss.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Disney's handicapped rooms are not even close to what many handicapped people need! While larger than a regular hotel room, they still are not overly large. Try being in a wheelchair and dealing with three doors opening into one bathroom. Some of the rooms only have two bars by the toilet--one is also needed ACROSS from the toilet for those who can stand with help and would allow more mobility for them. Tubs don't have bars around them in the larger units, or they are much too low to be of any use. I could write a book on what is wrong with Disney's handicapped areas--and they are at the forefront in ADA compliance. I was shocked when I needed to use those facilities myself! I think Disney needs handicapped people on staff to show them what is wrong with their design--Their doors everywhere in their parks and hotels should be redesigned. Think about how hard it is to open the doors in some locations, and then imagine a person in a wheelchair having to try that.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

After staying in a BWV studio I'd have to say the average handicapped studio isn't any worse than that. No shelves on the dresser/tv unit and no coffee table...and apparently common for disney...just one night table...kind of rough when you wear glasses and your mom wants the night table.

Disney probably could have installed amenities for people who don't need a wheelchair like wall/corner shelves of some sort.

 

[BillM]

As a HC room user(on a scooter) here are my observations. We have our home at OKW and find the accomodations there far superior for our needs to other DVC options. The villas numbered under 30 have normal counters with those with the higher numbers having low counters, no disposal, micro on the counter etc.
The 1 BR at BW is a little tight for a scooter. Kitchens are small, patios are not accessible to move on. The studios are more accomodatng.
HH and BCV in the 1 BR have very low beds(for my disability). Ironically the beds in the HC studio at OKW are so high that when you sit on them your feet don't touch the floor.
Have not stayed at WLV, SSR or VB.
I don't think that the DVC HC rooms are inferior. Disabilities come in so many different flavors that it would be tough to suit all people. I would think that DVC would be at the top of the compliance for ADA but it is puzzling to me why they have low beds and high beds and other different perceptions.
Try opening an outside door at OKW on a scooter without banging your arms off.

 

[Simba's Mom]

In addition to no tub (which is not the biggest issue), the HA studios that I've been in have had no shelf in the bathroom around the sink-DH and I had to store toiletries (shaving stuff, tootbrush and stuff, etc.) on the floor; since there's no hall closet, all our clothes had to be stored in the little "closet" which was part of the armoire the TV was in, about 14 inches wide (fortunately, only 2 people were trying to cram their clothes in there); since the microwave in the kitchenette was on the counter, there was very limited counter space in the kitchenette; this last one baffled me-there was no light switch near the bed, so you couldn't get into bed, then turn off the light when you got done watching TV. You had to turn out the light, then go across the room to get into bed. Now, could someone enlighten me on why this is necessary? BTW, we got a HA 1BR once, and it wouldn't have been bad, but it also had that light quirk in the bedroom. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[jarestel]

Rather than label the rooms as inferior ( I've learned my lesson, CarolA ), let's just say that they don't meet the needs of all guests. It's interesting to hear from the members with disabilities saying the rooms don't always meet their needs either. Thanks for the input!

 

[crisi]

I agree, it would be nice if they'd have made the rooms larger - with closets and tubs in the studios. My guess is that they wanted the same footprint for flexibility - i.e. they can make more HA rooms out of regular rooms if they want to, or turn HA rooms into regular rooms if the needs change. And it almost certainly was a cost consideration as well - extra square feet means extra cost in building. Since they continue to build HA rooms at SSR with the same square footage as non-HA rooms, they don't seem to recognize it as a mistake.

 

[SueM in MN]

One of the problems with any handicapped accessible rooms is that they are made for someone who doesn't exist - a generic person with a disability. There are some very specific ADA guidelines set up as to what "makes "a room accessible.
The problem, though, is that each person with a disability has different needs. For a person transferring from a wheelchair, a bed at the height of the wheelchair seat is best. For someone transferring someone, a higher or lower bed might be better. Someone who has to provide actual physical care of a person with a disability might prefer a higher bed so they don't have to lean over while giving care (that's why hospital beds can be raised and lowered).
Some people want a rub with grab bars, some a roll in shower with a pull donw seat, others need a roll in seat. Even the toilet arrangement can be problematic. Someone might want a wall fairly close in the front with a front grab bar. For someone else, that arrangment might interfere with how they have to transfer. So, anyway, the needs of people with disabilities and the room they would design to best meet their needs are not all the same.

It is a good point about size. We own at OKW, but have stayed at VWL with DD and her (fairly small) wheelchair. DH and I have stayed without her at BCV, BWV and SSR. The only resort we felt had enough manouvering room for her was OKW.

 

[JimC]

One of the problems with any handicapped accessible rooms is that they are made for someone who doesn't exist - a generic person with a disability. There are some very specific ADA guidelines set up as to what "makes "a room accessible.
The problem, though, is that each person with a disability has different needs.....

As I said before I find resorts helpful in trying to accommodate your needs. When we need a HA room at DVC the MS CM asks what specific assistance we need and calls the resort to confirm that they have a room that will meet those needs available for the time we want. At Marriott I have worked with an ADA compliance group who coordinates guest needs with the various properties. Hilton does it through central resrvations as I remember.

At check-in if there is a problem they generally already know about it and are working to find a solution. After check-in we have gotten follow up calls to see if all is in order and to inquire if there is anything else they can assist with. No system is perfect, but I do believe the industry tries hard.

 

[Holly]

I would never use the term inferior to describe them. Right now, as the mother of one year old twins, a HA room would not be ideal because we need a tub. However, if I were placed in one and there was nothing else available- it wouldn't put a dent in my vacation. I would improvise and still enjoy myself just as much