Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Accessibility of backpacker tour buses






For the past week, we have had the opportunity to tour a large part of the South Island with our 30 pound backpacks strapped on. In researching how to best travel through New Zealand, we decided to join the Straytravel.com hop on/off bus. Our bus ticket is good for a year (though we are only here for 5-6 weeks) and gives us the flexibility to hop on/off wherever we want for several days at a time. We also liked the idea of meeting fellow travelers from Germany, Holland, Australia, Canada, England, Israel, Japan, etc.

Jumping from hostel to hostel and one small town to another, we have seen Mt Cook (the highest peak in NZ), Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, the NZ rainforest, Milford Sound, and a cave of the infamous glow worms. The Stray bus also leads us to tracks off the beaten path to learn about local Maori culture, greenstone (jade carving factories), hidden waterfalls, and why crazy New Zealanders jump from full speed helicopters onto the backs of deer to capture them live and maintain deer farms for venison exports! (Yes, they actually do this and we saw the video!)

Stray Travel (as well as Kiwi Experience and Magic Bus tours)...a wonderful option for seeing the country and all it's uniqueness. They keep you informed on bus schedules/announcements, and share fascinating cultural stories of the country along the way :)....it's wonderful....if you hear and speak English. Thank goodness Dave could interpret the talking. Our bus driver has never had a Deaf passenger before...is this because of lack of communication accessiblility, or lack of demand by deaf travelers? Do deaf people not grab these kinds of opportunities because of the lack of communication?

The Stray bus has been an exciting (and affordable) way to see the country. But to make this option accessible would mean gathering a group of deafies and finding an interpreter to join you! With voice-to-text on screen technology becoming more available, hopefully in the future we will start to see this system on tour buses. If there is room for a TV at the front of the bus to play DVDs, there is room to provide communication accessibility through voice-to-text technology. It is a right well worth advocating/fighting for to give the Deaf community equal access to unique and exciting opportunties such as Stray.


Photos:
Franz Josef Glacier
The Milford Sound
A swing bridge in the rainforest
The Stray Bus crew

1 comment:

Bruce Gross said...

PRESS RELEASE- Revised -November 6, 2007

Website of the WRAD Cruise:
http://wradcruise.googlepages.com/


WRAD HALLOWEEN MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE 2008

By Bruce Gross, WRAD CEO/ Founder
Email- Brucegross@aol.com
Videophone- 661-943-8879
Text cellphone- 6612366159
AIM- brucegross
www.wrad.org


The World Recreation Association of the Deaf, Inc. ( WRAD, Inc) is happy to present an exciting deaf and hard of hearing 8-day Halloween cruise to Mexico on the Mexican Riviera visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallerta leaving Los Angeles on Sunday October 26, 2008 and return on the following Sunday November 2, 2008. A total of 150 cabins have been reserved for up to 300 people in our group. Friends of the deaf and families are also very welcome.

The name of the ship is the VISION OF THE SEAS BY ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL.

Here is the itinerary-

Day Ports of call Arrive Depart

1 Los Angeles, CA 5:00pm

2 Cruising

3 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 10:30am 6:00pm

4 Mazatlan, Mexico 8:00am 5:30pm

5 Puerto Vallerta, Mexico 8:00am 8:00pm

6 Cruising ( Halloween Costume Ball onboard)

7 Cruising

8 Los Angeles, CA 7:00am


Sign Language interpreters/ CART service providers onboard and for Tours in Mexico. Entertainment with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Performers including the famous Halloween Costume Ball by GINO and Bruce Gross.

Royal Caribbean is providing portable room kits that include a visual/tactile alert system. The system provide alerts for door knocking, smoke detector and alarm clock. TV sets will be closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. We will have entertainment with interpreters and CART service providers.

The 2,400-guest Vision of the Seas will offer the cruise to the WRAD group. Listed below are some of the details and descriptions of the ship-

TWO swimming pools ( One outdoor and one indoor)
State-of-the-art fitness center, with aerobics classes and machines or all types of workouts
An Egyptian-themed Solarium spa and pool, covered by retractable glass
Card room/ Library/ Video Arcade/ Beauty Salon/ Boutiques/ Children's program
Dramatic two-story dining room surrounded by windows and breathtaking views
Theatre/ 7 Bars and Lounges / 4 Jacuzzis

Prices start at $380 per person ( double occupancy) plus taxes and port fees and tips.

JOIN US ON THIS EXCITING TRIP!!!!

CALL NOW!!!! to make a cabin reservation.....1-800-419-0460 ( Voice only) For deaf people call through the Relay or
Email- wradcruise@gmail.com
Call Bruce Gross for more information at VP 661-943-8879 or brucegross@aol.com MSN messenger: chivchik@hotmail.com

Our website of the cruise is http://wradcruise.googlepages.com

Prices are subject to availability and can change anytime. The space is limited and is selling fast. To secure your cabin deposit of $50 per person is required at the time of booking.