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Disabilities and planes: how to fly without barriers

Travelling can seem extremely complicated for people with disabilities or mobility problems, especially when using means of public transport. Thanks to the European Guidelines and Regulations designed to ensure that the rights of all passengers are respected, planes are perhaps some of the most accessible means of transport.

In fact, airlines offer flights that are safe and comfortable for all passengers by researching special solutions and services for people with permanent and temporary disabilities.

Accessibility at the airport

Certain Italian airports, such as Rome FiumicinoTurin and Milan Malpensa, feature “Sale Amiche” (Friendly Rooms), where people with disabilities can obtain information and assistance. In addition to televisions, nurseries, and children’s toys, these rooms also contain telephones for the deaflavatories free of architectural barriersnewspapers and magazines in Braille, and special armchairs for people with disabilities. People with disabilities and their assistants can contact the check-in desks at all Italian airports for any information or necessity.

Safe gates

Airlines cannot deny boarding for reasons associated with disabilities or mobility problems.

Passengers with disabilities also have the right to check or carry on two mobility devices free of charge.

A wheelchair is available on board to facilitate the movements of disabled passengers, and aisle seats with folding armrests are reserved for people with disabilities.

In many cases, guide dogs are even permitted in the cabin, provided that they are muzzled and on a leash, otherwise they can travel in a special kennel in the baggage compartment.

Know before you go

In order to avoid unpleasant mishaps at the airport, it is recommended to ask the airline beforehand about the procedures and time frames necessary for the various communications and requests. According to the European guidelines, a passenger is required to notify the airline of any special requirements he/she may have at least 48 hours prior to departure, so that the airline can arrange the necessary assistance.

Be sure to carefully read your selected airline’s terms and conditions, as this will allow you to enjoy your air travel experience in complete comfort and with the utmost peace of mind, without any problems or inconveniences.

A Venice accessible to everyone: is it even possible?

A grandiose work of art, the city of Venice, has recently found itself embroiled in controversy on the Internet. The complaint of a Venetian girl has ignited a controversy about the inability to get around and live in Venice due to the numerous architectural barriers, thus mobilising the likes of Bernardo Bertolucci, and even Mayor Orsini himself. After recalling the recent interventions carried out to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities in Venice, the city’s mayor nevertheless declared that no historical city is entirely accessible to the disabled.

And yet the fact that it took the web reporter, armed with crutches and a wheelchair, more than three and a quarter hours to go from the train station to St. Mark’s Square makes you wonder. The thirteen bridges that separate these two points of the city have transformed themselves from splendid attractions into difficult obstacles. How can one admire the architecture of Ponte Calatrava or Ponte della Paglia when they have become unscalable walls for so many people?

Will the world’s most beautiful city, which arose from the fusion of Venetian, Byzantine, and Gothic art, ever be accessible to everyone? We’re not just talking about tourists, but also hundreds of Venetians with disabilities or elderly people with mobility issues. We like to think that one day it will be. The market of overcoming architectural barriers is always ready to offer both vertical and horizontal solutions, and Vimec will certainly do its part to offer solutions made it to measure, thus ensuring the mobility of people with disabilities in complete safety and comfort. The Venetian building code has already changed, and now even permits the installation of outdoor lifts on historic buildings. These will allow people to get out of the house and move about more freely. Finally, with projects like “”Gondolas without barriers””, which will provide people in wheelchairs with direct access to gondolas, the city of canals will gradually become increasingly accessible.

The future looks promising.

https://youtu.be/3qqFtMGtAbw

Car sharing: a service for everyone

Car sharing is becoming an increasingly popular service, both for getting around in the city, as well as for pleasure trips, like vacations. In fact, in large cities, where public transport is efficient and readily available, people are increasingly choosing not to own a car, and instead to make use of rental services whenever they might need one.

Car sharing is likewise becoming increasingly popular among people who are visiting cities on business or vacation, after having arrived by air or by train.

Autonomy and independence are needs shared by all. People with disabilities often find themselves having to depend upon others, and having to ask for help for even small journeys, like travelling just a few km by car.

For this reason, many Italian municipalities are launching car sharing services with drivers dedicated to people with disabilities, or are offering rental cars with special controls suitable for those who are able to drive on their own.

In Milan, for example, the Easy Move rental car and driver service has expanded its fleet to include cars and buses equipped for transporting people with mobility problems. The drivers are specialized in the transport of people with disabilities, and, despite having registered offices in Milan, the service is nevertheless available all over Italy 24/7.

In January of 2017, a major car sharing project for the disabled, titled “Guido io”, was launched in Palermo, the concept of which was entirely different from that of Milan. In fact, it’s a car rental service that offers cars with special controls for people with disabilities who are able to drive on their own, and therefore don’t require a driver. This significant milestone makes Palermo the only Italian and European city to offer a car sharing service of this type for people with disabilities. The 4 cars will be operational as of 1 February, and will be rendered available to any users who may request them at various locations throughout the city.

These two different ways of improving the lives of people with disabilities are aimed at ensuring increasingly accessible mobility, and are two examples that we hope will be copied in other Italian cities and beyond, for a “world that’s truly accessible to everyone”!

Grandparents: the pillars of the family

Among the various social groups with which we interact daily, the family is perhaps that which is changing the most: social progress, economic dynamics, and increasingly fluid sentimental bonds are resulting in constantly changing family structures.

Due to these factors, mothers today are not always able to constantly look after their children. This is where grandparents come into play: the new pillars of the family.

The grandparents’ role

In a society where both parents work, who takes care of the children’s needs? Many couples are able to rely on grandparents.

Grandparents are usually already retired. They’ve lived full lives: they’ve worked, perhaps they’ve travelled… and they often don’t know what to do with all their free time. So taking care of a grandchild is a pleasure.

It’s not uncommon to see grandparents accompanying children to and from school, or taking them to afternoon activities. Grandmothers often spoil their grandchildren with excellent food, much to their delight!

It’s also a well-known fact that, after having been strict with their own children, grandparents tend to be more lenient with their grandchildren: guess who buys more toys?

Playing with grandchildren

Playing with grandchildren is fun for both the grandparents and the children alike.

Think of a grandfather at the park with his grandson: chasing around a lively toddler is a great way to keep in shape! Being immersed by greenery, a park is also an excellent place to take in some fresh air. While the child is occupied with the playground equipment, the grandfather can sit down on a nearby bench and read a good book.

There are also various playtime activities in which both can engage at home: for example, in order to keep their minds sharp, grandparents can teach their grandchildren how to play chess.

Grandmothers can teach their more creative grandchildren how to use seeds to create original designs. For smaller grandchildren there are numerous memory games to help them learn the alphabet, colours, numbers, animals… and much more!

Not to mention classic board games, to be played in groups. After all, who’s never played Monopoly?

When grandchildren get older, grandparents can help them develop a greater sense of civic awareness: after all, who understand the importance of reducing waste better than a Grandfather? Perhaps with the help of the internet, grandparents and grandchildren can even discover how to build creative things using recycled materials!

There’s never a dull moment

As we have seen, taking care of grandchildren can be a great way to stay youthful and active.

It gives grandparents the opportunity to rediscover the joy of playing and having fun, as if they were “kids” again: every day becomes a new discovery for everyone.

The parents can have peace of mind, while the grandparents and the grandchildren play: that’s the new balance in the Italian family!

Over 65 – Sports and health

Engaging in sports is beneficial at any age: it helps to maintain physical and mental health, thus improving and prolonging life. Engaging in regular physical activity over long periods of time helps to prevent many diseases, including high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.

Engaging in sports regularly helps us keep in shape and looking great. But there are also many other important reasons to stay fit: stronger muscles and bones with respect to a sedentary person; a more efficient cardio-respiratory tract and greater stamina.

Thanks to a greater awareness of the benefits of constant physical activity, the number of people with gym memberships is on the rise. It’s also increasingly common to see people jogging or cycling outdoors.

An overview of people over 65 and sports

Despite the increasing awareness among young people of the benefits offered by sports, the situation among the elderly is lagging: just 15% of people over 65 engage in sports more than once a week.

Most elderly people go out for a pleasant walk around their homes almost daily. Some dedicate themselves to outdoor activities like gardening. This is already a good start: in fact, a little bit of daily movement provides for the following benefits:

  • Increased blood flow to the brain
  • Improved respiratory function
  • Numerous heart benefits, including better blood circulation to the body’s tissues
  • Walking is also good for the bones, as it helps them to maintain better density over time, without becoming fragile

All of these benefits are even further increased if the elderly person dedicates him/herself to a regular sports activity, in consultation with a physician, and monitored by a good instructor.

Which sports

Engaging in regular physical activity is the most effective anti-ageing factor for maintaining physical and mental health over time. For people over 65, it is highly recommended to engage in a regular sports activity: now let’s take a look at the exercises most highly recommended for people in their golden years:

  • Fit walkingwalking briskly outdoors. Recommended for everyone as a way to keep in shape, it’s good for the cardio-respiratory system, increases bone density, and tones the muscles.
  • Water aerobics: particularly recommended for those who are advised to engage in physical activity, but without overloading the hips and knees due to back painobesity or joint problems in the legs. Improves blood circulation and promotes muscular and psychological relaxation.
  • Pilates: with its smooth, controlled, and harmonious movements, this gentle form of exercise is particularly recommended for elderly people as a way to tone up the abdominal, lumbar and dorsal muscles.

A wide range of benefits

As we have seen, there are various physical activities suitable for people over 65. All of them play the fundamental physical role of preventing numerous diseases.

However, the psychological aspect should not be overlooked: in fact, sports also play a social function, and help to fight loneliness among the elderly.

It is also important to consider the level of independence achieved by elderly people with fit bodies: being capable of carrying your shopping bags on your own is a goal that not all people over 65 are able to achieve!

So don’t wait: if you want to achieve excellent results throughout each phase of your life, now’s the time to take up a sport.

Living in harmony with nature

When we think of a home made from wood and stone, we often imagination a classic mountain cabin. In and of itself, this association of ideas is not incorrect: in fact, the idea of the mountains conjures up an image of contact with nature.

In this sense, the use of these materials outside of the mountain context represents a return to the basics, and to a more natural dimension.

Our escape from the chaos of the city also takes place within our homes. Modern man is in search of new aesthetic and environmental balances, and finds them using ancient materials with a modern twist.

Advantages and disadvantages of wood

Nowadays, one can design and build a house made entirely of wood.

This material offers several major advantages:

  • It’s earthquake-proof, thanks to its elasticity and lightness.
  • It has a good resistance to fire: this might seem counter-intuitive, but the fact of the matter is that wood burns slowly, and takes a long time to lose its load bearing capacity.
  • It’s sustainable: if collected in a controlled manner, it’s renewable and will be depleted. It’s recyclable and minimises pollution. It’s also an excellent thermal insulator.
  • It’s inexpensive: the construction of a wood house involves extensive use of prefabricated components, thus making it easy to control production costs.

However, wood also has several disadvantages:

  • The design of the house is strictly binding, and it’s difficult to make last-minute changes during construction, or to do any subsequent remodelling.
  • Periodic maintenance is required in order to prevent damage caused by moisture and other deteriorating agents.

The types of stone used in the various rooms

Every type of stone has different characteristics: let’s discover the construction uses of some of Italy’s most popular types of stone!

  • Tuff: this is the most widely used type of stone, both in its raw form, for a more rustic effect, as well as in its polished form.
  • Basalt: this is the material of choice in the field of sustainable building. It’s a very inexpensive type of stone, since it’s quite common. It’s excellent for both indoors and outdoors.
  • Marble: this material is highly prized, and is therefore rather expensive. Due to these characteristics, it’s mainly used for cladding and flooring.

Cork, wool, stone, and wood for energy savings

Did you know that these materials, in addition to being natural and eco-sustainable, also offer benefits in terms of energy savings?

Cork and sheep’s wool are materials with excellent insulating properties. When combined with natural stone walls and ceilings with wooden beams, they help to insulate your home to perfection.

With solar and photovoltaic panels installed on the roof for hot water and electricity production, one can obtain a perfectly self-sufficient home in terms of energy, with energy dispersion factor of zero.

Living in harmony with nature

Wood and stone have always been used as structural elements within buildings.

As we have seen, wood is no longer considered a “poor” material nowadays: it has become one of the main elements used in the field of natural and sustainable architecture.

Stone is also back in vogue: thanks to innovative cutting and processing techniques, stone is often used nowadays inside modern homes. It can be found in its natural form, on the walls. It can be found in processed and polished forms as cladding and flooring. It can even be found in the form of innovative and designer furnishing accessories.

Bathroom safety

When you’re young, you might not realise that the home in which you live has various barriers or limitations.

Yet the home can potentially be an extremely hazardous place: in fact, we often hear people talking about domestic accidents. Although certain problems can arise due to negligence, some accidents are specifically due to the limitations found in the home.

These are even more hazardous for the elderly: in fact, for those who have difficulty walking or poor vision, a single step or the absence of something to hold onto can make all the difference in terms of safety.

Statistically speaking, the places where most domestic accidents occur are the kitchen and the bathroom. Analyses must therefore be conducted in order to identify the sources of danger present, and how to eliminate or minimise them in an acceptable manner.

Why the bathroom can be considered a dangerous room

The bathroom is considered a dangerous place because it encloses two elements within a confined space, which, when combined, can be fatal: electricity and water.

As early as the design phase, it is necessary to be extremely careful of the positioning of the electrical outlets, switches, and sanitary ware (namely bathtubs and showers).

Various safety zones are identified based on their distances from the sanitary ware: the closer we are to the water sources, the less advisable it is to install electrical outlets.

Water on its own is a danger source in terms of the possibility of slipping and falling in the bathroom: many domestic accidents take place in the shower or bathtub, where people often slip and fall down.

How to make your bathroom safe

If you’re building your bathroom from scratch, or are doing any major remodelling, it’s recommended to keep the following suggestions in mind:

  • Use non-slip flooring and wall coverings. There are particularly porous ceramics on the market, which are quite suitable for this purpose. Wood and linoleum are also recommended materials.
  • Place non-slip rubber mats inside bathtubs and showers
  • Install emergency safety bells inside box showers and near bathtubs.
  • Place a seat inside the shower. Even a stool will do, provided that it is stable.
  • It is preferable for the walls of the shower to be made of plastic, not glass.
  • Consider installing handles to help any elderly people about; these are also ideal if there is a wheelchair-bound person living in the home (in this case, larger spaces will also be necessary).
  • Eliminate any steps and height gaps. This recommendation applies to all the rooms of the house.

Safe living

Nowadays, safety goes hand-in-hand with beauty and functionality: why should you forgo a designer bathroom when an ever-increasing number of companies are offering aesthetically pleasing and fully accessible solutions?

An environment devoid of barriers is the perfect place to dedicate some time to your personal wellness. And what better place is there to pamper yourself than the bathroom? Enjoy it in complete safety, thanks to the increasingly large number of solutions that we have explored together.

Accessible Tourism

We all know the meaning of the word “trip”: we like to associate it with positive feelingsfreedomdiscoveryexploration and relaxation.

However, travelling isn’t always that easy for everyone.

There are entire categories of people with more or less evident limitations for whom travel is not so straightforward: these include the blind, the visually impaired, the hard of hearing, the deaf, people with mental disabilities, and people in wheelchairs, as well as the elderly. Even those with “simple” dietary intolerances can have difficulties!

We like the definition of “accessible tourism” proposed by the “First White paper on Tourism for Everyone in Italy”: The term “Accessible Tourism” refers to the combination of services and structures that allow “people with special needs” to enjoy vacation and leisure activities in a gratifying way, without any obstacles or difficulties, and therefore under conditions of complete safetyautonomy, and comfort.

Awareness in Italy

In comparison to other European countries, Italy is not exactly at the forefront in terms of accessible tourism.

The main limitations are linked to the numerous architectural barriers.

One explanation for their presence lies in the fact that Italian cities often have ancient origins: the narrow streets, historic buildings, and bridges were designed and built centuries ago, when there was no awareness of this problem. These historic buildings are subject to conservation constraints, which sometimes make it difficult to carry out  restoration work  that takes the needs of people with various types of disabilities into account.

Awareness is on the rise, however, and things are increasingly beginning to move in the direction of accessible tourism. Several examples are provided below:

  • Buses: major Italian cities are upgrading their fleets of buses with models equipped with platforms for allowing access to passengers in wheelchairs.
  • Railway stations: dedicated personnel are present at certain Large Railway Stations identified by Ferrovie dello Stato in order to assist people with various types of disabilities.
  • Trains: the High Speed trains and new regional trains that have recently become operational are equipped with wheelchair platforms.
  • Urban roadssidewalks with tactile pathways for the visually impaired are becoming increasingly common throughout Italy. An increasing number of pedestrian traffic lights are equipped with audible signalling devices.

Small measures for rendering places accessible

As we have seen, the public sector is taking its first steps to promote unfettered access throughout the country, thus reducing the existing difficulties.

However, there are many small steps to be taken in the private sector as well. Several small measures that can be taken to improve the travel experience in general are listed below:

  • For Hotels
    • Install non-slip flooring
    • Eliminate the doorsteps for accessing rooms or balconies
    • Provide ample free room for the movement of wheelchairs

  • For restaurant
    • Use different kitchen utensils for meat and fish
    • Clearly indicate the allergens present in the menu items
  • For public places
    • Install inclined platforms next to the stairs for accessing the various rooms
    • Increase the use of descriptive texts in Braille
    • Render guides available who are fluent in sign language

Never give up

The goal of accessible tourism is a major challenge for the future, one in which the various actors must work together to guarantee an essential right that’s often taken for granted:

Enjoy vacation and leisure activities in a gratifying way, without any obstacles or difficulties, and therefore under conditions of complete safety, autonomy, and comfort.

The determination of people with disabilities should serve as an example for everyone to seek out solutions to their needs. Never give up!

Travelling during your golden years

trip can have many nuances: it can be an adventure, it can be relaxing, it can be a means for socialising and meeting people, or it can be an opportunity for fun and cultural enrichment.

Anyone, at any time of their life, can find the trip that’s right for them. This is also true for people over 65.

Travel agencies are increasingly dedicating more attention to this age group: nowadays, in fact, people who are over-65 are typically retired, and therefore have a lot of free time on their hands, which they often take advantage of in order to take all the trips that they couldn’t take when they were young.

Recommended vacations

The classic type of vacation that more or less all retirees tend to enjoy involves spending time at spa: that’s because these types of vacations combine relaxation with a wide range of personal wellness treatments and rehabilitation activities. Thanks to special packages for people over-65, spa vacations are becoming increasingly accessible to everyone.

The free time that people have during retirement can also be exploited for trips around the world, in order to visit exotic countries and learn about different cultures. One can travel by plane, but ships are also recommended: why not pamper yourself on a cruise?

Another type of vacation that the elderly might enjoy consists of food and wine tourism. Visiting never before seen Italian cities, while enjoying traditional foods and sampling extraordinary wines: ideal for connoisseurs of excellent cuisine!

Special discounts

Thanks to the considerable increase in tourism among the over-65 age group, numerous transport companies and accommodation facilities are offering special discounts for this category.

  • Trains: the main Italian and international railway transport companies offer special prices on their High Speed lines. A useful way to incentivise this kind of environmentally-friendly travel.
  • Museums: all the most popular places of cultural interest now offer special discounts for the elderly. This is an excellent way to stimulate people from this age group to keep their passion for culture alive. Did you know that you can often get additional discounts on museum admissions if you purchase them together with train tickets?

Travelling to stay young

Travelling has become an elixir for longevity. Travelling stimulates our curiosity, and allows us to discover and learn about new places, thus keeping the brain active.

For people over 65, travelling has become a way to turn back the clock to a time when they might have been too busy to travel, and to dedicate themselves entirely to their passions.

Cultivate your interests, stay active, give yourself the gift of a trip dedicated to your own personal wellness, enjoy excellent food and wine, and dedicate yourself to cultural tourism to never stop learning. Life after 65 can still have many surprises in store: don’t miss out on them!

Swimming pools are for everyone

The law protects the right of all people with mild or permanent disabilities to engage in sports activities.

In fact, Italian Ministerial Decree no. 236/89 requires all areas intended for sports activities to be accessible to people with disabilities. The buildings and their individual areas must have entrances suitable for allowing access by people with reduced mobility or sensory disabilities.

In addition to ensuring accessibility, is also necessary to guarantee the possibility of using all the areas and equipment.

A significant amount of design headroom is provided in order to ensure perfect accessibility to the sports facilities, with the exception of a few binding elements: e.g. for the design or renovation of public buildings in general, at least one lavatory for the disabled must be included on each floor.

How to make a swimming pool accessible

When designing or renovating a swimming pool, it is necessary to ensure adequate accessibility for:

  • Car parks
  • Main entrances
  • Horizontal and vertical pathways
  • Lavatories and changing rooms
  • Pool entries

For blind or visually impaired individuals, it is necessary to provide a tactile pathway in relief connecting the various areas of the facility.

For people in wheelchairs, any minor height gaps must be eliminated using ramps with handrails. In the case of major height gaps, lifts or platforms must be installed.

The installation of handrails and non-slip flooring in general will serve to ensure greater safety for all.

In order to access the pools, individuals must have the possibility of using stairs, ramps or lifts, depending on the severity of their disabilities. Ramps and stairs must always have handrails.

All corners and edges must be rounded.

It is recommended for steps and ramps to be in contrasting colours, in order to ensure greater visibility for the visually impaired. The lanes in the pool should be separated by ropes.

The benefits of aquatic sports activities

Swimming and aquatic rehabilitation activities are generally recommended to people with disabilities by physicians.

Aquatic sports activities offer several major advantages for people with physical limitations: thanks to the extra support provided by the water, less weight needs to be borne by compromised body parts, and this allows for greater freedom of movement. A therapist, however, must always be present in order to assist of the individual.

The benefits associated with these types of activities are listed below:

  • Reduced pain
  • Greater range of movement
  • Improved posture

Anyone can get involved in sports: the example of the Paralympic athletes

There is an increasing amount of awareness of sports for people with disabilities.

The Paralympic Games have been held since 1960, and are attracting an increasing number of spectators each time around. The games provide a venue for athletes with varying degrees of physical disabilities to compete in every sport.

Swimming has always been part of the Paralympic Games. The athletes are divided into categories based on their type of disability, which can also be multiple.

The competitors include athletes missing one or more limbs, athletes suffering from paralysis, and athletes with vision problems: nobody is precluded from participating in competitive sports activities!

Extreme sports for the disabled

There is an increasing amount of awareness of sports for people with disabilities. This is in part to help regain limb mobility in the case of temporary disabilities, as well as to simply stay in shape.

Many people also dedicate themselves to more intense sports activities, such as Paralympic athletes: nobody is precluded from participating in competitive sports activities!

Few people realise that many people with disabilities love to engage in extreme sports.

From the “classics”…

Rugby is a perfect example of a “classic” extreme sport. There is a strict set of rules for wheelchair rugby: the wheelchairs must be manual; the athletes mustn’t touch one another, but the wheelchairs are free to make contact; notably, the teams, consisting of four athletes each, can be mixed.

Another classic yet physically demanding sport is skiing. Skiing enthusiasts with lower limb disabilities usually engage in this sport using custom “monoski” devices. One notable testimonial for this sport is provided by race car driver Alex Zanardi.

After the tragic accident in which he lost his legs, this remarkable athlete continues to engage in numerous physically demanding sports: in addition to having returned to race car driving, he has also become a Paralympic champion in the sport of handbiking, a type of cycling where the vehicle is powered by the arms rather than the legs.

… to actual extreme sports!

For disabled people who love the mountains, there’s the possibility of doing actual rockclimbing. Thanks to the use of specially adapted wheelchairs and the accompaniment of qualified personnel, those who have lost the use of their legs can still experience the thrill of climbing to the peak of a mountain!

For an ever greater adrenaline rush, they can even go skydiving! This activity must be performed with the assistance of an instructor, who will provide the harness for making the jump together. Upon reaching the ground, the instructor handles the landing using his/her own legs.

Why not even try freestyle? Thanks to special wheelchairs equipped with safety belts and helmets, people with disabilities can take on circuits quite similar to those used for skateboarding competitions! The only difference is that they’re on a wheelchair instead of a skateboard.

Never give up!

The world sports offers countless possibilities for people with various types of disabilities, even major ones. There are sports for all tastes, from the more “laid-back” and “classic” categories, to the extreme sports that most able-bodied people won’t even try.

Why should someone deprive themselves of an exciting experience just because they’re disabled?

Unlike the obstacles that one continuously encounters in daily life, there are truly no limits in sports.

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