MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST
On July 26th the Screen Actors Guild issued a report entitled “The Employment of Performers with Disabilities in the Entertainment Industry”. The report indicates that, in spite of the A.D.A. and SAG’s own Non-Discrimination and Diversity policy, there are significant problems for disabled SAG members. 36% of the performers with disabilities felt they had encountered some form of discrimination in the workplace, including not being cast or being refused an audition because of their disability. 60% of performers with disabilities who said that a reasonable accommodation would help them and never asked for one “because they believed employers would be reluctant to hire them.” The greatest difficulty was getting an audition. This is important because performers who got more auditions worked more often. “Stereotypical attitudes about disability and being considered only for limited roles” were “the most frequently encountered obstacles”. You can read the Executive Summary at http://www.sag.org/Content/Public/exec-sum-pwd.pdf. The full version of this very informative report will be posted on the SAG website in the coming weeks.
The following article appeared in The Palm Beach Post on Sunday, July 24, 2005, and was subsequently reprinted in The Miami Herald on August 14, 2005. It contains very interesting information regarding accessible inns and bed-and-breakfast establishments in Florida. Please pass this article on to those residing in the Sunshine State as well as those who are considering a visit and desire accessible lodging at intimate hostelries. (One caveat, however – “Access Now” has not visited any of these sites and cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in the article.)
| Copyright © 2005, The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
MORE B&BS MAKING ROOM FOR DISABLEDBY MARY THURWACHTER
Steep staircases, narrow doorways and bathrooms not equipped to accommodate guests in wheelchairs make getaways to bed-and-breakfasts difficult for the handicapped. Many Florida inns, however, have at least one room considered handicapped accessible. Casa de Suenos in St. Augustine, for example, has a lovely first-floor room with its own entrance and ramp to permit easy access for guests in wheelchairs. Innkeeper Kathleen Hurley says the Nieves Room, which has a queen-sized canopy bed and a double-sized roll-in shower, is a favorite of guests who enjoy the private entrance and the ease of unloading luggage. The nightly rate is $145 during the week and $195 on weekends. For reservations or more information, call 800-824-0804 or see www.casadesuenos.com. Other Florida inns with handicapped-accessible rooms include: · Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast, Amelia Island, 800-432-2085; www.hoythouse.com. · The Ash Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, 800-277-6660; www.ashstinn.com. · Lilian Place Bed and Breakfast, Daytona Beach, 877-893-7579; www.lilianplace.com. · Miss Pat’s Inn – a Bed and Breakfast, Daytona Beach, 866-464-7772; www.misspatsinn.com. · The Laurel Oak Inn, Gainesville, 352-373-4535; www.laureloakinn.com. · The Gardens Hotel, Key West, 800-526-2664; www.gardenshotel.com. · Centennial House Bed & Breakfast Inn, St. Augustine, 800-611-2880; www.centennialhouse.com. · The Quilter’s Inn, Wauchula, 877-664-8989; www.thequiltersinn.com. · Heritage Country Inn, Ocala (all rooms are handicap-accessible), 888-240-2233; www.heritagecountryinn.com. |