Monday 26th April

Yesterday (Sunday) was spent having a quiet morning catching up on domestic tasks. The afternoon was spent at the Baseball. Arizona DiamondBacks vs Philadelphia Phillies at the Chase field in Phoenix with friends that could explain the nuances of Baseball rules. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the USA.

Today was spent travelling to Montreal. We arrived in the evening and in the middle of a major ice hockey match happening down the road from our Hotel. The game was a crucial game in the play offs and Montreal won. The crowd carried on as if it was the Word Cup. Great atmosphere. Woke up the next day to snow...after 30 degrees in Phoenix.

Friday 23rd April

We have spent the last two days with friends Richard and Kathy Hawley and their two teenagers who are currently living in Houston. Got to see the 'burbs in Texas - no different really.....

During this time we had an opportunity to visit the Johnson Space Centre. What an amazing experience. We undertook the Level Nine tour and spent well over 4 hours behind the scenes. We got to visit some admin buildings, the staff canteen, the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory, the Astronauts training centre and Mission Control. Mission Control was definitely the highlight. It was unbelievable - to be standing on the floor of the original Mission Control room when they went to the Moon etc. the photos don't do it justice. It was a pretty special feeling. We also visited the other two control rooms and had a Ground Controller come and talk with us and answer questions. He was on a day off as the Space Shuttle had landed the day before and he was part of that team. Just amazing listening to stories of his experience working there. We also went to the Control Room for the International Space Centre and spent time there watching what they were doing. If you have an opportunity to go sometime - do it. Amazing!

Sunday 11th April 2010

I have had two days in San Francisco investigating the tourist sights. People with Disabilities seem to be catered for pretty well, even with the hilly environment. A lot of the bus system (and train system) seems to be accessible. My meeting with Bonnie on Tuesday will confirm this for me and give me a better indication. The Tourist Information Centre was also closed today so I will have to visit there on Monday to obtain the information I am after. Visiting the major tourist attractions would be relatively accessible and if you stay away from the accommodation in the hilly areas a lot of the area seems to be accessible. It is a great destination.I have also spent time sorting out the technical side of things - getting the Smart Pen to work, arranging for mobile phone etc in the states and getting the Wifi internet connection at the hotel to work (they are blaming the rain).
Ready to begin my appointment schedule tomorrow, looking forward to meeting up with Scott Rains.

Itinerary

Here we are only a few weeks before we leave and there is still plenty to be done. I am feeling very excited about the itinerary and the appointments I have managed to make. I am really looking forward to spending this amount of time focussed on this project. The contacts I have already made overseas and the wonderful people I have arranged to meet are almost overwhelming.

It is a great opportunity and one that I hope I can do well and be proud of the achievements. I have listed the schedule below for those interested in keeping up with this trip and project.

The schedule is as follows:

USA
12-14 April, San Jose California - Scott Rains Editor of Rolling Rains Report.
A leading social Networker and Knowledge broker of accessible tourism and universal design

15 - 17 April, New York City - SATH - Society of Accessible Travel and HospitalityFounded in 1976 whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of travellers with disability, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the US and abroad.

29 - 21 April, College Station Texas USA - Texas A & M University
Department of Recreation, PArks and Tourism Sciences


Canada
17 - 29 April, Monteal Quebec - Keroul - A Quebec basedorganisation whose mission is to make tourism and culture accessible to persons with limited physical ability


Belgium
4 - 6 May, brussels - ENAT ( European Nations Accessible Tourism) Invitation to attend Annual General Meeting

UK
7 - 9 May, London - RADAR - A visit to the biggest Directory of Acccesisble accommodation and travel and major activist organisation for people with disability in the UK.

11- 13 May, Poole, Dorset -
Bournemouth University - School of Tourism Services management

17 - 19 May, Cambridge - Cambridge University, Engineering Design Centre
The Engineering Design Centre undertakes research to create knowledge, understanding, methods and tolls which will contribute to improving the design process.


The Czech Republic
20 -23 May, Prague - The ATHENA Project - Accessible Tourism - Humans, Education, New Approaches

Sweden27 - 29 May, Falsterbo, near Malmo
Attendance at a small conference of Coordinators of ENAT projects from across Europe

China
1 - 4 June, Hong Kong
Attendance at TRANSED Conference - Internation Conference on Accessible transport.

In addition there will be a number of opportunities to meet with other key players not listed above. I plan to update this blog on a regular basis throughout this trip and will include highlights of my meetings along with some visual images and higlights of the destinations I am travelling to.