The Fundación del Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (Nacional Paraplegic Hospital Foundation) has edited this "Accessible Tourism Guide" featuring information about tourist premises in the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real.

This first book (others about the rest of the provinces in the autonomous region are intended to follow) has been financially supported by both the Diputaciones Provinciales de Toledo y Ciudad Real as well as the Autonomous Social Welfare Dept. of Castilla-La Mancha, comprehends 151 pages, featuring information related to several premises of tourist interest in addition to monuments, such us hotels and restaurants, shopping malls, train and bus stations, etc.

There's a little map on the first page of each of the two provinces where towns and villages can be spotted. Premises in the capital come first and villages/cities follow in alphabetical order. All of them have been classified in these groups:

"Qué ver": (What to see) monuments, museums, buildings.
"Dónde dormir": (Where to stay) hotels, hostels, cottages and camping-sites.
"Dónde comer": (Where to eat) Restaurants, bars and coffe-shops.
"Ocio y Actividades": (Leisure and other Activities)Public parking lots, shopping malls, tourist information offices, etc.

Contact data, postal address, and a little description (in Spanish) of the venue/premise is provided as well as a photo. There's information concerning accessibility of: way to the entrance, inside, main entrance, reception area, toilets, elevators and lifts, reserved parking bays, and rooms (number of adapted rooms) bathroom and public areas (restaurant, bars, pools.) in hotels.

Though written info is just in Spanish, range of accessibility has been classified and signalled by icons:

Accessible (green icon): those fulfilling the autonomous region Laws and regulations on accessibility.

Practicable (yellow icon): those that can be considered accessible but don't strictly accomplish with laws and regulations on accessibility.

Practicable con ayuda (red icon)(asistance needed): those that might become at least "practicable" if some works were done.

No adaptado (black cross): not accessible/adapted for people with reduced mobility.

This Guide has been launched at FITUR 2006 and will soon be available as information tool for tourist professionals at the tourist information offices in Toledo and Ciudad Real, it will be distributed to disabled organizations as well as to hospital's patients. All those interested in receiving it and can request it from the Foundation.

"Guía de Recursos de Ocio y Turismo Accesibles.
Castilla-La Mancha. Provincias de Toledo y Ciudad Real"
FUHNPAIIN- Editorial Ocitur, S.L.
Madrid, 2006

FUHNPAIIN
Fundación del Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos para la Investigación y la Integración.
Finca La Peraleda , s/n
45071 Toledo - España
Tel: (+ 34) 925 24 77 61, (+ 34) 925 24 77 00
Fax: (+ 34) 925 24 77 45
info@fundacionhnp.org
www.fundacionhnp.org

Rebecca Arce

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