9/14/10
Lee Nettles
Managing Director
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
One Visitors Center Circle
Manteo, NC 27954
Ph. 252-473-2138 fax 252-473-5777
Dear Lee Nettles and the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau,
Hi. I’m a longtime visitor of
the Outer Banks. I’m also a person with a disability. I have many cherished
memories of the Outer Banks. I remember what it was like in the 80’s when I was
a child vacationing with my family. When I look back I’m glad I was a child
that could easily be carried because it wasn’t very accessible to people with
disabilities. I have contradicting feelings now towards the Outer Banks. I’m a
little sad because I miss the wilderness but I’m also relieved the Outer Banks
is more accessible now. I’m writing to suggest ways visiting the Outer Banks
can be more accessible for me and others like myself.
The main idea I want to suggest
is a brochure exclusively for the elderly and people with disabilities. The
brochure can be kept in visitor centers and online at www.outerbanks.org Currently there’s bits
and pieces of information that is useful to the elderly and people with
disabilities scattered everywhere and I believe it can be better utilized if it
was in one brochure and on one webpage.
For example, there’s a webpage
list where to borrow a beach wheelchair at certain Outer Banks Fire
Departments. There’s no link on that page to forward you to the page that list
which public beach parking is accessible. I’ve seen information about public
beach parking in a brochure at a visitor center. The page was a little hard to
find. The page was in the middle of the brochure. Why was it “hidden”? The same
brochure had no information about the fire department beach wheelchairs.
There’s no mention that you should call ahead to reserve a beach wheelchair.
Also, there was no mention that they can be broken down to fit in your car.
Surprisingly the fire department staff did not know there’re pins so the
axles/wheel could be taken off.
In short, the public beach
parking was on a page that was hard to find in the visitor’s brochure. The
webpage about beach wheelchairs should be more informative and link to the
webpage about public beach parking. There was no information in the visitor’s
brochure about beach wheelchairs at the fire department.
I also would like to explain something
about handicapped parking at the public beach parking areas. I realize people
that need handicapped parking aren’t necessarily wheelchair users. All public
beach parking has handicapped parking and that’s great. But handicapped parking
and wheelchair beach access are two separate issues.
For example, after years of
visiting the Outer Banks I just happened upon Eighth Street. I was delighted to
see the wooden walkway had no steps AND there was a path of mats placed down so
my wheelchair could almost reach the ocean. Then these thoughts flashed through
my mind. Who owned the mats? Who was responsible for placing them down and
collecting them before a storm? It was like some kind of secret! Why am I just
now finding this? The sign on the beach road had no mention of “No steps here”.
There was a small blue handicapped sign but it was placed in the dunes on the
beach. The sign was not visible from the road. I would like to point out almost
all of the public beach parking signs on the road have the handicapped symbol.
I understand that to mean handicapped parking, not necessarily wheelchair beach
access.
The current signage system
leaves me no way to know where the wheelchair beach accesses are located. I
realize the landscape on the Outer Banks changes rapidly. I realize that Eighth
Street may not be wheelchair accessible at all next year because sand shifts. I
want to suggest that the webpage about beach accessibility be updated from time
to time on which streets has beach access for wheelchairs. Specifically,
indicate which public beach access have no steps.
In summary, I’d like to see one brochure that includes:
If you think this brochure is a
great idea (Which I hope you do) maybe rental companies that have accessible
beach houses for rent can advertise in the brochure to help fund it. I hope you
seriously consider my suggestions. Visitors with disabilities, their families
and the elderly will greatly benefit from a one-stop resource that focuses on
accessibility and makes their stay more enjoyable.
Thank you for your time,
Ivy K.
Responses/Results:
9/15/10: I also
emailed this letter. The next day Lee Nettles wrote back
“Ivy,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I
appreciate your perspective and the great ideas for helping us better serve
visitors with disabilities (also glad you’ve chosen OBX as your vacation
destination!).
I’ll share your email with others here at the visitors
bureau, and I’d also like to have conversations with the beach town officials.
I’m confident we can move in the right direction.
Thanks again, and we hope to see you soon.
Best regards,
Lee Nettles”
9/19/10: Went for a quick visit. Happen to catch a beach
rescue guy on 8th St and asked him a few questions. Found out Kill
Devil Hills is responsible for the mats. They have been there a few years. I’m
forwarding this webpage to the town’s website contact person. Maybe they can
work together with the OBX Visitor’s Bureau to get the word out about 8th
street wheelchair beach access.
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