Steamboat Blogs

Exciting news from the ADA Center

Posted on27. Jul, 2010 by Andy.

After years of struggle, the ADA has finally been amended to improve access at recreational facilities across the country, including golf, playgrounds, amusement rides and more. In addition we're especially excited about the addition of concert ticketing fraud prevention, see "ticketing" below. Learn your rights and start enforcing them!

This JUST in from the Rocky Mountain ADA Center:

1. Revised ADA Regulations Implementing Title II and Title III

On Friday, July 23, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Department’s ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The Department has prepared fact sheets identifying the major changes in the rules at http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm.

Among the changes that will affect both rules are:

Adoption of the Revised Design Standards – New accessible design standards are established for a variety of recreational facilities, including swimming pools, playgrounds, golf courses, amusement rides, recreational boating facilities, exercise machines and equipment, miniature golf courses and fishing piers; as well as for such public facilities as courthouses, jails and prisons.

Element by Element Safe Harbor – The department is mitigating the cost of design changes by adopting a “safe harbor” under which existing building elements that already comply with the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design would not be required to be brought into compliance with the 2010 Standards until the elements were subject to a planned alteration.

Ticketing – The department has added provisions that provide guidance on the sale of tickets for accessible seating, the sale of season tickets, the secondary ticket market, the hold and release of accessible seating to persons other than those who need accessible seating, ticket pricing, prevention of the fraudulent purchase of accessible seating and the ability to purchase multiple tickets when buying accessible seating.

Service Animals – The regulations define “service animal” as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for benefit of an individual with a disability.

Wheelchairs and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices – The amended rules provide a two-tiered approach under which wheelchairs and scooters must be permitted in all areas open to pedestrian use.

Timeshares – The Title III regulation also makes clear that timeshare and condominium properties that operate like hotels are subject to title III, providing guidance about the factors that must be present for a facility that is not an inn, motel, or hotel to qualify as a place of lodging.

Reservations at places of lodging – The Title III regulation includes provisions for reservations made by places of lodging, including requirements for procedures that will allow individuals with disabilities to make reservations for accessible guest rooms during the same hours and in the same manner as other guests.

2. The Justice Department (DOJ) has published four new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) proposals.

These advance notices of proposed rulemakings, published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2010, address the accessibility of websites, the provision of captioning and video description in movies shown in theaters, accessible equipment and furniture, and the ability of 9-1-1 centers to take text and video calls from individuals with disabilities. The Department invites written comments from members of the public. Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before January 24, 2011. In a speech at the Department of Justice's ADA 20^th Anniversary Commemoration, Attorney General Eric Holder also announced that as part of DOJ's new Diversity Management Plan, there will soon be a new position filled called Special Assistant for Disability Resources.

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2010 Mtn Resorts Behind the Boat Watersports Camp

Posted on23. Jul, 2010 by Andy.

July 20-23 with STARS and Adaptive Adventures

Despite some intermittent stormy weather, this week's 5th annual Watersports Camp outdid itself. With double the local participation as well as veterans and visitors from all over Colorado and as far as Idaho, and of course the usual amazing coaching and volunteers, the two days on Bald Eagle Lake were a huge success. In addition, half a dozen of the participants were brand new to wakeboarding and waterskiing including Edward (below) who spends his time between Steamboat and Georgia.

The Watersports camp is the 5th and final camp in the 2010 STARS Adaptive Camp Series lineup in Steamboat, and a great way to end the season with a relaxed yet fun lakeside atmosphere where families and friends can come hang out and watch/photograph the watersporters.

The coaches from Adaptive Adventures are truly amazing at not only introducing these fun sports to newcomers, they are adept at pushing campers to their limits and beyond with new techniques and equipment every year. Local 8 year old Kyle (below) was able to let go of the outriggers this year and cruise the lake independently on a waterski. While Kyle loves skiing Steamboat in the winter, he "could spend all summer waterskiing," he loves it so much.

STARS hopes to add equipment in order to have more events like this one next year so local kids like Kyle CAN waterski all summer!

Today about half the camp members will be floating the Colorado with Colorado River Company to conclude this year's 3-day event.


For more photos check out the event's photos here.

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Seeing Werner without snow

Posted on09. Jul, 2010 by Andy.

Due to the cost of these adaptive mountain bikes, many programs don't offer this recreation. But thanks to a local grant, STARS hopes to be continuing cycling in BikeTownUSA by adding 3-5 bikes to its arsenal for next year.



- See you in the Deep

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Custom Color Bikin’ the ‘Boat Adaptive Cycling Camp

Posted on09. Jul, 2010 by Andy.

STARS' and Steamboat Springs's first handcycling camp was packed with two days of fun on Steamboat Ski Area and in the backcountry area of Dry Lake and Spring Creek.

STARS is still building its equimpent arsenal which will soon include some handcycles of our own, so for this camp we were lucky to have Darol Kubacz of the Freedom for Life Foundation bring four one-off handcycles up from Arizona, and Mau Thompson and Matt Feeney of Adaptive Adventures bring in three road handcycles from Evergreen, CO.

Four local participants and one from Crested Butte along with about ten volunteers got two awesome days of riding in, July 7 and 8. Several knowledgable and enthusiastic local riders helped make the camp a huge success. Longtime camp volunteer Doug Hecker pre-ran our Spring Creek Trail and jumped ahead of the pack to saw a downed tree in half, and even beleed one participant down the steepest grade of the trail.

The weather cooperated perfectly for two sunny days, and we local organizers believe this was easily our funnest camp yet; getting Craig into the backcountry of Steamboat in the summer months was amazing, seeing terrain he hasn't seen in 15 years. Darol, who has brought his one-offs from Tahoe to Miami, says Spring Creek was one of the most beautiful trails he's seen.

A big thanks to all our sponsors locally~ Custom Color, Resort Quest Steamboat, Steamboat Ski Area, Gondola Joe's, Colorado Bagel Company, the Egg and I, Old Town Pub, Steamboat Smokehouse, and Creekside Cafe ~ from all of us at STARS and Adaptive Adventures

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Fly the “Friendly Skies” again with faith

Posted on29. Jun, 2010 by Andy.

In 1966 United Airlines coined the term "Fly the Friendly Skies." Throughout my childhood, my parents and I did just that, wracking up miles like a rain gauge in Oregon, with never a worry about service or smiles.

But as I started to travel with Craig after 2001, my view of the Friendly Skies changed as dramatically as the company's financial situation. We started to notice drastic differences between the airline companies and their employees, and began picking and choosing our flights no longer based on price, but on pleasant experience. After many of Craig's wheelchair parts and other mobility devices suffered extreme damages from many companies, often without apology, and also after many unpleasant experiences with the staff and lack of knowledge of Craig's rights, we of course had our favorites to fly. Surely from our previous posts here, you can guess who those were.

And for almost five years we simply didn't fly United for all of these reasons.

But this past June, we had no choice but to get back on the horse. United is the only service out of the Steamboat/Hayden airport in the summer, and our schedule didn't allow us to fly out of Denver this time.

So we reached out to one of United's top supervisors, explaining our fears, and hoped that this trip would be different.

We were more than pleasantly surprised. I don't remember United employees ever being so pleasant, helpful, accommodating, and even downright chipper.

Something drastic has changed in United Airlines' infrastructure, and frankly I don't need an explanation. I am thrilled to say that this company now handles customers with disabilities and their equipment with care from start to finish.

The highlights:

• The staff knew we were coming, and knew we needed assistance.
  
• They also didn't balk at the medical equipment free-baggage allowance for his toilet seat.
  
• The flight crew knew we wanted Craig's wheelchair on board, and made every effort (when possible) to make this happen (both DEN-IAD flights) and knew it was in his FAA rights to do so.
  
• Everyone greeted us with a smile.
  
• No one ignored us. (Really, that's a highlight!)
• The pilot even introduced himself. When does that EVER happen?
• None of Craig's mobility equipment was damaged.
  

While I would like to assume this would be the standard treatment without the big red flag warning we sent out (an email that seemed to make it all around the company, as many of the supervising staff helping us mentioned it- hopefully it was well written!), they won us over nonetheless.

Of course we returned the favor with Life is Good stickers for everyone, and now I'm proud to say that this company is joining team with one of our favorites (Continental) at the end of the year.

I do hope that Continental Airline's Disability Advisory Board is retained through the big merger however- despite the positive message this post, there's still a lot of work to be done on all fronts in the airlines, but we see progress, and progress is always good.

But we will be flying with United again someday soon, I guarantee it. We hope you give them a shot too.

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Flyfishing camp with Steamboat Flyfisher

Posted on27. Jun, 2010 by Andy.

An awesome two days with Steamboat Flyfisher, great weather, the fish were biting, and BBQ was devoured. Thanks to the guides, Tim and Cho, and the beautiful Yampa River, what an awesome day!

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Denver’s Camp Discovery 2nd Annual Camp for Challenged Athletes is just one month away!

Posted on10. Jun, 2010 by Andy.

The second annual Camp Discovery, July 15-17th, is a Challenged Athletes Foundation Sports Camp for women in wheelchairs that is directed and founded by Denver’s Trish Downing, a spokesperson for Challenged Athletes Foundation and competitive athlete.

Camp Discovery’s two and a half day program at the Curtis Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado. Activities include horseback riding, swimming, handcycling, swimming and a tour of an accessible home.

”I wanted a group of women who could, by sharing, begin to feel stronger, bolder and braver in their lives, not just vent to each other or create a pity party. In my mind, that meant adventure and excitement; opportunities to expand and challenge,” shares Downing.

After a car hit Downing while she rode her bike in Golden, paralyzing her from the waist down, she’s adapted her athleticism to include a wheelchair. Sports give Downing joy; now she’s sharing that with others.

Downing recounts, “I knew wheelchair athletes before I ever got hurt. I was a tandem pilot for a blind cyclist. I totally hung out with all these people and I started working with disabled athletes. When I got hurt, those people were calling me up and directing me – what hand cycle to get, what camp to do. But, most people don’t have that. Especially women.”

Camp Discovery is open to any woman in a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, polio, or any other disease requiring the use of a wheelchair.

To sign up for this camp or to learn more about it, CONTACT Melissa Taylor at meltay@comcast.net 303-564-7980 or Trish Downing at ladyterp_td@hotmail.com, http://www.trishdowning.com

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Construction in Steamboat means better access downtown

Posted on08. Jun, 2010 by Andy.

Since mid-April Steamboat Springs' downtown section of CO Hwy 40 has been under construction in a $4.5million project to repave the 10-block stretch with a more durable surface - concrete. Due to a wetter spring than average, the project started slow and made for a tough spring, but now that summer has hit the vacation resort town with thousands of tourists, the construction traffic, which at times can be backed up for over an hour to go three miles, has made most locals frustrated at best.

But where most see a nuisance to their daily routine, Steamboat visitors and locals who use mobility devices will (eventually) appreciate the new downtown in ways most won't even notice.

Scott Construction is not just repaving the five lanes with concrete, on many blocks they have ripped up 100 feet of connecting side streets as well to improve the crosswalks with a red concrete cross walk and wider, smoother curb-cut transitions.

In mountain towns like Steamboat, the curbs take the brunt of the winter plows and have needed an overhaul for many years. Many curbs were crumbled and on some blocks they were nearly too small for a wheelchair or non existent at all. Several streets didn't have striped cross walks, although tourists and locals alike disregarded this and crossed against fast, oncoming traffic; nor did these streets have stop lights.

The improvements have also included several new traffic lights (such as at 11th), some with turn-lane signals to help keep traffic from backing up behind cars turning left across traffic. But many new crosswalks and crossing signals have been added to help smooth the downtown foot traffic as well.

All these new additions mean better accessibility for wheelchairs, strollers, and slow walkers through downtown, and will prove to freshen up the look of the downtown as well.

Although Scott Construction was under contract to finish the job by June 30th, the uncooperative spring weather has made sure that Steamboat will be seeing more of this crew's equipment in the fall months as well, much to Steamboat's chagrin.

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