Get off your high horse…

I get so annoyed by the petty digs from people who attack Reels on Wheels… these are so obviously related to Baldymort’s organisation and the sniping comes from P (for professor) Snipe. I’m referring to this comment left on the “Dilham Fishery” post which was written by Karen – one of the Team’s volunteers.

Although Karen isn’t a wheelchair user, or even disabled, she has fished with Nick – who is a wheelchair user – and other disabled anglers. She has a high level of awareness and has learnt about the practical needs of a less able/mobile angler. So, although not an “expert”, she is able to draw on her own experiences and offer advice. She was prompted to check out this new venue to see if Nick would be able to include it on his next venture into East Anglia.

The specs that she passed onto the owners were to help them with the measurements for a disabled toilet which they were in the process of building. I found them on the Oxford University’s website – that seems more than adequate to me… after all, I wouldn’t dream of questioning such a prestigious body’s ability to install disabled-friendly toilet facilities, as per the regs from the County’s assessor.

So, here’s the comment that ticked me off:

Hi All

You talk about what needs to be done to make a fishery more accessible for wheelchair users so what qualifies you to do this, there are regulations etc you need to no about, have you been on an access audit course and the information you are giving to this fishing complies with DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 1995). You cannot just give out what you think is best, You say “talked about what else could be done to make it more “wheelchair-friendly and kicker boards at the front of the platforms around 4”-6” high were suggested and they were more than happy to do this” are you correct with the measurements, what materials are you using etc.

The BDAA are the best people to discus all things to do with making fisheries accessible as they have a guide to making a fishery “Wheelchair Friendly” that complies with DDA rules etc.

Cheers

Pete

Thanks Pete!! I refer to my previous post about 100 degrees of disability – why are you so hung up on wheelchairs?? Are you in a chair yourself? I think most wheelchair-anglers would be the best judges of a fishery’s suitability for them, not some “walker” or AB do-gooder/jobsworth. It’s a sad fact that the majority of those employed as “experts” on disability regs are seldom disabled, let alone wheelchair users.

Also, we always mention the BDAA to any fishery we visit interested in Access issues – do you? Maybe you could be doing more to promote them? We link to them as an organisation on Nick’s blog and the Reels on Wheels website, both of which get good traffic and the vast majority of comments are positive or constructive… hint, hint.

So, stop having digs at ROW – which is for ALL anglers – and collect the toys you threw out of your pram as you leave my blog.