November/December
2001
Vacation
Made Easier
for the Disabled
The islands’
wonderful activities are to be enjoyed by all, yet disabled people often
encounter many difficulties trying to do just that. A greater awareness
of the needs of the handicapped, largely because of the 1992 Americans
with Disabilities Act, is helping reduce the difficulties.
Listed here is information for disabled residents
and visitors concerning recreational or medical equipment as well as accommodations.
Also listed are additional resources.
Equipment
Beach wheelchairs are available from Billy’s Rentals (formerly
Island Moped). “They have big balloon tires,” explains employee
Charles Frese. “They are all-terrain wheelchairs with lap belts,
meant for people weighing 40 pounds or more. They are not self-ambulating
so someone is needed to push it.” Frese adds that the beach wheelchairs
are wonderful for people who might otherwise be “gazing longingly
at the beach.” In addition, the shop’s owner, Billy Kirkland,
recently purchased a Duet, a tandem bicycle/chair that allows a rider
to pedal while the person in front is in an attached wheelchair. Billy’s
Rentals lends the Duet for free for up to four hours; it is available
to rent for longer periods. 1470 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-5248,
941/472-8717, or 800/575-8717; www.billybeach.com.
Kirkland also runs Billy’s Beach Service
out of two resorts—Casa Ybel Resort Gift Shop, 2255 East Gulf
Drive, Sanibel, 941/472-5253, and West Wind Inn Resort Gift Shop, 3345
West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, 941/472-8494. His wife, Sally, owns Petals
Boutique and Bicycles, which operates as a rental agent for Billy’s
Rentals. 2427 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-4546 or 800/575-8717.
Several shops in addition to Billy’s Beach Service
have jogging strollers, which are popular for able-bodied and disabled
children. The single jogging strollers hold about 50 to 60 pounds and
the doubles hold about 90 pounds. Jogging strollers are available for
rent on Captiva from Jim’s Rentals, 11534 Andy Rosse Lane,
941/472-1296. On Sanibel, you’ll find them at The Bike Route
Inc., 2330 Palm Ridge Road, 941/472-1955, www.thebikeroute.com,
and Finnimore’s Cycle Shop, Winds Center, 2353 Periwinkle
Way, 941/472-5577.
Certainly no one plans to get injured while on
vacation but accidents happen, nonetheless. Walkers, crutches, leg braces,
and wheelchairs are available from Sanibel Rental Service, an island
mainstay for nearly two decades. Jogging strollers are also available.
2246 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Square, Sanibel, 941/472-5777 or 941/472-3900.
“There’s definitely a need for items
for disabled people, and for people who get hurt,” reports Anne Ramsey,
co-owner of Island Rental Services, Inc. “We have a beach
wheelchair but most people rent regular wheelchairs. There is a big demand
for bathroom items. Every year we add a bit more; Island Rental Services
recently acquired adult bed rails. This is a whole learning experience
for me. We try and make everyone happy.” Ramsey’s company, which
provides equipment delivery and pickup, also carries jogging strollers.
941/
472-9789; www.islandrentalservices.com.
Well-known Sanibel resident Abe Lerner, who died
in May at age 90, was
the cofounder of the invaluable FISH (Friends in Service Here)
of Sanibel. It is a “private, nonprofit organization of neighbors
helping neighbors, offering a variety of services to island residents
and visitors.” Volunteers make up FISH, which does not charge any
fees. Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, raised commodes, shower benches,
and other pieces of equipment are available on a temporary basis. FISH
requests that “the equipment receives proper care and is returned
cleaned and in good condition after it has served its purpose.” Post
Office Box 854, Sanibel, 941/472-0404.
Accommodations
When contacting the islands’ choice of about 75 hotels, cottages,
and rental condominiums, you’ll find that ADA regulations differ
depending on the establishment’s number of rooms and when the structures
were built. Private owners of condominium units do not have to comply
with ADA regulations. However, several Sanibel and Captiva rental agencies
manage some private properties specially equipped for guests with varying
degrees of disability. When booking them, be sure to describe the disabled
person’s needs to help in locating exactly what you want.
Royal Shell Vacations, Inc. reservation
agent Sally Davies notes, “We have two ground-level homes, available
for 28-day minimum rentals, that are wheelchair accessible. Both have
wheelchair ramps although the bathrooms have not been renovated. We also
have a couple of homes with elevators; one is on Sanibel and one is on
Captiva.” 1200 Periwinkle Way, Suite 3, Sanibel, 941/472-9111
or 800/656-9111; fax 941/472-1033; www.royalshell.com.
“We try to find out how disabled the person
is and tell people to book ground-floor units. Some people also might
have a handicapped visitor coming,” explains reservation agent Valerie
Ganim of Sanibel Accommodations. “Unit No. 233 at Loggerhead Cay
was renovated this past year for disabled guests. It has a wheel-in shower
with a seat in the shower. It is tiled throughout the unit and has wider
doors.” 2341 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, 941/472-3191 or 800/237-6004;
www.sanibel-captiva.com
Sanibel Arms West has “two units in
our rental program in which the owners have disabled adult children,”
reports employee Kathy Sterner. “Those two units are always ready
for someone in a wheelchair. Both are ground-floor units and have grab
bars. There is a boardwalk to the beach.” 827 East Gulf Drive,
Sanibel, 941/472-1138.
Jennifer Kendera, property manager at VIP Realty
Group Vacation Rentals, says a unit at Pointe Santo is designed to
accommodate a paraplegic resident. “That unit has a step-in shower
and the master bathroom doorway has been widened,” and Pointe Santo
has redone its pathways and installed ramps, she says. “Also, first-floor
units at Loggerhead Cay are known for being ‘handicapped friendly,’
” Kendera adds. “Loggerhead has cement walkways to the pool
and beach, and most guest bathrooms have a walk-in shower.” 1560
Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 941/472-1613 or 800/237-7526; www.viprealty.com.
Not planning to stay on Sanibel or Captiva? The
Greater Ft. Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce keeps on hand an up-to-the-minute,
four-page list of accommodations, with the letter “H” indicating
the many places that are accessible to handicapped guests. Pick up a copy
of the helpful list at the chamber’s visitor information center,
or call and ask to have it faxed to you. The list includes resorts, hotels,
motels, condominiums, campgrounds, and recreational vehicle parks. 17200
San Carlos Blvd., Ft. Myers Beach, 941/454-7500 or 800/782-9283; fax 941/454-7910.
In Cape Coral, the 143-room Quality Inn Nautilus
offers five rooms for disabled guests, including one that is equipped
with a wheel-in shower. Employees in the inn’s reservations department
emphasize that they keep the rooms open for disabled people, not booking
them for able-bodied guests until the end of the day. 1538 Cape Coral
Parkway, Cape Coral, 941/542-2121.
Victoria Schlosser, director of sales and marketing
for the brand-new Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in
Bonita Springs, explains that the luxury hotel complex “definitely
is ADA compliant, following all laws and regulations.” She adds,
“There are 456 rooms on 15 floors, with two rooms per floor for disabled
persons. The large lagoon pool in back has easy accessibility, and our
restaurants are completely accessible.” 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita
Springs, 941/992-9850.
The 60-room Baymont Inn, which opened in
the spring of 2000 in Bonita Springs, offers four ground-floor rooms for
disabled guests. All four are on the first floor and feature “nice
large bathrooms with wheel-in showers,” according to the reservations
department. 27991 Oakland Drive, Bonita Springs, 941/949-9400.
On a smaller scale, the Flamingo Motel
in Bonita Springs has renovated one room to accommodate disabled guests.
Wider doors and a higher toilet have been installed. 4330 Bonita Beach
Road, Bonita Springs, 941/992-7566.
Additional Resources
The Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce has a “For Handicapped”
link on its Web site. 1159 Causeway Road, Sanibel, 941/472-1080; www.sanibel-captiva.org.
Get a copy of an Access Ability Guide by writing
the Lee Island Coast Visitor & Convention Bureau, 2180 West
First St., Suite 100, Ft. Myers, FL 33901 or call 800/237-6444.
The
U.S. Department of Justice offers information on the Americans
with Dis-abilities Act. Call 800/514-0301 or 800/514-0383 (TDD); www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada.
–Libby Grimm