Tom Chambers' story - Access to Historic Buildings
Channel: National Disability Authority
Date: 2012-06-01

This video was produced for the Access to Heritage Conference that took place on 30th May 2012 at the Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. This conference was jointly hosted by the National Disability Authority and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The conference presentations can be found on the NDA website at http://www.nda.ie. The other videos in this set can be found by searching for the tag accesstoheritageconference2012. The transcript for this video is available below. 

Tom Chambers' story - Access to Historic Buildings
My name is Tom Chambers. I come from Newport, County Mayo. I have been an active person for all my years -- 66 years of age but in 1981, I had an unfortunate accident driving a car, and while I get this chance now I could mention, to advise people, never drive when you're tired -- that's what happened me, but anyway, I eventually ended up in the Rehab in Dun Laoghaire, to spend the rest of my life confined to a wheelchair, and since then that wheelchair is my best friend.
Prague is a very historic city. It's full of it, but unfortunately for Tom, very, very - you couldn't manoeuvre the wheelchair, you know? Especially with a manual wheelchair like I have myself, that I have to push, you know? And it's a pity, because all we could do was look in, and maybe ask somebody coming out "What's in there?" or "What's.." or "Would you go in and take a photograph for me?", you know? .. That's when you do realise you miss your legs, you know?
We're well ahead, of other countries as far as access issues -- But that doesn't say we should stop.
There was a real old historic building like, you know? And it was no room for nothing, just the wall there and little gravel paths going into it and signs up on the wall, I would loved to have gone in -- I just couldn't get in, and my PA was with me and there was no way she'd be able to push me on rough gravel and everything.. but.. I'm sure the signs on the wall had a lot to say and tell about the history of the area. 
There was a little museum, a small little museum beside it, so I got inside it alright anyhow and the person that came, the staff was very friendly and showing me about, and showing me this, so I said "What's this door for?" -- (Reply) "Oh, this is the emergency, in case there's a fire and everything -- you'd have to go out". So, he opened the door - what was there but big 12 inch/ 14 inch step -- so there was just silence - He said "I'll show you the toilet"! -- I had to laugh, you know? So there is fun and humour in it, you know.
A lot of people think access is just for wheelchair users alone, but it's a whole lot more than that, you know? You have old women, or old men with their Zimmer frames, you have people recuperating from operations, you have the young pregnant woman with her pram, you have the man or woman -- after getting a limb fitted and everything, you have people with growth restrictions -- they used to use an unfortunate, dirty word one time, they called them dwarves -- it's a horrible word; and you have people too.. obesity, it's a big problem. But also, a big problem is tourist-wise, people coming from different countries, and even in Ireland.