The Traveling Wheelchair

Department of Developmental Services
500 Harrison Avenue,
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-727-5608
http://www.mass.gov/dds

Dvee Media Productions
3 Outlook Road
Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: 781-209-1985
http://www.dveemedia.com  

DoubleTree Guest Suites
550 Winter Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
Phone: 781-890-6767
http://www.hiltonfamilyboston.com/hotels/dgsbw/

Today, my mom, Tony, Kevin, Kellie and I traveled to the DoubleTree Guest Suites in Waltham. I was very excited that I was asked to participate in the ‘Community Living Video’ filmed by Dvee Media Productions of Waltham.

Damien Arthur, Director of Clinical Services for  Department of Developmental Services (DDS) asked me to share my personal experience of what it was like for me to move from an institution to my home in the community. After surviving a massive cerebral hemorrhage when I was 11 years old, I spent 20 years living in a nursing home. Two years ago I was given the opportunity to move into a home in the community; I was at first afraid and scared of the change; yet once I moved into my home in the community I soon realized how much better my life became. I wanted to share my experience with others who may be afraid to move out of an institution in hopes they will one day live a full, exciting and wonderful life like me.

Upon arriving at DoubleTree Guest Suites, we parked our van in a handicap parking space located in a parking lot close to the front entrance; there are 9 handicap parking spaces available.

The front entrance has revolving doors and one single entry door located on the side that is easy to enter for it is automatic and opens wide with a simple push of a button. The lobby is spacious with plenty of room to wheel my chair around.

As soon as we entered the hotel we went directly to the Hastings Room where the filming took place. This room is located on the first floor; it is spacious and the tables set up in it are a perfect wheelchair accessible height. All the people I met from Department of Developmental Services and Devee Media were warm, friendly, sensitive and kind :>)

Tony and I were interviewed first. We felt like movie stars and even got powder on our face. Tony has worked with me for 15 years and he is like a brother to me and one of my best friends. My mom was interviewed at the end. Maureen Williams, my wonderful DDS case manager was coming later to be interviewed. She gave me much encouragement and support during my transition from the nursing home to my community home. Maureen is still my case manager in the community and I think she is the ‘BEST’!

After the filming we went to check out the hotel to see how wheelchair accessible it is.

The registration desk is NOT wheelchair accessible for it is way too high. I was in my Permobil C350 Power Chair and would have been able to access it with my seat elevated, yet many physically disabled do not have a power chair with an elevating seat.

We asked a nice male employee if the hotel has a wheelchair accessible guest room with a roll-in-shower. He told us there are 275 guest rooms; 8 wheelchair accessible guest rooms that are larger; and 0 wheelchair accessible rooms with a roll-in-shower. I was disappointed to hear this for none of the rooms are wheelchair accessible for me or others who can only shower in a roll-in-shower. The man was apologetic and gave us some delicious ‘DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies’. We later saw a sign in the lobby with pictures of Second Floor Renovations. I hope the renovations include a room with a roll-in-shower.

The Atrium Lounge, located off the lobby has a few steps located on 3 sides leading down to it; there is a wheelchair lift located by the elevators; one needs to ask the bartender or restaurant employee to help operate the lift.

If the bar or restaurant is not open, it may be difficult to find someone to help operate the wheelchair lift; we feel it would have been more inclusive to replace one of the sets of 3 steps with a sloped walkway.

The restrooms are wheelchair accessible spacious and fully ADA compliant; except none of the pipes under any of accessible sinks are covered as is ADA required. The faucet, soap and towel dispenser are within my reach.

The ATM and one public telephone is of a good wheelchair accessible height. The elevators allow access to all floors and are spacious with plenty of room for me in my chair with others. The banquet and meeting rooms are all wheelchair accessible and spacious.

I give FIVE STARS to all the wonderful people from Department of Developmental Service (DDS) and Devee Media Productions for helping to make the world a better place for the disabled.

I give DoubleTree Guest Suites in Waltham ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility.

If a hotel doesn’t have a wheelchair accessible guest room with a roll-in shower, I consider the hotel is NOT wheelchair accessible for it isn’t accessible to all disabled guest. All hotel guests should be able to shower.

In order to earn any Stars, they would first need to install a roll-in shower in at least one wheelchair accessible room. If they did this then they would just need to lower the registration counter to a wheelchair accessible height and place protective covering under at least one restroom accessible sink to earn Five Stars.