The Traveling Wheelchair

1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike (Route 1)
Norwood, MA 02062
Phone: 781-769-7900
http://www.fourpointsnorwood.com/

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to tour Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center, owned and operated by FM Global . I found both the hotel and conference center the most universal accessible hotel & conference center I’ve ever been too!! I especially like that it has full & equal access for all guests and visitors; there are no barriers or alternate routes for disabled to take (i.e. chair lift, wheelchair ramp in other location, etc).

Lisa DiBonaventura, M.A., COMS, Statewide Director for Vision & Vision Loss Services, DDS Coordinator, is once again organizing next year’s “Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference. Last year the conference was held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Taunton. Lisa decided to look for a different conference center for the 2010 event because the “Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference at Holiday Inn Conference Center didn’t have an elevator from the first to second floor making wheelchair users use the service/kitchen elevator.

Lisa has toured other conference centers and thought Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center was possible for the event. Lisa and my vision mobility specialist, Kathleen Kenney, COMS from The Carroll Center for the Blind, asked me for my expert opinion on the accessibility of Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center. I was honored to help :>)

My mom, Ric, Amanda and I met Kathleen at Four Points in Norwood. Kathleen arranged for Elizabeth Fagan, Sales Manager to take us on a tour. When we arrived we were pleased to find seven handicap parking spaces located right in front of the entrance; access to the sidewalk is easy for there are accessible curb cut-outs located on both sides of the entrance.

There are two sets of entry doors; both are my favorite kind of double sliding automatic doors that open as soon as you approach. The first set of doors lead you into a spacious foyer and the second set into the lobby.

Once inside, we were warmly greeted by Elizabeth Fagan, Sales Manager. Elizabeth thanked me for coming; she told me accessibility is a priority of both hers and the hotel for they want to make all their visitors and guests comfortable. They do everything possible to ensure those who are blind, deaf or in wheelchairs have full and equal access.

The lobby is spacious and very accessible. I was especially pleased to find one side of the registration counter is wheelchair accessible and of a perfect height for my chair. If I were checking into this hotel I would have no problem.

Wheelchair access to all floors of the Hotel & Conference Center is available via elevators; all elevators are spacious and wheelchair accessible. The button to push for the elevator is easily within my reach.

Elizabeth first took us to see The Gold Wing of the hotel & Tiffany Ballroom. This section was added in 2006. There is over 32,000 sq feet of meeting space between the Tiffany Ballroom and Conference Center. The design of The Gold Wing is UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE. All areas are easy to find for there are signs hanging on walls.

I loved this addition as well as the older section of the hotel & conference center. I did not come across any obstacles, barriers or stairs where I needed to use an alternate route of chair lift.

Throughout the hotel & conference center, instead of steps are gradual accessible slopes in the floor with railings located on either side of the wall. Many would not even notice these gradual slopes in the design of the floor.

I was in my Permobil C350 Power Chair and found it easy to  maneuver my chair throughout. The hallways are spacious and exceptionally wide. The lighting is very good because of the large overhead lighting fixtures and all the large windows which allow for natural lighting.

Two side entrances leading to The Gold Wing and Tiffany Ballroom have double sliding automatic doors which open wide as soon a guest approaches.  I went outside to check it out. There are plenty of handicap parking spaces located close to these entrances. The sidewalks are wide and easy to wheel along.

We next viewed the Tiffany Ballroom where the meal for the conference could be served. The ballroom is huge with plenty of room. All the tables are of a perfect wheelchair accessible height; a removable stage in front has wheelchair access with an accessible ramp provided by the hotel.

All the Function Rooms are spacious and fully wheelchair accessible. The Business Center has computer stations where guests and visitors can access the Internet. These are all wheelchair accessible and of a perfect accessible height.

After viewing the ballroom, function rooms and business center, I headed to the restrooms. The hallway to access the restrooms is nice and wide. Located in front of the Men’s and Women’s restroom are three computer stations where visitor or guest can plug in their laptop computer; one of these stations has a lowered countertop that is of perfect height for a person seated in a wheelchair. There is also a water bubbler of wheelchair accessible height where you can easily get a drink of water.

Entering both the Men’s and Women’s restroom is easy for the doors are wide open. The restroom is spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant. The accessible sinks are of a perfect height; the faucet, soap dispenser and paper towel dispenser are all automatic easily within my reach. There are two handicap accessible stalls; one for wheelchair users which has the required safety grab bars and more room on the side to allow for easier transfer; the other accessible stall is for disabled who have difficulty walking and need a safety grab bar located on both sides.

Next we headed to the Conference Center which is located in the original building of the hotel.

This conference center is fully wheelchair accessible, spacious and there are no obstacles or barriers. The conference center has smaller function rooms where business meetings or classes can be held. All are spacious and fully wheelchair accessible; the tables inside these rooms are of a perfect accessible height.

Located near these rooms is a break room where coffee, beverages and refreshments are served. All is accessible and easy for me to reach.

The payphone located in the hallway here is wheelchair accessible and of a good height. I had no problem reaching for the phone or dialing a phone number.

The Conference Center has a single unisex restroom that is spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant; there is plenty of room for me to maneuver my chair inside this restroom.

Elizabeth graciously offered to show us a wheelchair accessible guest room. She told us there are 12 accessible guest rooms with roll-in showers! WOW!! I was really impressed! Many wheelchair-seated guests like me can only use a roll-in shower; yet many hotels have only a few or none at all.

All accessible guest rooms are wider and more spacious so there is plenty of room for you to wheel around in your chair. There are two peep holes on the door; one higher and one lower so a wheelchair-seated guest can look too see who is knocking on their guest room door. The guest room door has a lowered hook/latch/ lock a guest in a wheelchair can reach for added security when they are in the room. The room number is also printed in Braille for the visually impaired to read; the door has an accessible lever door handle which is easier to open for those with limited range in their hands; and a doorbell located on the side of the door will flash lights in the room when it is rung so a person with a hearing impairment will know someone is at the door.

All 12 wheelchair accessible rooms are wonderfully equipped; with lower coat hangers; an accessible desk; plenty of room next to the bed to allow easier transferring and a flat screen TV placed at a perfect height to view.

The bathroom in the wheelchair accessible room is pefect! It is wide and spacious; the accessible sink is of a perfect height for my chair; the pipes under the accessible sink are covered as is ADA required; the soap dispenser is within my reach; the required safety grab bars are located at a perfect height on the side and rear wall of the toilet; the roll-in shower stall is of good size; the required safety rails and a lowered hand held shower head is installed for easy showering; and the bath towel hook is placed lower on the back of the door which is of a  wheelchair accessible height.

Elizabeth told us that 3 out of the 12 wheelchair accessible rooms with roll-in showers are located on the PURE FLOOR. The guest rooms on the Pure Floor are wonderful for guests who suffer from allergies! These guest rooms all have:

• 1. Sanitized Air Handling Unit
  2. Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
  3. High Ozone Shock Treatment
  4. Pure Shield
  5. Air Purification System
  6. Allergy Friendly Bed Encasings
  

After viewing the wonderful wheelchair accessible guest room we headed back to the lobby. On our way we saw a room with a heated indoor swimming pool and a hot tub. There is plenty of room to safely maneuver your wheelchair inside this area. The greatest part is that the indoor pool and hot tub are wheelchair accessible! The indoor pool and hot tub have an accessible lift. It’s is a portable one available upon request.

An outdoor sitting area is accessible with plenty of room for your chair. All the tables are wheelchair accessible and of a good height for my chair. Lounge chairs here are provided and a cushion for added comfort is available.

Elizabeth then showed us 2 onsite restaurants; One Bistro, which serves lunch & dinner; and Zacharias, which serves breakfast & lunch. Both are spacious, wheelchair accessible and have many wheelchair accessible tables of a perfect height; the buffet counter located in Zacharias is of a perfect accessible height too. Elizabeth graciously invited us to have lunch at One Bistro and we accepted. We headed to One Bistro, thanked Elizabeth for her time and said our goodbyes

The Tiffany Ballroom, Business Center, Essex Room, Function Rooms, Pool & Spa, Conference Center and 12 wheelchair accessible guest rooms all have full and equal access for all to enjoy!!

FM Global the owners did an excellent job in making this hotel & conference center fully ACCESSIBLE TO ALL!

I give Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center FIVE STARS PLUS for wheelchair accessibility!! I have never seen a hotel and conference center that is as wheelchair accessible as is this one. I highly recommend it to all who are planning a wedding, special occasion, conference or business meeting. I can assure you all your disabled clients and guests will be very comfortable at this hotel and conference center where they will enjoy full and equal access.

I give Elizabeth Fagan FIVE STARS for being courteous, kind, and sensitive to the needs of persons with disability and for taking the time to show me this wonderful hotel and conference center. Thank-you Elizabeth!

I’d like to THANK Lisa DiBonaventura and Kathleen Kenney for their sensitivity and caring so much about the needs of all disabled citizens!