Book Characters In A Wheelchair

Shocking news came out today showing that children feel  'too embarrassed to read in front of friends'. The research also found the number of children who read outside class in their own time is falling, while some say their parents are not bothered if they read, according to a new study by the National Literacy Trust.

Fictional books are normally used as a form of escapism and may have characters the reader can relate to but how many characters use a wheelchair? Would you prefer your favourite book to have disabled, main, character?

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/40475.Wheelchair_Characters_

Accessible Luxury Hotel Bars

This weekend, the London weather is meant to get a brief break from the cold snap (supposedly!). If you want to add a bit of glamour to your weekend and enjoy the fresh air before it changes, there are two fully wheelchair accessible hotel bars with amazing views to experience.

The Grange St Paul's is a luxury five- star with 433 bedrooms, four restaurants, a bar and a dedicated attitude to disabled guests. Their services include:

·         Step-free entrance

         22 accessible bedrooms with adapted bath/shower facilities

9 accessible public toilets

·         Lift access to all bedrooms and meeting rooms

·         Hard-of-hearing induction loops in public areas and meeting rooms

·         Push-button access to Business Centre and Club Lounge

·         Accessible staging in main meeting room

·         Guide and helper dogs welcome

·         Disabled parking nearby.

A must during the nice weather is the roof terrace. (There is a disabled toilet at the entrance.)  You can experience the superb view of St Paul’s Cathedral across the road and enjoy views of landmarks including Shakespeare’s Globe.

If you want to get in the mood for London Fashion week though, head to the ME London hotel. It is ultra-stylish and new and ‘the place to be seen’. It has 157 rooms, including 16 suites; two restaurants and two bars.

The Radio Rooftop Bar opened in March and has an outdoor terrace and spectacular180 degrees panoramic views of London (London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden). There is an Express Lift to take you straight to the 10^th floor but if you are not good with heights, there is also the Marconi Lounge on the ground floor.

The hotel has a step free entrance and large, disabled, toilets.

Anyone Can Fly A Plane!

Were you inspired by Carol Vorderman's debut solo flight today? Don't let your wheelchair stop you from reaching the sky during this lovely weather.

Aerobility is a British charity that enables disabled and profoundly ill adults and children to pilot an aircraft.
Prices start from £60 for a trial flight and then vary depending on the package you choose to take part in and the number of participants.
Packages include ‘Experience of a Lifetime’ days, aircraft hire for disabled licence holders, and specialist training for injured service personnel.

It could be the perfect treat for those who have passed their A Levels, GCSE's or those who are about to start university. It could also be used to cheer up those less successful!