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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil - Hotel (IBIS Colinas)

IBIS Colinas  - Av. Dr. Jorge Zarur, 81, torre I, Jd. Apolo, São José dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil 

There are steps up to the front door, with a steep ramp. It is easier to go to the entrance of the adjacent Mercure hotel and wheel the 20m or so back to the door of the IBIS. 

There is level access throughout the lobby and breakfast area of the IBIS with large handicapped toilet off the lobby. 

Handicapped room is on the first floor (the lift/elevator is of adequate size). Like all IBIS hotels, the room is compact with little space for maneuver but it is fine. There is enough room (~1m/3.3ft) between bed and wall and bed and built in furniture. Workdesk is at a comfortable height. Sockets are at chest height (sitting) but slightly difficult to reach. Closet has a bar at a comfortable height for hanging shirts etc. Light switches are by the bed and easy to reach. 

The bed (queen size) is at a perfect height for transfers and is comfortable. 

Air conditioning unit is operated by a remote control, but it is stored in a hanger that may be too high on the wall for some wheelies to reach. Once removed from the clip, of course, they can be used with ease. TV remote control stored by TV at comfortable height. 

Bathroom is large with plenty of turn space. Ample knee room under sink. Slanted mirrors make for easy viewing when seated. Toilet is on a raised plinth and easily accessible for a 90° transfer. Grab rails well positioned. 

The shower is a three-walled cubicle with a fold up, sturdy, shower seat mounted on the right hand wall as you face into the cubicle for a 90° transfer. Shower controls are easy to reach. The shower rose is mounted directly on the ceiling and cannot be adjusted for direction. The grab rails are placed in completely the wrong location, also on the right hand wall. This  means that when you are sitting on the seat, the grab rail presses into your back making it very difficult to balance and move. When sitting on the seat it is difficult to position your body to capture the main flow of water from the shower. Unless you have a companion to assist, showering is a difficult affair. I found I had to sit at an angle on the seat and hang on to the grab rail with one hand at all times. Transferring to and from the chair is easy enough. 

Buffet breakfast is fine, and the staff are very friendly and will help with carrying trays etc. There is no lunch or dinner service (although there is an accessible restaurant in the next door Mercure) but there is a bar and snacks and limited range of sandwiches are served all day. The nearby Colinas shopping centre has shopping, food and an excellent chascurria, all with good wheelchair access. It is possible to walk to the shopping centre although you have to cross a few busy roads to get there (pedestrian crossings are plentiful). 

Despite the difficulty of showering this IBIS is more comfortable from a wheelchair access point of view than the alternative IBIS in SJC. If you are ambulant disabled then it is fine. 

The IBIS hotels are the only hotels I know of in SJC with handicapped rooms available.  If anyone knows otherwise please leave a comment to let me know!

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