All-abilities opportunities
ADESS and the 'Joëlette'
Peatland sites pose particular difficulties for disabled visitors, but at the Tourbière de Yeun, Brittany's largest peat bog, the Association ADESS has introduced a new and inclusive approach to enabling access for all.
The 'Joëlette'; Heading 3
A cross between a wheelchair and a sedan chair, the Joëlette is a single wheeled chair with stretchers which enables disabled visitors to explore the peatland with two able-bodied helpers. The single wheel design allows the Joëlette to be manoeuvred on any path or rugged terrain.
The Joëlette was designed by Frenchman, Joël Claudel to enable his severely disabled nephew to enjoy exploring the Alps. They have been used for trekking in the Alps, the Himalayas and the Andes as well as providing inclusive experiences for disabled visitors at a number of natural sites.
The Joëlette is operated by two helpers. At the front the helper pulls the chair along. At the rear the helper steers and balances the chair. Because the rider';s weight is directly over the wheel, the helpers do not need to carry the rider';s full weight. The chair';s suspension ensures a smooth ride regardless of the terrain. The chair is fully adjustable and can be adapted to meet the needs of most riders. It is collapsible and can be folded down to fit in the trunk of a car.
Costs and usage
ADESS has purchased 6 Joëlettes at a cost of 3000 € each. They offer a number of interpretive walks from their base at the Ferme des Artisans near Brasparts, ranging from four hour tours with lunch to early morning strolls with breakfast. The cost of the tour is independent of the use of the Joëlette, for which there is no additional charge.
In 2005 the Joëlettes were used 150 times. The Association also makes the chairs available to other groups in the area and promotes their shared use through a national organisation for people with paralysis.
Evaluation
While no formal evaluation of the Joëlette';s success has been carried out at the site, anecdotal evidence is very positive. Benefits recorded have included allowing disabled people to feel like part of the group and that they can share the same experience as able-bodied visitors (rather than having to follow specially adapted disabled routes). Another benefit expressed by both the able bodied and disabled visitor is the sense of cohesion felt by everyone as they pull together both emotionally and literally.
These comments are backed up by the comments Joëlette users have expressed on the Internet. Perhaps one comment that best sums up the experience and the benefits for disabled users was made by a young man visiting the site: "Before coming here I knew the word Randonées (trekking or walking), now I know what it means!"
For LEADER+ peatland project work in Brittany, planning new access at Magoar-Penvern and Kéroncel - Locarn was done with the intention of making it useable by people of all abilities. It is not possible to build a path suitable for wheelchairs along a 'talus';, but use of Joëlette chairs through ADESS makes all-abilities access feasible.
A 'Joëlette'; in action
