Team Spike

I think your analogy is a little flawed. A better analogy would be to add the fact that the restaurant is refusing part of the service (perhaps the wine list or desserts) to the people who supplied free raw ingredients for the food to be made. Regarding my suggestion that I posted earlier. I estimate it would take probably no more than a week to implement and would enable gc.com access to multiple additional revenue streams. Seems to make business sense to me, just not sure why they wouldn't go that approach. Every time a local site is cut off it angers all the users of that site. Over time the number of people who don't like gc.com will gradually build. Implementing fee based access system would IMO resolve all problems. Andy

www.azgeocaching.com - technical contact is brian at snaptek dot com. Andy

It seems most local orgs are now formalized and could probably arrange for contributions through their membership to pay for a license. They could even limit the cache information obtained geographically - i.e. tie the license to a region. Getting just the data needed uses a lot less bandwidth than downloading HTML full of lots of data that isn't needed (such as formatting, etc.) Andy

IP address blocking apparently. Andy

OK, I think I have removed all occurences of handicap and either removed it or replaced it with disabled, accessible, etc. according to the context. If anyone spots any more or has a concern with any of the new wording, please let me know. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Andy

Which is why on the handicaching site a cache is not rated as accessible. Instead it is just rated. Let the person who is disabled compare their abilities on any given day with the rating of a cache and decide for themselves if they can do it or not, rather that a person or a site stating that "this cache is accessible for everyone". Some caches may be tough for a particular set of disabilities, but boring for someone else with a different set of disabilities. This is one of the core philosophies of handicaching.com. Andy

OK, so if "with disabilities" is falling out of favour, what would be used in a sentence like this (hypothetical sentence - I know I have phrased some like this on the site): "This site helps people who are disabled" "This site helps people with disabilities" Andy

Hi, I'm the person operating the handicaching.com web site and someone this morning alerted me to this thread. Even though I am a British expat, I didn't realise that "handicap" was offensive, but that can be changed everywhere except the domain name and site name. I took the idea for the name from a local service dog organization called Handidog. So all I need to know is what word or phrase to use instead that would make everyone happy. You can post here or you can email me through this site or the handicaching site. I would have thought "disabled" but now I'm not so sure, so I need some input. I think it is perhaps the more progressive nature of the UK that I see more British geocachers rating caches than non-British geocachers. That's not a scientific poll, just that when I randomly click on ratings I recognize names of British cachers. I hope everyone will continue to keep up the good work! Regarding some of the other points. Handicaching.com is not just about wheelchair users. For example, my wife is disabled and most good days can walk about half a mile on level ground with a few small climbs. If every cache was rated on handicaching.com then people like her would be able to use it as well. It's not meant to replace the rating on gc.com, but to supplement it and provided a better picture of what can be expected. Therefore I urge everyone to rate any cache, including ones they have found rather than just ones they have hidden. If anyone has any concerns about the site they are always free to contact me to discuss them. We are not trying to offend anyone, just provide a needed service that increases access to geocaching for people who are disabled. Andy

Yes, a wheelchair requires roughly a 3 foot wide path to be safe. Bikes and strollers don't. Andy

invisionfree.com looks interesting - I'll take a look. Thanks. Andy

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The handicaching.com system allows for a person who is handicapped to look at the multi-dimensional ratings and decide what they are able to do, rather than the onus being on the cache hider to decide what is possible in a very limited way. Many people's disabilities vary from day to day. Also if a cache is wheelchair accessible, is it also crutch accessible? For example, a wheelchair user might be able to do a 1 mile round trip on level ground without a problem, but could someone using crutches? Therefore handicaching.com doesn't state that a cache is "handicap accessible" because unless you are following the ADA regulations, it doesn't mean much. Instead it aims to provide more information so handicapped users can make more informed choices. Don't forget that handicapped people like challenges too. I bet that many non-wheelchair using people with other disabilities might find a 200ft walk on a level surface a bit boring for them. So please don't limit consideration to only wheelchair users. There are a lot more aspects of disabilies than just that. Andy

I just wanted to post a note and say THANKS! for helping increase the handicaching.com database, making it a better resource for people wishing to join geocaching. Andy - handicaching.com

If anyone has any stories about how geocaching has helped them or someone they know overcome disabilities or increased their ability to get outside more, we would love to know so we can post them on the handicaching.com site! Groover

Bumping for the benefit of new members. We are now almost at 1500 cache handicap ratings! Groover

We are trying to put together a guide (and need volunteers!), but in the meantime if you go to http://www.handicaching.com and look at the handicap rating system there, it might get you thinking of the kinds of things that people might view as limiting to them. The philosophy behind handicaching.com is not to declare that a cache is handicap accessible or not, but to rate the cache and let handicapped people decide for themselves whether they can do it or not, by making an informed decision. Handicaps are too varied for a one size fits all approach, and many vary greatly from day to day. I hope this helps. Groover

I believe the argument is that if something or someone is in a public place, then there is no reason to expect privacy, therefore pictures of that something or someone can be taken. Groover

Over 1200 caches have now been rated for handicap accessibility! Thanks to everyone that has contributed to this project. Hopefully we can continue to grow at the same pace! Groover

BTT Groover

I love maps too! Every time I go to look up one quick thing I am still looking at the map half an hour later. As someone else posted, when I hear of a new place in the news I have to go and look it up. Great for increasing knowledge of places. I have a collection of Victorian maps of various parts of England, USA and the world famed and hanging on the walls, including a map showing the distance to various places in England from "Hickss Hall" along horse and carriage routes. Groover

BTT now this thread is back in the general geocaching discussions. Groover

BTT for anyone who missed this before. Groover

Check out http://www.emerchantsgroup.com/ - they were recommeded to me by a lot of other people and most get approved within two weeks. We are currently going through the application process. You get the direct number of the person handling your application. Groover

The only thing worthwhile to me is the Pocket Queries. I get one every Friday and copy to my Pocket PC, so I always have on the weekends a list of the nearest 400 caches. Groover

You can volunteer your time by posting here. In time we will have a list of things that need to be done here also: http://www.handicaching.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=8 Groover