Thank you for highlighting the continuing problems of accessibility that many disabled Europeans still face (April 11th). There are though improvements taking place. Britain's railways, for example, are now consulting on a long-term accessibility strategy - including the criteria to maximise the impact of a new £370 million "Access for All" Fund to improve access to railway stations - as well as how to improve information and staff training better to meet the needs of disabled rail travellers. The experience from developing this strategy - and a key message from your article - is that architects, planners, facility managers must integrate accessibility into their core thinking rather than treating it as a "bolt-on" after-thought.

David Grayson

Chairman UK's National Disability Council 1995-2000