Gillian Moorhouse-Hoole – at DisabledHolidays.com – looks at some of the holiday options for #disabledtravellers
AT one end of the spectrum, it could be someone who doesn’t need any mobility adaptations, but their child has autism so they want a property that’s quiet or away from busy areas; or someone travelling with grandparents who just needs to know whether there are grab rails in the shower or a hoist to get in and out of bed. Then, at the other end, somebody might have a spinal injury but also other co-existing conditions such as breathing difficulties, meaning they need 24-hour care or extra help in the evenings.
You could also have a family with three children where one has a disability, so then it’s important to cater for everybody within that family, rather than focusing just on the disabled child. Likewise, if it’s the parent who has the disability, you’ve got to make sure you get it right for them, but it’s also got to be a fun family holiday for everyone.
First steps
The most important thing to know first is what the family wants to do. Find out what type of holidays they have enjoyed before, and don’t assume that because someone has a disability, certain holidays would be excluded for them. We book people on skiing and activity holidays, so it’s about letting the person with the disability guide you to what they want to do.
Then you have to find out their needs and check thoroughly what equipment they use at home, before researching what is available to make sure what you’re looking to book actually meets their needs. Sometimes people have given us feedback that they have been told a hotel has a wheelchair-accessible room, but the bathroom turns out to be down a couple of steps, for example.
What we would understand as accessible doesn’t always translate fully to other countries, and sometimes it can vary even between properties in the same hotel chain … so never assume anything.
Even when accessible rooms are available, a lot of mainstream operators can’t guarantee you will get that room. It’s not like having a sea view; it’s a fundamental part of a holiday for someone with a disability. If it’s not 100% guaranteed they’ll get that room, it’s like sending someone into the unknown and crossing your fingers.
Then you have to find out their needs and check thoroughly what equipment they use at home, before researching what is available to make sure what you’re looking to book actually meets their needs. Sometimes people have given us feedback that they have been told a hotel has a wheelchair-accessible room, but the bathroom turns out to be down a couple of steps, for example.
What we would understand as accessible doesn’t always translate fully to other countries, and sometimes it can vary even between properties in the same hotel chain … so never assume anything.
Even when accessible rooms are available, a lot of mainstream operators can’t guarantee you will get that room. It’s not like having a sea view; it’s a fundamental part of a holiday for someone with a disability. If it’s not 100% guaranteed they’ll get that room, it’s like sending someone into the unknown and crossing your fingers.
The US, the Canary Islands, and mainland Spain are great for families because they’ve got good, accessible hotels and you can get hold of equipment quite easily, plus there’s all the usual family entertainment. Theme parks are always family favourites. There can be some limitations on which rides people with disabilities can transfer on to, so you have to make them aware of that, but we provide the facts and then rely on parents to make a judgement call like they would for any child.
The rise of family-friendly cruises has also been very popular. Ships are used to catering for guests with physical disabilities: 99% of areas on ships are accessible – the cabins, the restaurants, the toilets – and you haven’t got the worry of finding a restaurant that’s wheelchair-accessible each night.
The all-inclusive package is always a bonus for families because there aren’t as many hidden charges, so if kids want drinks or ice creams during the day, it’s all taken care of.
Many families also like villa holidays because you have the exclusivity of your own villa, often with a pool or barbecue area. If you have a child with autism, you don’t ever have to feel uncomfortable if they are being noisy, which some parents tell us can be a worry for them in unfamiliar environments.
Getting there
If a child has autism, getting on a flight could be quite distressing, so some parents steer away from flying because it’s too noisy and the space is too confined. If they are flying, it’s important to consider ahead of time whether they need assistance getting through the airport, or if they will require essential medication or equipment in the cabin, as everything needs to be pre-approved by the airline, especially if you’re transferring from one airline to another. You can’t assume that a wheelchair that’s fine to go on one flight will be OK to go on another. The same goes for medication; it’s always helpful to have a doctor’s letter explaining what it is and why it’s needed to avoid any misunderstandings.
Cost
There shouldn’t be any additional cost for having an accessible room, but it’s not always that simple. A hotel might have a range of room categories, but adapt only a deluxe room for wheelchair use because it’s got more floor space, so guests end up having to pay for that higher room category. There could also be a cost for hiring equipment if it isn’t fitted as standard and, if you have a care team, you have to factor in where they will stay.
Plan ahead
Make sure you confirm any essential equipment before you make a booking. If the client needs a hoist or a shower chair delivered to a particular area in Spain, for example, you have to make sure you can get that before you confirm anything else, because if they can’t have that, there’s no point in pursuing the booking.
It’s crucial to plan ahead and make sure the family is actually getting what you’ve booked. If it’s the middle of the summer holidays and they turn up to find the room they thought was wheelchair-accessible isn’t, there might not be a suitable alternative, as a lot of hotels only have a couple of adapted rooms and they fill up
Gillian Moorhouse-Hoole is business development assistant at specialist travel firm DisabledHolidays.com, which can arrange everything from cottages and caravans in the UK to skiing holidays, cruises, safaris, and around-the-world trips.
www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk
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