Disabled access holiday requirements

Julià Montero Ortega, founder of our supplier, Barcelona Zero Limits:
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have an accessible product. That is not usually the problem. The problem is that there is a lot of fear about the subject of disability within the businesses. Because they aren’t familiar with these types of customers, and so get scared because they don’t know what to do with a person in a wheelchair or a blind person arrives at their hotel. In fact, they don’t need to do anything different than with another client. It is a normal client! So, don’t fear these people. Tourism businesses need to be brave, creative and offer their best products to people, whatever their needs. Don’t always offer a special product. Now is the right time to change the mentality within the tourism industry.”

Turn frustration to creation

Discovering that the accessible toilet is little more than a store cupboard is not only common but also an unfortunate metaphor for just how insensitive people can be. People aren’t to be hidden away in a store cupboard, forgotten, or just ignored because no one knows where else to put them. And the irony is that this is a hospitality industry. You have a right to be angry, and you also have a right to inclusion. However, peaceful protests and articulate arguments are the ones that create change, not ranting and raging reckless ones. We can wait for the governments to make it obligatory or for businesses to wake up to the fact that, on so many levels, it makes sense to include everyone. But as Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Don’t wait for others to get their acts together, but educate the people who need to understand better what your disabled access holiday requirements are– and do so creatively and with inspiration. We have all ears open at Responsible Travel too and are happy to hear all suggestions, as we know that we are only at the beginning of our learning curve.

Social media

Social media is a wonderful tool to create awareness and change. Get switched on to the social media network, and praise companies who are getting things right. Or tourist boards that are getting it wrong. Most accommodation websites offer information to families, walkers, cyclists, honeymooners and so on. If, however, you are blind, autistic, deaf, have arthritis or are a wheelchair user, then you’ll sometimes be surfing from dawn ‘til dusk to find a cottage in the country to cater for your needs. By becoming part of the social media world, one that features highly on all travel organisations’ agendas these days, you are not only giving shout outs to the people getting it right, but also showing that you are willing and able to travel. If the industry would just be more willing and able to host you.