This website project was originally completed in January 2001, and at the time its format set a benchmark for others to follow. Since that time it has received excellent reviews from many disabled people. Similarly a number of people in the hospitality industry have also expressed their wish to see it expanded further.
As many disabled people and their families know, it can be extremely frustrating for people with disabilities going on holiday, taking a break or traveling on business, when facilities are not suitable. I was therefore fortunate that during the original project I visited some of the best establishments found to be providing "Good practice".
Nevertheless, it can at times be like going into the unknown when booking or visiting such accommodation when things you thought may be suitable appear otherwise. These and other similar issues have been relayed by myself, and others through the website and I am grateful to everyone who has submitted comments and suggestions for the future.
It can also be a case that where I have found a particular establishment to be suitable for a high lesion Tetraplegic, others with lesser or different disabilities may not find the same accommodation as suitable. Similarly, with some of the branded establishments there can be slight inconsistencies between establishments and these can sometimes cause great inconvenience.
I still hope that more accommodation providers consider providing wheel in showers, as opposed to baths, during refurbishments or new builds. Whilst a wheel in shower is not a panacea for everyone, a combination of both facilities is the ideal solution. However, in the first instance a wheel in shower is the user-friendliest facility for the majority of disabled people.
It is also hoped that more establishments will consider providing more suitable aids and equipment, such as hoists and shower chairs etc, in their premises. As well as helping those who want to take a break at short notice, I believe those that do provide such facilities, will see greater returns on their investments.
Advice on providing or making possible the use of such equipment can be sought from Holiday Care or from the various members of the Disabled Living Centres Council (DLLC). It would also help if manufacturers of such equipment made an attempt to design their products appropriately. It is possible to provide convivial surroundings and equipment without an institutional look.
Some people still seem to be concerned about the full implications of the DDA and the word "reasonable". However, those that have gone beyond making "reasonable" adjustments are reaping the benefits of their investment, and indeed viewing the "disabled pound" as justifying even more investment.
The most frustrating situation though, remains with those who do not have this foresight and are awaiting the advent of 2004, or possible legal action, before implementing "reasonable" adjustments. This culture persists not only with some small establishments who may have genuine concerns, but also with some medium and large-scale operators.
As mentioned previously there is a wealth of expertise from whom those in the hospitality industry can obtain appropriate advice. In particular advice can be sought from Holiday Care or through the Tourist Boards in respect of adapting establishments, especially in respect of the new accessibility standards. There are also numerous useful links throughout this website, which hopefully give further support.
So what of the future?
I would have liked to have, expanded the website's original format nationally. However, this was never possible or practicable, due to the nature of my disability. It was also always my intention that the website would be a voluntary based project that would not be aligned to any particular organisation or company. This thereby, gives it the opportunity to give impartial and unbiased information.
I am therefore delighted that I have been able to secure further charitable and community funding to allow the project to proceed through to the end of 2004. I am also grateful to everyone who has supported the project in the past along with those who left comments or suggestions during the previous years.
Since this website was originally set up many people have seen it as the way forward, and hopefully these new formats will help give people greater knowledge of what an establishment is like, before going on holiday. There can be nothing worse, whether disabled or not, finding accommodation unsuitable or not as first thought.
Thankfully, the new accessibility standards from the VisitBritain may address much of the above. Hopefully, more establishments and regions may therefore adopt the standards and be assessed either through
Holiday Care or the Tourist Boards. The new standards as with their predecessors give a good starting point for planning a holiday.
It would also be of immense help if some of the branded or budget hotels could take part in the scheme. It can be something very simple, such as lack of consistency between establishments, and these differences can sometimes ruin someone's stay. As such the accessibility standards in many respects give a seal of approval as to an establishments suitability.
Similarly, the standards can give establishments and their proprietor's feedback as to ways to make their accommodation more suitable to disabled guests in the future. While some may feel that the standards need not be part of their marketing campaigns or are an added imposition, it would be hoped that those who feel that way, could be more specific in their advertising materials, including websites.
"Disabled facilities" or "accessible" can mean almost anything. From getting in the front door but no further, to partial access, e.g. the dining area or bedroom may be accessible, but not the bathroom or toilet. Using the Internet to good effect, it should be possible for establishments to show more of their interiors and exteriors, thereby giving more informed choices.
In any instance it would be hoped that more and more establishments could show full floor plans of their properties. Also whilst everyone's desires, expectations and budgets are different, informed choices are not always easy. I hope therefore, the website's new format can still be an additional resource to many disabled people and that many reviews will be posted; thereby giving people the opportunity to give personal accounts of their own holiday experiences.
I also hope that people will continue to say what they would like to see from the hospitality and holiday industry, in the future. It is also hoped the comments made are still taken objectively and in good faith by those in the hospitality industry. Indeed, I hope they continue to encourage and enable those with disabilities to enjoy the privilege of travel, understandably taken for granted by the able-bodied.
Finally, I would again like to thank the hospitality industry and many others for all the support throughout the project, and hope this may continue in the future.
Addendum
I am delighted that UnLtd* decided to also award this project a Millennium Award to allow it progress on to the next stage and I hope to bring further news on this phase shortly.
David Croft
Web Site Developed by Bennett & Company