Tag: disability access

“It’s easier to book a hotel for dogs than disabled people”

Dogs>Disabled: New data reveals pet-friendly holidays outpace accessible stays for families across Europe

  • In some countries, it is 60 times harder to find a hotel that caters for disability access needs compared to one that allows families to travel with their pets
  • Popular European countries lack vital information regarding accessibility 
  • The ‘pet friendly’ box is answered on every booking site whilst information about ‘disability access’ is convoluted

Booking a pet-friendly family holiday is approximately 24 times easier than booking a European break with disability access, according to new research. 

The data, collated by disability holiday specialists World Accessible Holidays, shows there are far more readily available options for a family to go on holiday with their pet than with a wheelchair – leaving families with disability requirements with very limited options.

Whilst approximately 37% of family rooms across ten European countries on booking.com ticked the ‘pet-friendly’ box, only 1.5% offer disability access. 

Across the 10 European countries studied, there were 41,576 pet-friendly hotels offering family rooms, with only 1,684 of these family rooms meeting accessibility requirements. 

It is substantially harder, and in some countries up to 60 times harder, to find a hotel that caters for disability access needs compared to one that allows families to travel with their pets. 

For example, only 0.55% of family hotels offer accessible rooms in Croatia, with only 36 hotels to choose from. However, if the holiday required a pet-friendly room, Croatia offered 2,304 hotels to choose on booking.com. 

Paula Hansen, founder of World Accessible Holidays said: “These statistics are disappointing but not surprising. How can it be acceptable for hotels to provide information about accepting pets on a stay and the facilities they can provide for your pooch, yet when it comes to people with wheelchairs, there’s silence?

“I love my pet, but the fact I know I can take my dog Angus, but not my son who uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy, is frankly shocking.”

The 10 European areas analysed included France; mainland Spain; Italy; Greece; The Antalya region in Turkey; Croatia; Portugal; Spain’s Canary Islands; Cyprus and Majorca. 

100% of the 10  areas researched generated more hotel options through Expedia Expedia.com and Booking.com when searching for a pet-friendly family room than one that has wheelchair access.

In addition, information presented by hotels often varied, causing disabled customers confusion about what facilities are available at hotels.

Where hotels who welcome pets had clear wording and policies, there was little consistency in listings of hotels that claim to provide accessibility access, including language like ‘ramp and elevator access’ ‘top floor rooms include lift’ to ‘entire unit wheelchair accessible’. 

Portugal presented the highest number of hotels offering disability access across both search engines, with a 2.4% accessibility rate, but the figure is still low compared to 27.8% of hotels offering pet-friendly rooms. 

Paula Hansen, founder of World Accessible Holidays, established the business after experiencing this disparity first-hand.  Her son, is a wheelchair user and the limited holiday options and stressful booking process instilled the idea for her disability-friendly business. 

Paula is striving to make holidays abroad less stressful for disabled individuals travelling with their families and carers, both adults and children. The business launched as a fully transparent booking platform , one which arranges flights and accommodation at high street prices that meets accessibility needs. 

She said: “The accessibility market is hugely under-represented and badly serviced. There are a few good specialist operators, but they are very expensive, and out of reach for many disabled families. 

“Alternatively, if you try to book with a mainstream operator, it’s virtually impossible to guarantee an accessible room and the booking process is extremely disjointed. Booking platforms rarely list accessible rooms in a clear-cut way or have the option to book an accessible room with equipment. 

“We conducted this research to evidence just how far down the priority ladder disabled people are, but I still can’t believe it’s easier to book a hotel for dogs than disabled people. At World Accessible Holidays we are working to change that — because people deserve more options than pets.” 

For more information about World Accessible Holidays visit:

worldaccessibleholidays.co.uk

Retail park invests in accessibility facilities

One of Edinburgh’s largest retail parks has invested in new facilities to improve accessibility for adults with serious physical disabilities as it seeks to maintain its essential contribution to the local economy through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fort Kinnaird has seen a steady return of visitors since non-essential shops were permitted to open at the end of June and has been working to ensure a safe environment for shoppers.

The site has recently opened a Changing Places adult toilet to help people with physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis who often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.

There are approximately 2,000 people employed by the various retailers, leisure facilities and food & beverage outlets at Fort Kinnaird, with the site estimated to contribute around £53m (GVA) to the Edinburgh economy.

Local MSP Sarah Boyack visited Fort Kinnaird last week and was given an update on how retailers are opening in a responsible way and what safety protocols are in place. 

She also viewed the new Changing Places facilities and learn how they are helping improve accessibility. Fort Kinnaird already offers a Shopmobility service which provides powered scooters and manual wheelchairs to visitors and sensory backpacks for shoppers with autism or sensory difficulties.

Liam Smith, centre director for Fort Kinnaird, said: “Obviously the lockdown has been very hard on the retail sector but we had essential retailers open throughout and since June have steadily seen the rest of the site open up.  The measures we have in place around the park have reassured visitors and created a foundation for future success.

“Making the site accessible and welcoming for all is a key part of creating that welcoming atmosphere at Fort Kinnaird and to ensure we can continue to play a key part in supporting the Edinburgh economy.”

Sarah Boyack MSP said: “Scottish retail has been hit hard in recent months, so it is encouraging to see outlets such as Fort Kinnaird work hard to support businesses, enabling people to shop safely as we come out of lockdown and ensuring accessibility for as many shoppers as possible.

“The coming weeks will be crucial to the survival of many businesses and, as local employers, Fort Kinnaird will continue to serve a vital role in Edinburgh’s economic recovery.”

DISCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS

Fort Kinnaird has launched a fortnight of student discounts, running from the 21st September to the 4th October, helping students to shop and dine while saving up to 30% off their favourite brands.

This year’s student shopping event is back with a twist, as Fort Kinnaird has adapted its usual one-night annual event to run over two weeks, helping students make the most of some great deals over a longer period of time and in a safe way.

Students will see lots of discounts up for grabs across fashion and beauty as well as the centre’s restaurants, including H&M, Office, Topshop, and more.

Here’s some of the great student discounts on offer*:

•                     H&M – 20% off

•                     New Look – 20% off

•                     Office – 20% off

•                     Accessorize – 20% off

•                     Frankie & Benny’s – 20% off

•                     Elegance Beauty – 10% off all treatments

•                     Topshop, Topman – 20% off

•                     Dorothy Perkins (within Outfit) – 20% off

•                     Typo – 10% off

•                     Pizza Express – 30% off

•                     Wagamama – BYOB Student Sundays (20th September – 18th October)

For the full list of student offers at Fort Kinnaird, please visit the website: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/offers?field_offer_type_tid=86

* Terms and conditions apply with each offer, please check with individual stores for more details.

If you’d like to keep up to date with everything that’s going on at Fort Kinnaird, including all of the latest offers and events, visit www.fortkinnaird.com, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.  

Council leader hails taxi accessibility talks

Access Action Plan is on it’s way

cabs

Council Leader Andrew Burns and Convener of the Regulatory Committee, Cllr Gavin Barrie met with charity campaigner Gordon Aikman yesterday to discuss concerns about taxi accessibility in Edinburgh.

Recently Mr Aikman, who has motor neurone disease, struggled to find a taxi that was able accommodate his wheelchair. He was due to introduce Ed Miliband at the Labour Party Conference in the capital but missed the opportunity after two taxis he called were unable to pick him up – one because the electric ramp was not working and the other because he ‘took too long to come down’.

Cllr Burns said: “What happed to Gordon is of course completely unacceptable and the purpose of today’s meeting was to discuss what we can do to make sure this doesn’t happen again. We have identified steps that we can take as the licensing authority for taxis in the city, to ensure that these vehicles are accessible to wheelchair users.

“For example, we will be cracking down on drivers who fail to stop for disabled customers and increasing the number of spot checks to check that the taxis’ ramps are operational. We will also be calling for taxi companies to review their allocated waiting time for collections with a view to extending this for people with mobility issues.

“We want to make sure that wheelchair users in Edinburgh have a positive experience when using taxis and I would like to thank Gordon for highlighting this very important issue.”

Other actions agreed include a review of the current driver training arrangements to improve accessibility training and looking at introducing refresher courses. Taxi drivers who are exempt from manually loading wheelchairs for health reasons may also be asked to display a prominent sign on their vehicle indicating that they are not accessible.

The agreed measures will now be taken forward by the Council, led by Councillor Gavin Barrie as Convener of the Regulatory Committee.

Welcoming the outcome of yesterday’s meeting, Gordon Aikman said: “This crackdown is very welcome. Wheelchair or not, each and every one of us should be able to get into a cab and get from A to B without any hassle. I’ve only been in a wheelchair for a couple of weeks, but have been shocked by the treatment disabled folk have to put up with.

“I’m confident this Access Action Plan will help make taxis in our capital more accessible. I hope other councils follow Edinburgh’s lead. This is not about special treatment – it is about equal access. No disabled person should have to put up with second rate service.”