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Given here is some sources of information and ideas on going on holiday
and leisure pursuits. Holidays The question of access is a key factor. You may want to feel confident about access to the accommodation, to the attractions you want to see and leisure facilities you wish to use before thinking about anything else. Or you might put, type, destination and price of holiday first, and then look at the issue of price. Should you opt for group holidays tailored
for disabled people? These can save you the time and trouble of organising
things for yourself. You are actually guaranteed access and assistance.
But you might get less choice. And you might not always want to be with
a group of disabled people. You can find more information in the English
Touring Board’s leaflet The
National Accessible Scheme, Helping you to book with confidence and the Welsh Tourist board’s
leaflet Discovering Accessible Wales. Before deciding you need to have as much relevant,
up-to-date information as possible. Tourist attractions which subscribe
to the English Tourist Board’s National Code of Practice for Visitor
Attractions (The Visitor’s Charter) will have considered the requirements
of disabled people with special needs and made suitable provision where
it applies. In Scotland attractions which are accessible or have some accessible facilities (eg. Car parking, toilets, eating places, shops, on-site transport) may display one of three wheelchair symbols. These correspond to the three categories of accessibility (see below). Holiday Care Service This service is the UK’s central source of travel
and holiday information for people with physical, sensory and learning
disabilities, older people, carers, one parent families and those on low
income. The computerised database holds information on all aspects of
holidays and travel in this country and overseas. Internet: www.holidaycare.org.uk Holiday Care Service ’Friends Scheme’ gives members (who make a small donation each year) exclusive access to the Reservations Service to book accessible accommodation throughout the country, often at discounted rates.
Tourism for All Web: http://www.holidaycare.org.uk/default.asp Administration - Tel: 0845 124 9974 Membership/Reservations - Tel: 0845 124 9973 Access Advice/ - Tel: 0845 124 9974
There is a National Accessible Standard for tourist accommodation denoting three categories of accessibility: Category 1 accommodation likely to meet the needs of all wheelchair users, including those travelling independently; Category 2 accommodation likely to meet the needs of wheelchair users accompanied by a capable helper; Category 3 accommodation likely to meet the needs of those who can walk short distances and climb at least three steps. May not be suitable for wheelchair users. Tourist Boards The British Isles The national and regional tourist boards all publish
lists of accommodation which are graded using the Nation’ information on accommodation
is handled by Holiday Care Service 01293 771500 Northern Ireland Tourist Board Scotland Wales Visit Cumbria Visit the East of England Heart of England Tourist Board - this resource has closed Visit London Holiday Fact Packs are available from RADAR The Tourist Information Centres - London Visit North East England Visit North West England Visit South East England Places of Interest for Disabled People Southern England Yorkshire
ABROAD English Heritage produces a Guide
for Visitors with Disabilities with details of access and facilities at
properties. Available free of charge in standard, large print, Braille,
and cassette versions from: English Heritage, Mencap’s holiday
service provides advice and information on aspects of holidays, organises
holidays for children and adults at home and abroad, and publishes the Mencap Holiday Accommodation Guide . The National Trust publishes a free
booklet - Information for Visitors with Disabilities - containing details
of their properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with access
and other facilities for disabled visitors. It includes a list of sites
where blind or disabled people can enjoy historic objects through touch.
Free with self-addressed label and 2nd class stamp from The National Trust,
36, Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AS or phone: 0207 447 6743 (large
print version available; sections can be Braillied on request). Necessary
carers with disabled people are admitted free to NT properties. Passport Agency has produced a guide - Applying for a Passport: A Guide for Customers with Disabilities - which explains the facilities for customers who are deaf and hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted, and those who use wheelchairs. http://www.uk-passport-info.com/ The Youth Hostel Association welcomes people with disabilities and has a number of hostels accessible to wheelchair users. http://www.yha.org.uk/ Help with holidays and respite
care Social services departments may assist disabled people
with the cost of a holiday and may provide transport and facilities. Your
social worker may also apply on behalf of families with children to the Family Holiday Association for holiday
funding Handicapped Aid Trust contributes to the
cost of helpers of severely disabled people over the age of 17 who would
otherwise not be able to afford to go on holiday abroad.
holidays with access.com
Independent Living
Spain: A company on the Costa del Sol specialising
in the Hire and Sale of all mobility and disability products. Leisure If you want to enjoy what’s in your local area, many local editions of the phone book have a section at the beginning called ‘Arts Access’. It lists Cinemas, Theatres, Natural History attractions, Exhibitions, Museums and Galleries, Sports and Leisure Venues and Assistance Organisations, keyed in according to: entrance accessibility, special WC, induction lop/ infra red, wheelchair accessibility and loan, lift and hoist (at pool), lift, accessible bar/ restaurant, help available, disabled parking, wheelchair spaces. For other places telephone in advance. Special interests It is worth contacting your local authority social services department or leisure department to see what activities they provide. Many council swimming pools and sports centres have facilities and instruction for disabled people. Your library may have a list of special groups locallyTo develop or follow-up particular interests or sports, there is a wide variety of groups dedicated to disabled people, many with active local branchesThey cover the spectrum from angling to yoga. The next page gives a list of national organisations who co-ordinate a broad range of activities The Arts The Arts Council of England has compiled a directory (£10) offering contact details of organisations involved in arts and disability issues. A leaflet on involving people with disabilities as artists and performers is also available. Both are available from the Library and Enquiry Service. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/ Shape opens up access to
the arts, enabling greater participation by disabled and older people.
It runs arts workshops, projects and events in a variety of settings;
NVQ, Certificate and Diploma level arts management courses, short training
courses and placements for disabled people; and STAN, a network of young
disabled artists. There is a National Deaf Arts Programme and a scheme
for reduced ticket prices for disabled and older people. http://www.shapearts.org.uk/ The Arts council of Wales will give you information about arts organisations throughout Wales which offer disabled people opportunities to participate. http://www.artswales.org.uk/ Arts Disability Wales is a voluntary organisation offering information and training to disabled people and arts organisations. http://www.dacymru.com/ The Scottish Arts Council provides information about organisations in Scotland which promote the involvement of disabled people in the arts. http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/ Gardening Thrive provides training
courses, advice and publications on gardening as therapy for people with
learning difficulties and help for blind gardeners. The aim is to use
gardens to improve the quality of life for people with special needs of
all kinds. http://www.thrive.org.uk/ British Wheelchair Sports Foundation (BWSF) is based at Stoke Mandeville http://www.wheelpower.org.uk/ The British Paralympic Association (BPA) Tel: 0208 681 9655 Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP) Tel: 0115 940 1202 Disability Sport England (DSE) Tel: 0207 490 4919 United Kingdom Sports Association for People with a Learning Disability (UKSAPLD) Tel: 0207 250 1100 The Federation of Sports Associations for the Disabled - is recognised by the Sports Council for Wales as the umbrella governing body. Tel: 01244 822600/822625 The Scottish Sports Association - for people with a disability (SSAD) is recognised by the Scottish Sports Council as the main body for sport in Scotland for people with Disabilities. Tel: 01592 415 710 The following organisations provide sport and leisure activities, facilities or information for members with a disability: British Epilepsy Association/ Mencap/ RNIB/ Phab/ the Guide Association/ the Scout Association/ SCOPE/ Riding for the Disabled Association Directory for Disabled People contains details and addresses for many organisations in the arts, sport and leisure (see Helpful Information) Sports and Leisure: an In Touch care Guide, BBC, In Touch Publishing, 37, Charles St, Cardiff CF1 4EB Outdoor Adventure for Handicapped People by Mike Cotton, Souvenir Press, from Bookpoint Ltd Tel: 01235 400 400 Spectator Sports for Disabled People from RADAR Tel: 0207 250 3222 Historic Buildings of England: a Guide for Disabled People . RADAR £3 Historic Scotland: Access for Visitors with a Disability. Tel: 0131 668 8600
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