Accessible Travel and Holidays
The brilliant team at Courageous Parents Network have produced a guide for parents and carer with advice on how to travel with a young person who has a complex condition.
The guide covers everything from road trips to plane travel; from packing to choosing accommodation. And for those who aren’t able to travel, there are tips on how to have a Staycation right at home.
www.api.courageousparentsnetwork.org/app/uploads/2022/06/Travel-Guide.pdf
Flying can be a daunting prospect for disabled people as it’s a very difficult environment to test and try out before committing to a flight. QEF’s Tryb4uFly service aims to empower disabled people, so they can make informed choices and be more confident about flying.
The Tryb4uFly service has been developed so that disabled travellers can pick and choose the sections which best suit their needs. They have a range of free resources which they recommend accessing before attending any appointment. Consultation and Assessment appointments are provided by an expert team and offer the opportunity to speak to a trained professional about individual requirements and discuss the options available.
QEF also offer the opportunity to hire a range of equipment for your flight.
Visit their website for more information.
TryB4uFly
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for you to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.
It is widely recognised in the UK and also internationally, although some countries may not be as aware as others.
If your FOP has not progressed, you may still feel like you need extra time and space to make your journey. It is particularly helpful when travelling through airports as it allows you to skip standing in lines which can be very tiring and cause fatigue. It also allows for early boarding.
The lanyards are free of charge and available in stores such as Tesco, M&S, and Sainsbury’s. You can also buy them for a small fee from the website.
www.hdsunflower.com/uk
Holistic Holidays provide truly accessible holidays for those with complex needs.
Holistic Holidays have a range of accommodations that suit the family, and offers more of what is needed for children and adults with complex needs, for whom “wheelchair access”, is just not enough. Sited on family holiday parks around the UK coast line, with on site facilities to keep everyone amused during their break. They have now provided more than 250 accessible, coastal family holidays since 2019 in Caister on Sea and Burgh Castle in Norfolk, Burnham on Sea in Somerset, Chapel St Leonards in Lincolnshire, Towyn and Prestatyn in North Wales, Selsey in West Sussex and Newquay in Cornwall.
www.holisticthinkingholidays.godaddysites.com
Brickhouse Farm Cottages is a collection of 12 award-winning cottages, set in acres of stunning countryside.
They have been purpose built to provide accessible accommodation for families, friends and carers in the tranquil surroundings of Hambleton – just a step away from the bright lights of Blackpool.
The cottages are run by a family, with a daughter with disabilities.
There are a range of cottages with accessible doorways, wet rooms, hoists, and level floor access. There are hot tubs, fishing, and their Lakeside Kitchen restaurant.
Equipment is also available for hire, with some equipment free on request.
Visit their website for more details.
www.brickhousecottages.co.uk
Disability Grants has created an interactive map on their website, showing all the locations of wheelchair friendly and accessible beaches in the UK.
The map shows locations where they know there are beach wheelchairs for hire. More resorts are also improving their offer with better access, slopes and wheelchair-friendly huts.
www.disability-grants.org
Beach Access North East is a fabulous charity which promotes social inclusion, independence and choice for disabled & elderly people across the North East of England.
They provide FREE loan of specialised equipment at beaches across the region.
They currently operate at several beaches throughout the North East, with more new beaches coming soon. Check out their website for locations and further information.
www.beachaccessnortheast.org
