What is it like for disabled people abroad? While the article “Disabled We Fly” (TMIS, 21 July) looked at the feedback gathered from a number of disabled participants and a parent of a disabled child on their experience when using air travel, this article will go beyond that and deal with the experiences of disabled participants abroad. It is hoped that this article will help create more awareness and education about the opportunities open to disabled people today when it comes to travelling abroad and provide readers with examples of good practice.

When things don’t work out

One of the problems that disabled people with mobility impairments have was that transport wasn’t always accessible or some places were less accessible than others – even in the same country. In relation to transport, for example, Mary* noted that while the trains in the UK did offer wheelchair users, like herself, with ramps and assistance to board trains, disabled people can be left without support at stations. One time, in spite of pre-booking wheelchair assistance by phone, when she arrived at the station, she discovered that the personnel hadn’t been notified. This meant that she had to explain what she needed all over again.

Unfortunately, one can find many instances where there’s lack of access to transport for the simple reason that, unlike with the EU’s Disabled Air Passengers Bill**, there is no uniform regulation within the EU that applies to transport services.

At the same time, there are still a number of buildings and tourist accommodations that remain inaccessible within the EU. As Charles*, a parent, told us, this can largely limit his choices if he wanted to go on holiday abroad with his son. He reported that, unfortunately, local tour operators tend to pre-book transport and accommodation with the result that they cannot travel with his son, who uses a wheelchair. While the Equal Opportunities Act (Cap 413)** prohibits discrimination against disabled people when it comes to providing travel services, the fact is that particular travel agencies are still not aware of their duties to ensure disabled people are included in service provision.

However, the problems disabled people face abroad aren’t limited to lack of physical access. Granted, there are still a number of areas and historic sites inaccessible to physically disabled people but people who have cognitive or intellectual impairments also face strong negative attitudes that tend to exclude them or limit their participation.

This was evinced from the feedback we received following the first article’s publication. A service provider, who was accompanying a group of people with intellectual impairments noted they had a negative experience when visiting EuroDisney as those who should have been providing assistance to people with intellectual impairments failed to take any notice of what personal assistants were advising them or what disabled people were trying to say. On the other hand, Dave* reported he had plenty of nightmares as a child following his visit to the Museum of Horrors in London. He explained that because he had a learning difficulty, those around him didn’t bother to explain to him what they were seeing and no material in easy-to-read format was provided to him at the museum. Even if the exhibits themselves were scary, Dave* believes seeing them would have affected him less if he could better understand the history behind them.

When things go better

Up to this point, we looked at the disabling barriers which disabled people encountered abroad. However, participants also shared positive experiences where they felt included. This was especially true in places and during activities where their impairments were taken into account.

For instance, Mary* recounted having a positive experience when she went for a skiing holiday in Piedmont, Italy, where she found the necessary equipment and staff support to enable her to ski again on her own. She noted that if there had been no equipment adapted to wheelchair users and if the staff hadn’t been properly trained on how to assist disabled skiers, she wouldn’t have been able to ski.

Katie*, on the other hand, expressed her personal satisfaction when, as a blind person, she managed to go on holiday on her own. While those around her were concerned about her taking this decision to travel on her own, she knew that the hotel she was staying at in the UK was accessible to all, including wheelchair users and blind persons. In addition, she found the staff there very friendly and, most importantly, knew how to assist her during her stay.

Charles*, a parent, noted he was very satisfied when he visited one of the museums in Rome. Not only the museum was physically accessible but he also discovered that his son could easily read the descriptions accompanying each exhibit that were placed at eye level for the benefit of wheelchair users. It must be noted that setting descriptions at this height also makes them accessible to children and people of small stature.

Deaf participants who provided their feedback, Simon* and John*, noted that they felt very included when attending conferences organised by deaf people around the world. The fact that, even if each country had its own signing system, the fact they could relate to others who shared in their deaf culture meant that they felt free to communicate with less problems than when they were in the company of hearing people.

Finally, people who had cognitive or intellectual impairments all expressed satisfaction when participating in activities abroad with others who had a similar impairment. Indeed, Dave*, who has a learning disability, declared that he enjoys learning about new people and different cultures.

The route ahead

After reading the last paragraphs, one would be forgiven to conclude that we, disabled people, could only be included in tourist destinations if we are provided with “special” or segregated provisions. However, if one thinks about it, making Europe more inclusive to disabled people will benefit not just disabled people, like me, it would also result in an improvement in everybody’s quality of life – from the very young to the very old.

On the other hand, besides the fact that disabled people should have equal rights when travelling abroad, investing in inclusive travel and making Europe more accessible to disabled people can offer great economic profits, especially to the tourist industry. Indeed, if one considers that a growing number of tourists travelling around Europe constitute an ageing population, many of whom are also disabled. In the light of this, investing in making the EU and beyond more accessible to all makes a lot of economic sense.

At the same time, an inclusive Europe and, at that, a more inclusive Malta, will also make everyone’s quality of life that much better. Indeed, to be honest, it would make me feel less of a foreigner in my own country!

Notes:

* Names have been changed.

** For more on the rights of persons with reduced mobility in the EYU, please visit: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/transport/mobility_and_passen

***Disabled people or family members can file a formal complaint with the EOCU in cases of discrimination in travel and related services. For more information, visit the site of the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD) at http://www.knpd.org

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This article forms part of a project carried out by KNPD entitled “Inclusion, Participation, Accessibility: Cornerstones for Personal Fulfilment”, which is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013).

 For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress