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Care & carers

Wheelchair friendly

(11 Posts)
sue421 Wed 07-Oct-20 12:48:01

We booked a few days away and made the worse mistake ever. For some reason I did not contact the owner of the cottage and their idea of wheelchair friendly and ours is miles apart! To get into the cottage was a very rough concrete slope and then a step to be negotiated! It was impossible to wheel him in! Then when we went out we had to negotiate the steps again.

Now should I have stood there called the owner etc etc, but where else were we to go? I am feeling cross with myself that I didn't. Also from the lounge to the patio is another step! And the chairs and table provided are very rickety so unable to transfer to them.

We are going home a day early partly cos weather isnt great. We are meeting friends for lunch in a pub which says it is wheelchair accessible...we'll see!

I have learnt a huge lesson these last couple of days.

sodapop Wed 07-Oct-20 13:30:13

I know exactly how you feel sue421 I had a friend who used a wheelchair and it was almost as if she shouldn't do all the usual things other people did. Access to pubs/restaurants often round the back in a dark and dirty area, inaccessible lavatories and so on. It would be so easy to ask a wheelchair user to test your building and say what is needed.
I would certainly speak to the owner of your holiday cottage and tell them what the problems are if only to save another person having the same difficulties.
The UK is much better at providing these facilities than France, we rarely see a wheelchair user out and about as so many places are still inaccessible.

boodymum67 Sat 17-Oct-20 15:33:56

Hi Sue, just wondering if this will help you.
I help run a site called Limited Mobility & Wheelchair Friendly Holiday Accommodation.

It can be accessed via Facebook.

We have oodles of places to stay for all levels of mobility.

I have stayed at a few myself.

suziewoozie Sat 17-Oct-20 15:59:13

sue I find many non wheelchair users or non mobility limited people completely blind to a ‘little step’ here or there or to loose gravel paths. When I booked a holiday cottage last year, the owner was really helpful and sent me photos of all access points. I’d put something on the reviews to help future renters.

midgey Sat 17-Oct-20 16:36:18

No doubt the cottage itself was okay......trouble is people just don’t think! I think everyone should be made to live in a wheelchair for a day. By gum things would be soo different!

welbeck Sat 17-Oct-20 17:32:55

can you complain to the tourist board or the area and or agency you booked it through.
other people should be warned.
in future look at specialist websites, as mentioned above.

sue421 Sat 19-Dec-20 15:02:22

First of all I am sorry I have not replied before, I have no idea why? Yes I did leave a mention of the holiday let not being wheelchair friendly. When this pandemic retreats we will be going away as much as possible so I will be checking everything plus I am not getting any younger and cant do any extra moving things. Again I am sorry I did not reply to you all.

Luckygirl Sat 19-Dec-20 15:06:03

I would certainly get back to the owner and make the point that it is not wheelchair friendly - it is no joke if you travel a distance to get there and find it is not suitable.

Situpstraight2 Sat 19-Dec-20 15:08:03

Sue make sure you get photographs of all other holiday let’s that you are thinking of going to, don’t rely on the owners descriptions, if they don’t show photos, ask for some or avoid.

Cabbie21 Sat 19-Dec-20 15:15:25

Some properties have an accessibility statement which is worth reading. Otherwise, ask lots of questions if the owner. Never take anything for granted.

DH is not in a wheelchair, but when we go to National Trust places or similar, he uses his mobility scooter. We are often disappointed that they do not have maps showing suitable trails, marking where there are steps etc. Even where is is marked as wheelchair friendly, it rarely is. The surface makes a huge difference.

Lesley87 Sat 19-Dec-20 15:27:36

I find that some places are returning to cobbled streets - a nightmare! And usually, if a wheelchair can't get in through a door, neither can a parent with a pram. And the doors to some places are so heavy they can't be managed by a wheelchair user. In this day and age most places can be made accessible. Just don't start me off on people parking on pavements...