Where is the TV?

I'm sitting here thinking about the travel shows I've seen over the years; the shows, the features, the equal representation of travellers with particular needs.  Oh wait!!  There seems to be a flaw in that thought doesn't there?
Why is it that I can't think of a single mainstream show that features travel from a disabled perspective, and isn't it about time that the supporting industries to hospitality and tourism (the media included) 'stepped up to the plate'?
If you listen really hard, you can hear television executives, planners and producers jumping up and down exclaiming that disabled travellers are a tiny minority, and after all, television shows cost thousands of pounds to develop and produce.  Isn't it fair enough that only the most desired and watched shows - with the largest target market - make it onto the small screen?
It's true that there is approximately 10-13% of the population that suffers from disability.  In the context of this blog I might go so far as to say ONLY 10-13%.  It's a good job that disabled people ONLY travel alone.  Oh wait!! That's right..........they don't!
Disabled people, just like everyone else, travel with husbands, wives, family, friends, partners, business contacts;  that starts to push the figure of 10% of people who suffer directly from a disability much higher, when you start to think of people who are affected by disability.
At Disabled Travel Guide (www.disabledtravelguide.co.uk) reviews and information about worldwide destinations, hotels, and attractions are left by carers and companions as well as by disabled travellers themselves. Personally, I'm of the opinion that they might be interested about travel from a disabled perspective too.
My father is in his late Seventies, and over the last few years has enjoyed trips to Kos, Ireland, France, Spain.......(I could go on).  As I write he is aboard a Mediterranean cruise ship, no doubt experiencing excellent service, and an occasional Gin and Tonic.  He is not disabled.  He doesn't use a wheelchair, a walking frame or a crutch. However, nor does he wish to holiday somewhere that is accessible only to the experienced climber or the mountain goat!  He doesn't wish to book a room that is up seven flights of stairs. And he doesn't want to go on a winter wonderland vacation to Lapland if he has to walk there!!  You know........the more I think about it, a show that included a regular travel feature for people with specific concerns might have a wider appeal than you might think, and we haven't even begun to consider the issues of families with disabled children, medical tourism, or the fact that the aftermath of international conflicts includes an army of young servicemen who, through injury, are changing the face of disability.
I feel a facebook petition coming on!!
However, until there is consideration of disabled travellers within the commissioning and production of mainstream television, Disabled Travel Guide will attempt to provide the information that allows us all to 'access all areas', you can leave your own comments, reviews, and expert information here http://disabledtravelguide.co.uk/component/content/article/2.
  
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What's In A Name?

Disabled, crippled, handicapped.  A ‘physically challenged’ traveller (yes, I hate the politically correct label as well) is sometimes faced with words that are often considered inappropriate in our own individual countries, but thought of as totally acceptable in the place we are visiting, sometimes even the most appropriate; but why do certain terms evoke our outrage? Do they really? And is it time to reclaim the words themselves?

I  was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999, since which time I have slowly descended through various levels of capacity and mobility, from walking with an obvious limp, to the occasional use of canes and sticks, elbow crutches, and the eventual dependence on a wheelchair.  At each stage along the way I’ve referred to myself in different ways: a ‘gimp’, a ‘wheelie’, or even, when talking to my wife, I have simply described myself as ‘broken’ (budding psychologists can interpret that one and send their concerns to me on a postcard).  Talking recently to a well recognised disabled actor, they commented on how many ‘power crips’ they knew personally, or had contact to (a ‘power crip’ being someone with a disability who had a public profile or a degree of influence either commercially, socially, or politically).  The fact that they used the word ‘crip’, neither offended me, nor particularly surprised me.  But how would I feel if the term was used by someone when I was on holiday, or if I was on a trip for Disabled Travel Guide (www.disabledtravelguide.co.uk).

Anyone travelling within the United States, will quickly realise that the term handicapped is the word of choice when describing disabled services, parking facilities and the like.  Many of us consider this word to be one of the most insulting, having a basis in a period when someone with a disability was forced to beg for the charity of others (begging = ‘cap in hand’ = hand i capped).  Most people using the word however, have no idea where the origin of the word itself lies, and believe themselves to be using a term unlikely to cause insult or offence. I recently read a comment that described the term ‘handicapped’ somewhat differently: “If a ship is disabled it is helpless, open to the elements and at significant risk. A golfer has a handicap. They have a handicap so that with a little help, they can take on anyone in the world”.  I’m not a ship........and I don’t play golf!!  But it does make you think.

In Russia, there are two separate words for light blue and dark blue.  In the Russian language and culture, they think of these two things as different, while in Europe we are fully inclusive towards all sorts of blue, regardless of shade or tone (just because I’m light blue, it doesn’t make me any less of a colour!)

Those of us who are disabled (I apologise to anyone who would prefer an alternative word) have the opportunity to reclaim words that make many of us cringe.  I am ‘special’, just not special in a sickly saccharine, “please treat me with pity” sort of way. As someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or disability, I might be an ‘invalid’. I’m just not in valid.  And if I want to be a ‘spastic’, a ‘spaz’, a ‘crip’ or a ‘wheelie’ then I will be.

With increasing equality legislation in many countries, and a greater awareness generally, hotels and travel operators are required to consider the needs of disabled travellers. Some do so with a genuine desire to offer the best services to all, and some with the desire to provide the minimum amount of consideration required to keep them on the right side of the law.

At Disabled Travel Guide (www.disabledtravelguide.co.uk) reviews can be left for hotels, locations  and attractions, cruise companies, holiday destinations and music venues, anywhere in the world, all from a disabled perspective.  It doesn’t make any difference whether they refer to handicapped guests, disabled travellers, or invalids.  They might use nothing but well considered, politically correct references, but they might also pay nothing more than lip service to access and disabled friendly issues. At Disabled Travel Guide, you get your opportunity to share your experiences with others, to point out both the good and the bad, and to advise people of the terms that might be used in different places around the world. 

Musings on the International

There is a recent television advert for a popular bank (if such a thing exists) that stresses the importance of knowing and understanding local customs. The bank of course suggests that it is their expert knowledge that makes them such a perfect choice for business banking customers. 

As a disabled traveller, it’s certainly true that people from around the world treat those of us with wheels, crutches, frames, canes and other assorted “disabled” apparel differently.

A number of years ago I was in the Middle East (a destination of two halves for the disabled traveller, either fabulously easy to manage areas, or areas of real obstacles and difficulty.  Check out reviews for the Middle East at www.disabledtravelguide.co.uk).  I was enjoying a wheel around a local market with family members and, because the ground was somewhat uneven (understatement), I was relying on others to push me rather than make unrealistic requests on my arms. 

As we passed by tables of rugs, scarves and Arabic hubbly-bubbly pipes my brother in law said “oh wait here a minute, I just want to look at the table we just passed”.  As I sat taking in the view of the market, the comings and goings of the traders, and the haggling rituals that took place between locals and tourists, I felt my brother in law retake the handles of my wheelchair and again we set of down the market track. 

We passed a stall, then another, and another - scarves, rugs and souvenirs began to blur, we were travelling a little faster than usual.  I must digress for a second to explain that Simon is not the best wheelchair pilot in the world as his attempts to push me through a plate-glass window and an earlier, death defying effort, to take me (chair included) up a speeding escalator will attest to.

 Even with this history I was surprised at the high velocity, ninety degree turn we made into an area clearly reserved for boxes, packaging and general rubbish, but not half as surprised as I was when I turned around to find not Simon at the helm of my wheelchair expedition, but a random Kuwaiti gentleman complete with aviator glasses and cigarette. Not a word passed between us and to this day I’m not sure whether the look of disbelief that must have been on my face registered at all with him. 

The advert for the bank doesn’t mention the fact that in some parts of the world, people might feel it perfectly acceptable to wheel you, unrequested, into a small refuse area if they think that you and your wheelchair are an inconvenience to them getting past.  (I must stress that I Love the Middle East and visit the area regularly:)

In contrast I discovered on a trip to California that I should not sit in my chair close to a shop doorway or entrance to a mall. Coming from the north-east of England I would often take the opportunity to bask in the glory of the sun while my wife enjoyed some retail therapy (not something you get to do very often in Newcastle upon Tyne- plenty of shops, no sun). However, in sunny California I discovered that people were willing to cross roads and go out of their way to ask me if I needed help or assistance with the door and so I learned to park a little further away. 

Equally I’ve never met anybody quite like the Irish to ensure that regardless of steps, cobbles, narrow doorways and obstacles, if you want to get into a certain pub, they’ll make sure you get into the pub (after all, NOTHING should stand between a person and their desire for a pint of Guinness!).

At disabledtravelguide.co.uk reviews can be left for Hotels, Locations, Attractions, Holiday Destinations and Music Venues anywhere in the world, all from a disabled perspective. We don’t yet have a category to leave a review for the people we meet.........maybe just as well.

Sean Gorman is a writer, stand up comedian, and the creator of Disabled travelguide.co.uk