Affordable holidays for wheelchair users

Welshlin

I’ve relatively recently become a wheelchair user - about 16 months ago - and have found it really difficult to adapt. It’s not just my physical disability (which I can’t change) but also the impact it’s had on me emotionally. I’ve been depressed as I feel like I’ve lost the old me and am struggling to find a new identity. I’ve lost so much that was important to me - like being able to go on holidays or for short breaks away. I live alone and in the past have often travelled solo. I’ve lost a lot of my confidence but still feel a break away and a change of scenery will do me good. I’ve been desperate to find a holiday where my needs can be accommodated at a price I can afford but haven’t had much success. I tried the specialist companies that cater specifically for disabled travellers but their prices are exorbitant! Has anyone else experienced this and has anyone got any suggestions or advice. It’ll be good to hear how others manage.

Littlefatfriend

Hi Welshlin

That adaptation is a journey may be a cliché you've heard, but traveling was some of the most empowering and enabling stuff I did in that process.

We often can't change the medical details of our disabilities, but through exercise and practice myself and lots of others I know have been able to learn how best to cater for them. Learn to spot what we CAN still do...

To some extent how travelling now works for you will likely depend both on your available means and your disability. I suppose that's true of everyone to some degree.

I'm going back @34 years, but (pun intended) my first step (aged 18) was having hand controls fitted to a car and passing my driving test.

With that done I found it possible to locate and research accessible hotels/motels/B&Bs etc. online. This was decades ago. They're really very common now. Most places seem to have accessible rooms.

Just to temporarily bring down the tone, transferring onto a toilet and removing/replacing my trousers wasn't easy but it's certainly possible. Frankly if the room has an ensuite toilet the trousers don't need to matter! I also worked out how to organise sleeping in my car, which enabled me to do music festivals etc and spread more easily into Europe.

The only planning I found necessary was about what anyone else would do, plus my medical kit.

Over the years I travelled many thousands of miles around Europe and the UK, and I never had a problem. The one time my wheelchair was stolen in Germany was a very unlikely combination of circumstances/people and my risk-taking tendencies! The Embassy/Ferry company and I worked that out and I got home fine. I definitely don't regret the boundaries I pushed.

With Backup I did some wonderful outward-bound style holidays and short breaks. They are available with more and fewer activities to do if you like and it's solely a welcoming environment in some beautiful bits of the country. They have access to pretty much all of the enabling equipment etc you can imagine, and likely lots you can't.

I haven't done one for a while now but Backup is a charity and the prices were/are subsidised. It was very affordable and a fantastic way of meeting people and learning about myself and my disability.

I heartily recommend them, they're literally a very active organisation and their staff (both with and without disabilities) are a wonderful bunch!

https://www.backuptrust.org.uk/support-for-you/life-changing-courses/multi-activity

Ranald

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1050033#Comment_1050033

That's a good read, mate, i'll raise a glass of Courvoisier VS (My weekly treat and only a half bottle) to you tomorrow evening!

Welshlin

Thank you little fat friend. It’s so heartening to hear how you’ve overcome the challenges. I hadn’t heard of Backup but will certainly look them up. I live alone and don’t drive any more (wouldn’t have the confidence now, even with an adapted car). Loss of identity and confidence are big issues for me. But I appreciate your story which gives me hope. Keep well and happy.