Should disabled and ill people go on holiday? — Scope | Disability forum
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Should disabled and ill people go on holiday?

paffuto10
paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
Yes, why on earth not?

 I get annoyed when non disabled and people with full health are surprised when I mention a holiday!! 

Not that we have a lot of holidays, we had 4 days earlier this year and none last year. 

I feel that I am entitled to breaks (when health allows) as much as anyone. 

I asked a neighbour why she was surprised (me thinking maybe this is about money) and she replied that she knew I was often laid up and struggle to go out. I explained that if I'm going to be laid up anyhow I may as well be laid up in a b and b.  :)
A break's as good as a rest. 

So it's not about money, it seems to be the idea that I actually need a holiday or can manage one. 

Has anyone else come across this strange opinion? 
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Comments

  • paffuto10
    paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
     @stephenjohn
    thanks for your reply. 

    Yes, that's exactly what we do, deal with it as we go along. 

    I'm sorry you've had to put up with rude comments. Really can't understand why some people have a problem with it. 

    It can be quite upsetting because it's difficult enough as it is, isn't it? 

    We once sent a lovely postcard to some neighbours and when we returned they actually stopped speaking to us!! 
  • paffuto10
    paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
    @chiarieds

    That sounds bliss  :)

    We went in a b and b for four days in May (anniversary) and had a lovely time. The owner was great, gave us a ground floor room, made sure I had enough room at breakfast, etc. 

    Being in pain at the seaside is much better than being in pain at home!!  :)

    I think I will just have to stop telling the neighbours, that's all! 
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    Yes we are as entitled to a holiday the same as anyone else is
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • WhileIBreathIHope
    WhileIBreathIHope Posts: 216 Pioneering
    I work and and have enough issues to be classed as Disabilities ( I hate that word)
    I have given up trying to explain to most people what I cannot do- reason being is they then think your pulling the lead or skiving.

    My point of view is if I could afford to go on holiday, then apart from the stress going there, very nice and if your in a similar situation and can afford it I wish you a good holiday.

    The discriminatory behaviour  your facing is the underlying:-
    1) You need to work to have a holiday.
    2) Yes Yes your disabled but it is a lifestyle choice.
    3) This Idea some people have that being disabled is a privilege and as you sit home all day, why should “they” the tax payer happy to claim tax credits etc pay for it.
    4) good old fashioned jealousy 

    Until we disabled get moved from being seen as a camp for the bone idle by some, nothing will change.

    Autism, Pride etc is just a fad most people appear to accept- their underlying discriminatory feelings are still there.

  • April2018mom
    April2018mom Posts: 2,882 Disability Gamechanger
    We went away during the summer. It was lovely, we spent 2 weeks in the States in a villa. My son loved the pool and clubhouse. Even driving was not too bad as we stopped at a service station for snacks and to use the bathroom. I'm glad we went on a layover flight even with having to disembark and collect everything, it was worth the hassle. Why not? 
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 2,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Unpopular opinion here...but I see a holiday as a luxury that I don't deserve whilst living on benefits.  (Not that I could afford one anyway lol) 

    What other people do with their benefits is none of my business though! :)
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community member Posts: 13,368 Disability Gamechanger
    A fair opinion, OverlyAnxious. That said, I’ve heard about people on disability benefits being given money for “respite” so the government must think at least some disabled people deserve a holiday.

    What separates the “deserving” from the “undeserving” I have no idea!
  • exdvr
    exdvr Community member Posts: 331 Pioneering
    Unpopular opinion here...but I see a holiday as a luxury that I don't deserve whilst living on benefits.  (Not that I could afford one anyway lol) 

    What other people do with their benefits is none of my business though! :)

    @paffuto10 ….excellent point well made.
    My benefits are paid to help me cope with my serious mobility problems and for no other reason.  Any further spending on the likes of a holiday comes out of my meagre rapidly diminishing savings.  I used to enjoy at least one foreign holiday per year before the situation worsened to the point that I couldn't get insurance.  I now go to British locations and usually stay in budget hotels which are always excellent. Without my Motability car and scooter I would be housebound.

    Being in pain at the seaside is much better than being in pain at home!!  is a great quote from further up.  Great Britain & Northern Ireland is full of beautiful interesting places for a holiday.

    Best wishes.

    DLTBGYD

  • Seanchai
    Seanchai Community member Posts: 411 Pioneering
    My health (COPD..accident damage to my leg ...menieres etc).  is much worse in the cold , damp weather...so we used to save hard during the summer months so we could go to spain or portugal a couple of times during the winter months . As soon as i stepped off the plane my breathing was/ is so much easier. Had our plans of our working life had worked out we would have been in south of Spain or Portugal permanently ....but ....the plans of mice and men.  People used to remark about us " not going  away on holiday again are you" ? ...It bothered my wife more than i , we don,t smoke , we don,t drink , we never go out anywhere  and i would not call my breaks in winter a " Holiday" as such , it's something we do that allows us to feel a bit better health wise ....and also recharge our batteries for our long hard winter .?☂️
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    edited October 2019
    Hello @paffuto10   Thank you for your post.

    There are organisations, companies that specialise in assistance for those with disabilities or conditions or illness.

    Have a look on line.

    https://www.limitlesstravel.org.

    Please take care.

    @thespiceman


    Community Champion
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  • paffuto10
    paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
    @OverlyAnxious

    Cost. 

    *Accommodation
    We managed to get B and B for £20 each per night. (special offer in early May) 

    *Train travel
    We used my disabled railcard. 
    Daughter drove us to the station. 

    *Food 
    Breakfast:
    At guest house. 

    Lunch:
    Cheese and french stick from supermarket. 

    Evening meal:
    2 nights we bought cooked chicken from supermarket with portion of ready cooked rice. 
    1 night ready made salad from supermarket with leftover french stick. 
    1 night chippie. 

    *Drinks: 
    Guest house owner filled flask of tea for us every morning. 
    Bottled water from supermarket. 

    *Snacks 
    Fresh fruit from supermarket 

    So quite cheap really. 

    It was lovely sitting on bench in front of the sea (even though I could only manage half hour a day) 

    Hoping to do it again next anniversary  :)
  • paffuto10
    paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
    @thespiceman

    As always, thanks for the link  :)

    That's sorted my afternoon reading for me.  ;)
  • paffuto10
    paffuto10 Community member Posts: 388 Pioneering
    Junket said:
    Any money I spend on a holiday is money I'm not spending on other things that might make my life more bearable as a disabled person - for example, upkeep of my mobility scooter, meals on wheels, taxis on the days I wouldn't be able to get out of the house without them, etc.
    So you can be darn sure if I make the choice to take money out of those areas and put them towards a holiday, I'm doing it because I believe it's genuinely important for me to prioritize my mental health in that way. And IMO nobody has the right to shame me for that.

    Secondly, I think something able-bodied people don't understand is that being disabled is often in itself a form of work - I essentially have to be my own carer. And unlike someone working a conventional job, when I go on holiday I don't get a break from that - my disability and the work that goes with it doesn't disappear while I'm away from home. In that sense, I don't truly get a holiday at all, at least not in the way an able-bodied person would.
    Completely agree with your comment
     @Junket, thanks for that. 

    Our break was still a struggle, but a more pleasant one. 

  • WhileIBreathIHope
    WhileIBreathIHope Posts: 216 Pioneering
    edited October 2019
    Junket said:
    Any money I spend on a holiday is money I'm not spending on other things that might make my life more bearable as a disabled person - for example, upkeep of my mobility scooter, meals on wheels, taxis on the days I wouldn't be able to get out of the house without them, etc.
    So you can be darn sure if I make the choice to take money out of those areas and put them towards a holiday, I'm doing it because I believe it's genuinely important for me to prioritize my mental health in that way. And IMO nobody has the right to shame me for that.

    Secondly, I think something able-bodied people don't understand is that being disabled is often in itself a form of work - I essentially have to be my own carer. And unlike someone working a conventional job, when I go on holiday I don't get a break from that - my disability and the work that goes with it doesn't disappear while I'm away from home. In that sense, I don't truly get a holiday at all, at least not in the way an able-bodied person would.
    Maybe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello every one thanks for comments and sharing a informative post.

    Please can I add something to consider and think about.

    I have always found getting help and support with my issues.

    Whether disability or mental health.

    With that of course comes the days out the conferences a weekend away.

    With other members like yourself from all over the Country.

    A pleasant time. Been to London, Birmingham several times.

    Trips day ones and lots of support get you thinking about being in contact with those who are similar.

    Then you support each other maybe look at helping those like yourself or those who could be friends.

    Just a thought.

    Look on line please if I can help or give anything to any community members.

    Organisations or associations or anything else. Connected with their issues or problems.

    Please get in touch. 

    As a community champion I do think goals, aims and things you may wish to do. Can be achieved it is finding that information.

    Understand may be problems or difficulties.  Some volunteering I used to do for various mental health charities or disabled charities led me to fund raising and lots of events.

    Often to places all over the Country meeting other people.

    There are lots of organisations like charities who have weekends way with those of our community who are young, children or maybe have a lifelong illness.

    Is that not an idea to think could help them have a few days away and feel the love and respect for my self but put towards good cause.

    I used to go to Summer Camp a long time ago.  Meeting those children and families who were from hospice care or had long term illness.

    Felt inside the whole soul and being uplifting . Giving my time and energy.  Lots of laughs the way the families cope not sad but fun, enjoyable.

    Never thought about my own issues no self pity no crying time just a pleasant weekends way.

    When we think of holidays does not have to be a sunny place but giving back, be supportive can result in leisure time and weekends away.

    Wish every body well and think positive.

    We can achieve so much.

    Please take care.

    @thespiceman




    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
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    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
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