Understanding what is accessible and what the challenges are to disabled tourists with a hidden disabilities.
Author: Jasmine Fogg
1 Commentries
The conference paper will explore the understanding of what is accessible and the challenges in which tourists face when travelling with a hidden disability. It will look more into depth of the challenges that are faced for hidden disabilities and how this could affect their experiences in travelling.
Tourists need accessible destinations to ensure that they enjoy their holiday without any worry of inaccessible things. Disabilities have increasing numbers around the world daily, with a total of around ‘650 million people’ that suffer with disabilities (Ambrose, I., et al. 2012, pp-210). Disability is a tern which is frequently being used to describe people and pint out the ‘weaker’ which should be the case (Invisible Disabilities Association, 2020). Accessible tourism implies to the process that is required to make sure that the accommodation, transport, attractions and the destination as a whole meets the appropriate requirements and needs of the disabled (Domínguez, T., et al. 2015). Some challenges can be physical whereas some can be mentally challenging. Many people may be asked to prove that they have a disability (Davis, N. 2005, pp- 154). Challenges that are faced can be seeking help from people in airports or tourist attractions because they either are not comfortable in talking to people or feel like they are getting judged on and get asked to prove that they really are disabled.
McIntosh, A.J, (2020) discusses the barriers and experiences individuals have had whilst travelling with physical, mobility and sensory impairments mainly focusing on epilepsy. The challenges that are discusses are people with epilepsy face can be when travelling by air the airline can try to promote in epileptic seizures after the flight. Infrastructure within tourist attractions and hotels is sometimes not fully up to the correct standards for disabilities. Some hotels have narrow doors and no lifts which is not accessible to wheelchair users. Travel websites also are not providing enough information within their websites about the suitability of accessible holidays and the availability of access for disabilities on holidays (Responsible Travel, 2020). Air travel for disabled people can be very challenging because some people who require help may have to pre-pay for it which means it is a higher rate to normal chargers (Ambrose, I., et al. 2012, pp-213). Some people that require to carry insulin around would have to explain to the airport security why they are carrying the drug and will need something to carry with them to prove that they need it.
The awareness of invisible disabilities is very limited which puts a big stress on individuals with them disabilities whilst travelling places. Individuals with Crohn’s or Colitis can suddenly need the toilet very quickly and if they are not nearby or the traveller doesn’t know where the nearest toilet is it can become difficult. Many people with Crohn’s or Colitis may be required to have part of their bowl removed and have a colostomy bag put in place (Crohn’s and Colitis, 2020). Similarly if a tourist with Crohn’s or Colitis were stood in a long que at an airport or in a long que at a theme park they could struggle to stay there which could affect their holiday.
The sunflower lanyard, which symbolises hidden disabilities, is slowly making more of an appearance in many places such as shops and airports (Hidden Disabilities, 2020). The highest quality of service should be provided to all people with disabilities. (World Health Organization, 2011, pp-157). Understanding of the hidden disability will encourage more and more of the sufferers to travel more because they will know that where they are going knows of their conditions and can try to facilitate to their needs. Therefore re-working should be done to many tourism sites.
References
Ambrose, I., Darcy, S. and Buhalis, D. (2012) Best Practice in Accessible Tourism: Inclusion, Disability, Ageing Population and Tourism. Tonawanda, NY. Channel View Publications (Aspects of Tourism) Available at: https://web-b-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzQzMjcxMV9fQU41?sid=82f6f842-bc0e-47d8-9c39-70f11b34f876@pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1 [Accessed 29th March 2020]
Crohnsandcolitis.org.uk. 2020. Crohn’s Disease | Crohn's & Colitis UK. Available from: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis/publications/crohns-disease [accessed 3rd May 2020].
Davis, N.A., 2005. Invisible disability. Ethics, 116(1), pp.153-213. Available at https://www-jstor-org.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/stable/pdf/10.1086/453151.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Aad9f8a1f54b38a79882823fb9ecf62df [accessed 18 April 2020]
Domínguez, T., Darcy, S., & Gonzalez, E. A. (2015). Competing for the disability tourism market – A Comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia. Tourism Management, 47, 261-272.
Hidden Disabilities. (2020) The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Available from: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/?SID=3f7322e488f6f032c54b895a5b051c50 [accessed 3rd May 2020]
Invisible Disabilities Association. (2020) What is an invisible disability? Available from: https://invisibledisabilities.org/what-is-an-invisible-disability/ [accessed 19th April 2020]
McIntosh, A.J., 2020. The hidden side of travel: Epilepsy and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 81, p.102856. Available at: https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/science/article/pii/S0160738319302130?via%3Dihub [accessed 18th April 2020]
Responsible Travel. (2020) Accessible Tourism. Helping Dreamers Do. Available from: https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/manifesto-accessible [accessed 19th April 2020].
World Health Organization. (2011) World Report on Disability. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/world-report-on-disability [accessed 9th May 2020]
Tourists need accessible destinations to ensure that they enjoy their holiday without any worry of inaccessible things. Disabilities have increasing numbers around the world daily, with a total of around ‘650 million people’ that suffer with disabilities (Ambrose, I., et al. 2012, pp-210). Disability is a tern which is frequently being used to describe people and pint out the ‘weaker’ which should be the case (Invisible Disabilities Association, 2020). Accessible tourism implies to the process that is required to make sure that the accommodation, transport, attractions and the destination as a whole meets the appropriate requirements and needs of the disabled (Domínguez, T., et al. 2015). Some challenges can be physical whereas some can be mentally challenging. Many people may be asked to prove that they have a disability (Davis, N. 2005, pp- 154). Challenges that are faced can be seeking help from people in airports or tourist attractions because they either are not comfortable in talking to people or feel like they are getting judged on and get asked to prove that they really are disabled.
McIntosh, A.J, (2020) discusses the barriers and experiences individuals have had whilst travelling with physical, mobility and sensory impairments mainly focusing on epilepsy. The challenges that are discusses are people with epilepsy face can be when travelling by air the airline can try to promote in epileptic seizures after the flight. Infrastructure within tourist attractions and hotels is sometimes not fully up to the correct standards for disabilities. Some hotels have narrow doors and no lifts which is not accessible to wheelchair users. Travel websites also are not providing enough information within their websites about the suitability of accessible holidays and the availability of access for disabilities on holidays (Responsible Travel, 2020). Air travel for disabled people can be very challenging because some people who require help may have to pre-pay for it which means it is a higher rate to normal chargers (Ambrose, I., et al. 2012, pp-213). Some people that require to carry insulin around would have to explain to the airport security why they are carrying the drug and will need something to carry with them to prove that they need it.
The awareness of invisible disabilities is very limited which puts a big stress on individuals with them disabilities whilst travelling places. Individuals with Crohn’s or Colitis can suddenly need the toilet very quickly and if they are not nearby or the traveller doesn’t know where the nearest toilet is it can become difficult. Many people with Crohn’s or Colitis may be required to have part of their bowl removed and have a colostomy bag put in place (Crohn’s and Colitis, 2020). Similarly if a tourist with Crohn’s or Colitis were stood in a long que at an airport or in a long que at a theme park they could struggle to stay there which could affect their holiday.
The sunflower lanyard, which symbolises hidden disabilities, is slowly making more of an appearance in many places such as shops and airports (Hidden Disabilities, 2020). The highest quality of service should be provided to all people with disabilities. (World Health Organization, 2011, pp-157). Understanding of the hidden disability will encourage more and more of the sufferers to travel more because they will know that where they are going knows of their conditions and can try to facilitate to their needs. Therefore re-working should be done to many tourism sites.
References
Ambrose, I., Darcy, S. and Buhalis, D. (2012) Best Practice in Accessible Tourism: Inclusion, Disability, Ageing Population and Tourism. Tonawanda, NY. Channel View Publications (Aspects of Tourism) Available at: https://web-b-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzQzMjcxMV9fQU41?sid=82f6f842-bc0e-47d8-9c39-70f11b34f876@pdc-v-sessmgr02&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1 [Accessed 29th March 2020]
Crohnsandcolitis.org.uk. 2020. Crohn’s Disease | Crohn's & Colitis UK. Available from: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/about-crohns-and-colitis/publications/crohns-disease [accessed 3rd May 2020].
Davis, N.A., 2005. Invisible disability. Ethics, 116(1), pp.153-213. Available at https://www-jstor-org.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/stable/pdf/10.1086/453151.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Aad9f8a1f54b38a79882823fb9ecf62df [accessed 18 April 2020]
Domínguez, T., Darcy, S., & Gonzalez, E. A. (2015). Competing for the disability tourism market – A Comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and Australia. Tourism Management, 47, 261-272.
Hidden Disabilities. (2020) The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Available from: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/?SID=3f7322e488f6f032c54b895a5b051c50 [accessed 3rd May 2020]
Invisible Disabilities Association. (2020) What is an invisible disability? Available from: https://invisibledisabilities.org/what-is-an-invisible-disability/ [accessed 19th April 2020]
McIntosh, A.J., 2020. The hidden side of travel: Epilepsy and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 81, p.102856. Available at: https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy.library.lincoln.ac.uk/science/article/pii/S0160738319302130?via%3Dihub [accessed 18th April 2020]
Responsible Travel. (2020) Accessible Tourism. Helping Dreamers Do. Available from: https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/manifesto-accessible [accessed 19th April 2020].
World Health Organization. (2011) World Report on Disability. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/world-report-on-disability [accessed 9th May 2020]