Travellers who are Travellers who are Disabled:Disabled:

Preparation and Preparation and PerspectivePerspective

Shelagh Polischuk RN BNShelagh Polischuk RN BN

Certificate in Travel MedicineCertificate in Travel Medicine

OverviewOverview

Definition of Disability/ Hx of movDefinition of Disability/ Hx of mov’’t t towards inclusive societytowards inclusive societyPreparing your space/ your client for travelPreparing your space/ your client for travelCultural and religious influenceCultural and religious influenceWeb sitesWeb sites

Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada--20082008--1111--2121

DisabilityDisability-- The types of activity The types of activity limitations individuals experience as a limitations individuals experience as a result of physical or mental conditions result of physical or mental conditions or health problems.or health problems.

Year of the DisabledYear of the Disabled-- 19841984

Proclaimed by WHOProclaimed by WHOSignificant movement towards equalization Significant movement towards equalization in industrialized nations in industrialized nations World statisticsWorld statistics

Disability rate by age and sex, Canada, 20011

Disability by age/sex Disability by age/sex –– Statistics Canada Statistics Canada 20012001

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Prevalence of disability among adults aged Prevalence of disability among adults aged 15 years and over, by type of disability and 15 years and over, by type of disability and

sex, Canada, 2001sex, Canada, 2001

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Three most frequent disabilities are Three most frequent disabilities are related to movement in one way or related to movement in one way or another (agility, pain and mobility)another (agility, pain and mobility)Hearing is the 4Hearing is the 4thth most reported disabilitymost reported disability

Process of Becoming and Remaining Travel Process of Becoming and Remaining Travel ActiveActive

Personal StagesPersonal Stages1. Journey of Acceptance: Travel as an impossibility1. Journey of Acceptance: Travel as an impossibility2. Reintegration & Exploration: Travel as an abstract idea2. Reintegration & Exploration: Travel as an abstract idea3. Evaluation: Risk and reward3. Evaluation: Risk and reward

Public StagesPublic Stages4. Action: Planning the trip4. Action: Planning the trip5. Compensation and compromise: managing the trip5. Compensation and compromise: managing the trip

Remaining Travel ActiveRemaining Travel Active7. Reflection: Post7. Reflection: Post--trip Experience trip Experience

Disability and Rehabilitation, February 2007;29(4): 281Disability and Rehabilitation, February 2007;29(4): 281--292 292 Understanding the complex interplay between tourism, disability Understanding the complex interplay between tourism, disability and environmental contextsand environmental contextsTanya L. Packer, Bob McKercher & Matthew K. Yau Tanya L. Packer, Bob McKercher & Matthew K. Yau

Preparing your spacePreparing your space

Preparing the TravellerPreparing the Traveller

Routine/ Travel Routine/ Travel specific specific ImmunizationsImmunizationsGeneral General information for information for destinationdestination

Traveller with special needsTraveller with special needs

Special ConsiderationsSpecial Considerations--hearinghearing--visionvision--mobility issuesmobility issues--misc. (medications, misc. (medications, airplane travel)airplane travel)

Handy Web SitesHandy Web Sites

Society for Accessible Travel and Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality: Hospitality: www.sath.orgwww.sath.orgonon--line magazine called line magazine called ‘‘Open WorldOpen World’’ that that contains a lot of excellent info contains a lot of excellent info AccessAccess--Able Travel Source: Able Travel Source: www.accesswww.access--able.comable.comAccessible Journeys: Accessible Journeys: www.disabilitytravel.comwww.disabilitytravel.com

TransportationTransportationOptions for travellers who are Options for travellers who are

disableddisabled

Regulations on Air TravelRegulations on Air Travel

New Federal rules New Federal rules regarding national regarding national travel.travel.International Air International Air TravelTravel

Car RentalCar Rental

‘‘Avis AccessAvis Access’’ offers offers rental vehicles that rental vehicles that are adapted for are adapted for various special needs various special needs Call 1Call 1--888888--TRYTRY--HARDER (879HARDER (879--4273)4273)

Trip to the BeachTrip to the Beach

Modifications to assist Modifications to assist people in people in experiencing their trip experiencing their trip to the fullestto the fullest

Culture and ReligionCulture and Religion

Acceptance of disabilities varies throughout the Acceptance of disabilities varies throughout the worldworldSome religions and cultures believe disabilities Some religions and cultures believe disabilities are related to wrong doings in previous livesare related to wrong doings in previous lives--little supportlittle supportSome developing nations do not have the Some developing nations do not have the economic funding in place to adopt universal economic funding in place to adopt universal access and equalization strategiesaccess and equalization strategies

ConclusionConclusion

Acknowledge the person before the Acknowledge the person before the disabilitydisability

Prepare your space to accommodate the Prepare your space to accommodate the clientclient’’s needss needs

Know your local resources for referral to Know your local resources for referral to knowledgeable/ helpful staffknowledgeable/ helpful staff

Web sites have opened a whole new worldWeb sites have opened a whole new world-- check them outcheck them out