Disabled Hotel Accommodation in Scotland

Holidays in Scotland for Disabled People

The Disability Rights Commission would like stronger legislation across the board of accommodations to ensure all provide good disabled access facilities. In October 2004 changes were made to the Disability Rights Act, making legislation on adaptation of businesses providing goods and services a little more stringent! More 'reasonable adjustments' will be demanded, including the removal of any physical barriers making it difficult for disabled users to access goods and services. Inevitably though, some of the older B&Bs especially are struggling to adapt.

Before booking it's good to know your Disability Rights, and if accommodations are not fulfilling current legislative requirements, then they need to be advised of the fact. There are estimated to be one thousand accessible accommodation and visitor establishments in Scotland and the Scottish Tourist Board produce a guide to these avilable from tel: 0845 2255121 or you can order it online.

When you're booking your accommodation be honest and give detailed information about your disability, highlighting the services and facilities that you need. If you get clarification from the owner in writing all the better. This is useful cover should the accommodation not fulfil it's promises, with the consequence of your holiday being disrupted. Catering for blind visitors, for advice see www.rnib.org.uk.

Scotland has a good smattering of airports all of which offer disabled facilties and assistance at the airport if necessary. When you arrive at airports, and it's well worth notifying airports on your required needs, expect assistance to reach your check-in desk which could take the form of needing a wheelchair from the terminal entrance, or an escort if you have a sensory impairment, or help carrying your luggage. You can also get assistance with registration at the check-in desk, with staff on hand trained in BSL. Help to reach your departure gate can also be provided.

The code leaves the decision to the individual passenger whether to transfer into one of the airline's wheelchairs or to remain in your own whilst waiting to board. You can also get help boarding and disembarking from the aircraft. Cabin crew on the aircraft should provide you with assistance in stowing and retrieving baggage on the plane should you need it. However if baggage to be stowed in cabin lockers is very heavy, they may refuse to lift it on "health and safety" grounds. Ask about this if you think your hand luggage may be heavy when you check in.

If you need it, an on-board wheelchair can be provided, as can assistance moving to and from the plane toilet. Cabin crew cannot help on any issue involving personal hygiene, again connected with health and safety and food handling. You can also expect assistance transferring between a mobility aid and passenger seat. This again is a "health and safety" issue. It's increasingly the practice of airlines that this task is carried out not by cabin crew but by baggage handling staff who are trained in manual handling techniques.

The Disability Discrimination Act and The National Accessible Standards

For disabled access UK information, The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) outlines your rights as a disabled user of goods, services or facilities. These are obligations on service providers, who must ensure that their services are accessible for disabled people to use. In the Act, your rights to services have been introduced in three stages:

Firstly, since 2 December 1996 it has been against the law for service providers to treat you less favourably because of your disability. Secondly, since 1 October 1999 service providers have had to make "reasonable adjustments" for you, such as giving extra help or changing the way they provide their services. Thirdly, and pending from 1 October 2004 service providers may have to make other "reasonable adjustments" to their premises so that there are no physical barriers stopping or making it unreasonably difficult for you to gain access to services.

The momentum, then, of legislation is growing steadily more stringent, with an increasing onus being put on the service provider to change, rather than the service user to adapt. For more information checkout 'http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/'.