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The
FlightChecker
is a unique tool specifically designed to help find these budget
airlines' sales seats. Eg you can ask it to find all the £10 and
under flights during Dec, either to a specific destination or select
'I'll go anywhere' |
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17 Wheelchair Accessible
Rentals and Vacation accommodation in Devon and Cornwall. |
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Bowdens Crest has a purpose
built Aztec caravan, which can sleep 5 persons, that has been adapted for
wheelchair users, with wide corridors, sliding doors and ramped access.
The large bathroom has a bath with a shower over it and is also fitted
with hand rails in all of the usual places. Blue badge holders can also
park alongside.
Accommodation comprises of
one single room and one double, with the lounge becoming a second double
room if required.
The caravan is equipped
with TV/Video player, microwave, Oven and Hob. The park has a shop,
laundry and a licensed bar which offers a variety of meals, if you do not
want to cook for yourself.
More details about the caravan
here
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Travel
industry 'failing to cater for disabled'
Britain's leading travel companies are failing to serve the needs of
disabled travellers, new research has found.
The study, carried out by Tourism for All, a British-based charity that
specialises in travel for the disabled, found that 85 per cent of
respondents did not believe travel agents understand the needs of
disabled travellers, and 78 per cent did not feel they were catered
for by high street agents. The survey also found that 35 per cent would
not consider booking with a mainstream travel agent.
There are approximately 10 million adults and 750,000 children in the UK
who suffer from some form of disability. It is estimated that a quarter of
these regularly travel abroad.
Brian Seaman, head of consultancy at Tourism for All, said the travel
industry needs to do more to understand the needs of disabled travellers.
"We have conducted independent research in the past by sending disabled
travellers to the high street to find a disabled-friendly holiday
to Majorca," he said. "In every case, not one travel agent was able
to offer a product that might have resulted in a booking. The agents had
great difficulty in finding suitable accommodation and when it came
to visiting the accommodation on the island that they were able to
find, they turned out not to be as accessible for disabled people as the
agents had suggested."
Keith Richards, head of professional development at Abta, the travel
association, admitted that the level of awareness of disability issues
within its membership was not as high as it should be, but said there
had been a big improvement in recent years.
"In June we will be launching our e-learning tool on accessible travel for
all our members. We're developing this jointly with the Equality and Human
Rights Commission to tackle the issues raised here," he said.
"The services are mostly provided overseas where there is rarely any legal
framework to provide access to goods and services generally, let alone
hotel or tourism services. It is left to British tour operators and agents
to try to find out how accessible a hotel is."
Jane Witherington, commercial and market development manager at the
Co-operative Travel, which commissioned the Tourism for All research,
has promised to improve its service to disabled travellers.
"We have launched a new tailored service aimed specifically at disabled
travellers," she said, "and trained staff from 40 branches nationwide
to ensure that they are up to speed with all aspects of holidays for
people
who require specialist travel."
This week Expedia, the online travel agent, launched new search tools
designed to help disabled travellers find accessible accommodation. The
move follows a court case in the US last year that resulted in Expedia
being instructed to add content and search features to its websites
that would allow people with disabilities to reserve rooms. The
service is currently only available on the US website.
Leonard Cheshire, a British charity that supports disabled people, has
given warning that many airports still fail to meet the needs of
disabled passengers, despite EU laws introduced in 2008 that make it the
responsibility of airports to provide assistance to disabled travellers.
The Civil Aviation Authority is close to completing its own
report on how these laws have been implemented.
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Airport body
scanners 'may be unlawful'
The
use of airport body scanners in the UK may be unlawful, the Equality and
Human Rights Commission has warned.
Scanners already in place at Heathrow and Manchester Airports may be
breaking discrimination law as well as breaching passengers' rights to
privacy, it said.
It has now written a letter to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.
The government said security concerns meant scanners had been needed
immediately, but it was carrying out an equalities impact assessment.
The scanners are being introduced in response to the alleged attempt to
blow up an American plane on 25 December.
But the commission said it had "serious doubts" that the decision to roll
them out in UK airports was legal.
It said one of its chief concerns was over how people would be selected
for the scans.
'Vulnerable groups'
Its chairman, Trevor Phillips, said: "The right to life is the ultimate
human right and we support the government's review of security policies.
"State action like border checks, stop-and-search and full body scanning
are undertaken for good reasons.
"But, without proper care, such policies can end up being applied in ways
which do discriminate against vulnerable groups or harm good community
relations."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne MP agreed.
He said: "The government seems intent on pressing ahead with the use of
body scanners without addressing any of the privacy concerns and safeguard
issues raised by the Liberal Democrats and others.
"The commission is right to suggest that security measures cannot simply
be introduced without due respect for the rule of law."
Code of practice
The commission has previously said scanners could breach an individual's
right to privacy under the Human Rights Act.
It has also previously written to the home secretary to ask that he set
out in detail the justification for bringing in the scanners, and clarify
what safeguards will be put in place.
They produce "naked" images of passengers, and the commission then said it
was concerned especially for the privacy of certain groups such as
disabled people, the elderly, children and the transgendered community.
The Department for Transport said it had published a staff code of
practice for the scanners.
A spokesperson said passengers who were randomly selected for screening
would not be chosen because of any personal characteristics.
"Given the current security threat level, we believe it was essential to
start introducing scanners immediately.
"We are currently carrying out a full equalities impact assessment on the
code of practice, which will be published shortly when we begin a public
consultation on these issues."
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Ryanair
accused of 'profiteering'
Ryanair has been accused of "blatant
profiteering" over plans to add 50p to ticket prices to cover the cost of
supplying free wheelchairs at airports.
The airline was ordered to provide free wheelchairs after being sued for
discrimination by a disabled passenger charged £18 to use one at Stansted.
Labour's Lord Carter, who heads a committee examining the Disability
Discrimination Bill, made the charge.
He said the actual cost of the service at Stansted was only about 2p a
ticket.
However, Lord Davies of Oldham said it may be the case but there was
nothing the government could do.
Legal change
He said fares were "entirely a matter for individual airlines" and Ryanair
was, in any case, not a UK firm.
Former Tory cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean added: "If the
British Airports Authority can afford to provide free parking for MPs,
surely they can afford wheelchairs for disabled people."
Lord Davies said current law limited airlines' responsibility for disabled
people to the time when they were actually on an aircraft.
This would be changed by the Disability Discrimination Bill.
Ryanair said it would need to introduce the 50p charge after Bob Ross, a
community worker from London, sued the company.
A court ruled Mr Ross, who has cerebral palsy, had been discriminated
against after being charged for the use of a wheelchair.
Ryanair vowed to appeal against the decision and said it was the airports'
responsibility to provide wheelchairs.
EDITORS NOTE : As we
have reported before in "disabledsouthwest" - New legislation supporting
the rights of disabled travellers
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006, now defines the
rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when
travelling by air. |
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Most
children enjoy travelling and this is especially beneficial for children
who are disabled, as it allows them the opportunity to experience the
wider world and enjoy the same opportunities as a non disabled child.
Travelling By Car
If you are the parent of a disabled child, who needs additional assistance
in getting around, it is possible to claim the mobility component of
Disability Living Allowance. This is available at two rates. The lower
rate is for children aged five and above who need more help to get around
than children of the same age who are not disabled. The higher rate is
available for children who are three and above and who have a severe
disability.
If you are a driver, it may not be necessary for you to pay road tax on
your vehicle. If the car is used to enable your child to get around, it is
possible for you to apply for a Certificate of Exemption from Road Tax.
Check what benefits you have to be in receipt of in order to qualify for
this exemption.
The Motability Scheme may also be able to assist you in buying or leasing
a car, using the higher rate motability component of your child's
Disability Living Allowance.
Blue Badge Scheme
You are able to apply for a Blue Badge if your child is aged two and above
and in receipt of the higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance or
has a disability that either makes them unable to walk or walk with great
difficulty. The Blue Badge Scheme allows holders to park in restricted
areas, such as on yellow lines, although there are often time restrictions
attached to this and it is essential you find out what these are before
leaving your car. A Blue Badge allows you to park nearer to places that
you need to access.
There is also the Family Fund that can help you learn to drive, as long as
you have access to a car, if you have a child that is severely disabled.
The Family Fund can also sometimes offer financial assistance for
transport to hospital as well as holidays and days out.
You may also be able to get assistance with fares for travelling to
hospital, and even staying overnight, if you are on some benefits. Check
out the availability of this with your local hospital. If travelling with
your child on public transport is not a practical option it is worth
asking about transport by ambulance, hospital car or financial assistance
with taxi fares.
Another option is to apply for a community care grant. This will help you
pay for fares to hospital. Although, be aware, that their budget is very
limited and you may not always be lucky enough to receive financial
assistance.
Getting To School
If your child is of primary school age, and travels a distance further
than two miles to school, check with your Local Education Authority on
arrangements for getting your child to and from school. If your child is
of secondary school age the distance involved is more than three miles.
Ask about what training the drivers and escorts have received.
Should you take your child to and from school yourself, the Local
Education Authority may meet your travelling costs by offering you a set
rate per mile. The Local Education Authority may also be able to offer
help if your child lives within walking distance of their school.
It may be possible for the Local Education Authority to make travel
arrangements for your child, even if you live closer to the school than
the distances outlined above. This could be, for example, that your other
children attend different schools.
Article courtesy of
www.disabledtraveladvice.co.uk

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In the news
...
A
DISABLED man from York was charged £113 extra to travel on a Eurostar
train to Paris because he was told the only disabled area was in a first
class carriage.
The mistake was later acknowledged by the train company, but only after
60-year-old Alan Sage’s travel agent took up the battle on his behalf.
The trip had been part of a holiday to the French capital to celebrate
Mr Sage’s 60th birthday on January 1, and had been booked by his wife. The
couple were also travelling with two friends and all four have now been
granted first class travel as “a gesture of goodwill” from Eurostar.
Mr Sage, who uses a wheelchair, said: “My wife booked this for my
birthday for four of us to go to Paris. They came back to say we would
have to pay extra because their disabled area was in first class. They
wanted an extra £113 and the couple we were going with had to pay an
extra £300. “To charge people extra for being in first class when you
can’t go anywhere
else is not on.”
Paul Smith, owner of Quartz Travel in Heworth and organiser of the trip,
said: “We booked it and confirmed it then they rang back and said we
would have to pay extra. “I have been fighting this for two months.”
A spokesman for Eurostar put the extra charges down to a mistake with one
of their own travel agents. He said the disabled spaces were located in
first class because there were more staff and the doors were wider.
“If you have a wheelchair you may sit there (in first class), with one
companion, at no added cost,” he said. “In this incident, because of a
mix-up, the client was told he would have to pay more.
“As a gesture of goodwill the four have been allowed to travel together.”
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TRAVEL RIGHTS
DURING THE BAD WEATHER Q. What if my
train is (was) cancelled / delayed?
ALWAYS keep the receipts. Arrive over an hour late (or not at all) and the
Association of Train Operating Companies says you're usually entitled to a
full refund on advance tickets. Even if only 30 mins late you can
sometimes get half back. Claim forms are at most stations.
Q. My flight's been cancelled/delayed. Will
I be reimbursed?
Under EU regulations, you're entitled to a full refund on unused
tickets if cancelled at short notice. If you're delayed by over five hours
or alternative transport is not suitable, you can choose not to travel and
get a full refund. Most major airlines abide by these rules so contact
yours to claim. For more, including delays when you DO travel see the
Cold Weather Rights news story.
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Cheap
Travel Money If you need
travel money or want to buy off foreign websites, you can easily
boost your spending power by £100s with the best exchange rates.
This step by step guide finds your cheapest deal for
every holiday. It may be the top
specialist overseas credit or prepaid card or using the free Travel
Money Maximiser tool for the best currency conversion wherever you
go.
Plus a special warning for anyone with
Halifax, RBS, NatWest, Abbey or Lloyds TSB Debit cards, these are
the cards from hell. Use them abroad and you could waste a fortune.
Everything you need, wherever you're going
Click here
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