travel
EasyJet profits, while disabled passengers lose | Tanvi Vyas
The airline’s policies have repeatedly failed disabled people – its profit margins may come at too high a price When easyJet released its trading figures for the fourth quarter of 2011, it reported a 16.7% increase in revenue, taking pride in the fact that its confident financial performance bucked the trend of poor sales across other UK airline carriers.
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EasyJet profits, while disabled passengers lose | Tanvi Vyas
A Winners Tale
It was with a heady mix of excitement and anxiety we left the house on our journey to Bristol Airport. Taking twin boys of 6 and a half and our wheelchair bound daughter on a plane was a new experience. I had been preparing tick lists and running through worse case scenarios for weeks but luckily all my worries were completely unnecessary and unfounded.
The booking and special assistance request with Easy Jet was amazing, everything was so smooth so that instead of being ‘very irritating people’ as we tried to get through with the wheelchair we felt like proper VIPs as we were whisked through check in, security and boarding. All the airport staff were friendly and genuinely helpful.
We were boarded first and given the first 2 rows of seats which was perfect for fidgety boys and Katia who is unable to sit up unaided so she was able to stretch out across the seats. Katia has profound learning disabilities and was disorientated and grumpy but the teenagers sitting behind her sang twinkle twinkle little star to her and made faces which helped distract her. We found bringing one of her favourite musical toys very helpful as it was a familiar object. The Portuguese staffs were equally as efficient and the disembarkation went very smoothly. Finally we were through customs and there we were in arrivals looking for Hazel and her pink folder.
Hazel waved vigorously to us, there was no question of not recognising us we were not a party that could not easily be missed. We all followed Hazel out into the warm air and with just enough time to shed some of our ‘English Summer ‘ layers we loaded into the transporter and set off to Funchal Ridge with me mentally crossing off each of my worries!
It was a late arrival at the apartment but as we wearily got out of the WAV and wandered through the prettily landscaped garden I could smell the wonderful ly aromatic smell of oleander and feel the warm air around us I knew then I was on holiday and it was going to be good. We had a quick look through the apartment but were too tired to take on much except it was huge, beautifully furnished , the fridge had been stocked up with a pre ordered food shop and vitally important there were PG tips tea bags for me to make a much needed cup of tea. Hazel and Bryn had also thoughtfully set out a plate of pastries and pate which gave us something to nibble on before getting some much needed sleep. We all settled down for the night, I chose to sleep with Katia as she was still a bit disorientated and Ben took the other double bed. The twins settled in to the 3rd
twin bedded room. (more…)
UK Uncut joins fight against welfare reform bill
Tax avoidance group forges alliance with disability campaigners in marked strategic shift to stage day of mass civil disobedience The direct action group UK Uncut has joined disability activists to plan civil disobedience against the welfare reform bill in London this weekend, which they say will bring chaos to the centre of the capital. Saturday’s action, billed as “hugely daring and disruptive” , is a shift for UK Uncut from previous action against alleged corporate tax avoiders, such as occupying stores run by Vodafone and the Arcadia retail group. It is forming alliances with campaigners against specific spending cuts it views as being, in part, the direct consequence of reduced tax receipts
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UK Uncut joins fight against welfare reform bill
It saddens me to see young, vulnerable people having their lives made harder | Peter Halstead
As a teacher of young people with learning difficulties, I believe it’s a matter of conscience that their needs – and rights – are met Since graduating from university, I have worked in a further education college in inner London teaching students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged between 16 and 21.
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It saddens me to see young, vulnerable people having their lives made harder | Peter Halstead
Axcess at Last
The Axcess caravan is doing much to update the image of caravanning. Far from being pokey and awkward, the Axcess has been specifically developed to provide comfortable, user friendly holidaying for disabled people – wherever they choose to tow it.
Simon Fry is the creative caravan engineer behind the concept and spoke enthusiastically with Able to explain his thinking. “The design concept is done by me.” He starts proudly, adding: “It’s based on my ideas through experience of building caravans since about 2005.” The whole notion of building an accessible caravan came from a request that got Simon thinking, as he explains: “One of our clients: Mr Brown, wanted a conversion done for his wife and nobody would listen to him and nobody would help him so he turned up and we had a cup of coffee.” After talking it over Simon began to identify just what the completed project would mean to his customer and I get the feeling that he just couldn’t resist the challenge.
This is perhaps backed up by Simon’s initial summary: “We’ve learnt that in doing bespoke it’s very difficult to make money. When you disturb something every action has a reaction, especially in a caravan because it’s so tight. You’ve got a small area and you’re trying to get a whole house in it.” Clearly it isn’t something that many caravan manufacturers, dealerships, engineers or tinkerers would take on. Simon outlines some of the basic challenges and more obvious solutions saying: “What you have to do is have a philosophy. First of all you have to have access, so you need a wider door. When you have a table at the front you need an L-shape because it’s the best way to get a wheelchair user able to sit at the table. Then you need to be able to get up and down (the length of the caravan) reasonably easily and then you want to be able to turn around at the back end and come back again.” (more…)
Travel Club: A Luxurious Corner of Cornwall
Sitting high on the hills above Portreath Bay with stunning views out to the Atlantic Ocean the Gwel an Mor holiday village provides all you’ll need in breathtaking location as well as relaxing luxury.
Gwel an Mor is a five star luxury retreat featuring gorgeous Scandinavian style lodges that have been rated as NAS M3 assisted living standard, meaning that they can be enjoyed by anyone lucky enough to stay there. The lodges are located just a five minute drive from Portreath and are close to other Cornish towns and villages including Newquay, Redruth and Penzance.
Gwel an Mor presents the best of Cornwall’s glorious coast and has been described as, the ‘ultimate in self catering holiday lodges’. Indeed, they were awarded the Accessible Travel & Leisure ‘Best in Britain’ accolade for 2010 and in 2011 as well as gaining gold in the ‘Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year’. The holiday experience incorporates the kind of personal service, comfort and style usually only associated with a top hotel.
The Able Travel Club is delighted to present members with an exclusive Spring Break offer at this popular, unique resort.
Eight days – from £135 per person*
Choose a departure between 01 January to 31 May 2012
Seven Nights Accommodation in an Assisted Living Lodge, sleeping up to six people (more…)
