Supported holidays for people with learning disabilities

For people with learning disabilities, being able to choose where to go on holiday and what to do there is important. This article by Ian Callen looks at different types of supported holidays.

---

If you look at a selection of holiday brochures, you will find a range of images, from gently plodding along Weston-Super-Mare beach on a donkey to enjoying a rowdy cabaret at Butlins in Skegness. From lapping up the golden sun on a warm Mediterranean azure coastline to travelling across America on a Greyhound bus, exploring the African savannahs on a deep safari, or trekking the ancient Inca trails at altitude in Peru.

Each image conveys a completely different holiday experience. Despite this, they all share a common thread: choice. A holiday is an independent choice that reflects a part of our personality and says something about who we are. A holiday gives us the chance to take some time out of our normal lives, do something different and ‘break’ the routine, whether that be chilling by the pool with a cocktail, or going on excursions and doing activities.

Holidays also present us with memorable moments in our lives. Lifetime friendships can be forged with new and exciting people. Or it could be a chance for romance to blossom. Travelling to somewhere new can enliven our senses and improve our wellbeing, which could lead to all kinds of positive changes in our lives. Or we can just come back from our trip away with batteries fully charged, ready to deal with day-to-day living again.

Holiday choice challenge for people with learning disabilities

For people with a learning disability, choosing a holiday can be a challenge. They have to ask many questions, such as:

• Whether they will get the right levels of support at their destination?
• What are the support staff like?
• Can a key worker or a family member be brought along to provide support?
• How much will it cost?
• Are the facilities accessible?
• If travelling abroad, can they be supported on theflight/train/coach from home and back again?

A research project concerning holidays for people with learning disabilities, undertaken by Manchester Learning Disability Partnership, The University of Manchester and Bury People First, published in June 2007, found that fewer disabled people go on holiday than non-disabled people. The main reasons disabled people are less likely to go on holiday include:

• Poverty and the cost of holidays
• A person’s support needs
• Lack of basic disability awareness among travel agents and tour operators
• Inaccessible transport
• Inaccessible holiday accommodation
• Problems with taking wheelchairs and mobility aids.

Does it matter if I have chosen my own holiday?

Sometimes the ‘choice’ questions get lost when all the above factors need to be taken into account.  Questions like: ‘where do I want to go?’, ‘what type of holiday do I want?’ and ‘does it matter if I have chosen my own holiday?’ But these are important factors to consider. If you have chosen a holiday and really enjoyed it, the fact that you chose it can lead to a greater sense of satisfaction and empowerment. But mainstream travel agents and tour operators are not always able to cater for the needs of people with learning disabilities.

However, there are some specialist providers that offer people with learning disabilities genuine choice in their holidays, such as Go Provence Supported Holidays, a project based in Provence, southern France. Go Provence deals directly with clients when publicising its holidays, such as talking about the project directly to groups and organisations that advocate for and support people with learning disabilities.

The directors explain in detail what kind of holidays people with learning disabilities can expect with Go Provence and leave a brochure with people who are interested. People are then free to do their own research by visiting the Go Provence website, where they can watch a short film about the project to get a better idea of the holiday destination and the available activities. Activities include:

• Kayaking through the Gorges du Verdon
• A boat cruise around St Tropez
• Land art
• French lessons
• Traditional French meals at a restaurant
• Wild camping
• Boules
• Wine tasting
• Participating in local community events like the Fête de la Musique.

There are plenty of photographs on the website, as well as profiles of the support staff and details on how to make a reservation. Should a person then wish to book with Go Provence they can go with or without their normal support resources. In this way, clients who book a holiday will have done so after deciding that it is somewhere they want to go and that it is the type of holiday they want.

What holidays are best for people with learning disabilities?

Choice is a theme that runs through the Go Provence project and manifests itself through the variety of holidays available. A peaceful week in the Provencal village of Quinson – where Go Provence is based – or a whistle-stop tour of the Mediterranean coast from Spain to Italy are just two examples of the types of holiday on offer.

Clients can also make requests about specific holidays. For example, if a client wants to come with a group of friends to visit the Cannes Film Festival, or maybe spend a week hiking and camping through the Gorges du Verdon, a week can be planned around this request.

Every request is considered. Likewise, clients can choose whether they travel by aeroplane or train. Having the option to travel by train is great for people who fear flying. Clients are fully supported on both means of transport. This offers peace of mind for clients, carers and family members.

Go, Provence has also set up the GoProvence ‘Blue Sky’ Fund to help people with learning disabilities on a low income to afford a holiday. Depending on income, the fund can pay for a whole holiday or contribute to part of it. This fund provides more choice for people who may not normally be able to afford a supported holiday abroad.

Having a sense of wellbeing through choice has far-reaching benefits for clients, carers, family and friends. Choosing where you go on holiday and choosing what you want to do on your holiday is something everyone should be entitled to. Choice is a chance for expression, to have some input as to how your life unfolds. Not being able to choose the direction your life is headed can be frustrating and disheartening. Choosing a holiday is just as important as choosing where to live or whom to socialise with.

References

Manchester Learning Disability Partnership and The University of Manchester (2007) We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday. Available athttp://www.mldp.org.uk/documents/Holidaysreport.pdf (accessed May 13 2011).

About the author Ian Callen is co-director and founder of Go Provence. For more information about Go Provence, go to www.goprovence.co.uk.