It would be nice if someone noticed us

Being a partial wheelchair user who uses walking aids I often feel as if I'm "sitting on the fence".  I am unable to go along with the normal crowd because I have limitations and because I choose not to use a wheelchair I don't fit with that crowd either and I am so frustrated that hardly anyone considers people like myself.  It is as if we are the forgotten ones.

I have been doing research into hotel accessibility and it looks as if I am going to find the same problems with cruise ships.  Far too often the walking disabled are ignored or simply forgotten when it comes to designing accommodation or making arrangements.  

One recent example of this was on 10th March I received from shore mobility a list of wheelchair accessible tours for my cruise in June to the Baltic.  Also included was information relating to the transport they would be using for these tours and it was made clear that they are adapted minivans that can take three wheelchairs and three companions. Not once did the information mention passengers that may be disabled but not wheelchair users.  

The main problem for myself and other disabled passengers is the boarding of a normal coach; I for one do not have the strength to pull myself up due to perminent rotator cuff damage and co-ordination problems caused by CP (Cerebral Palsy).  Many of the normal tours are guided and it would be impossible for me to keep up with their pace.  I fear that at ports they will not have arranged accessible shuttles and this will not known in advance of the day.  I find it hard to believe that places such as Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Norway do not have adapted vehicles other than these minivans.  Last year when we were in port in Funchal, Madeira P&O had arranged for a couple of accessible shuttles which were the size of a hopper bus and it took both wheelchairs and walking disabled people.  

So often I had found that people like myself are misunderstood by the general public especially when using disabled facilities.  You noticed that I chose my words carefully because I have been challenged when using these facilities because I am using a walker and not in a wheelchair. Often the universal symbol which depicts a person seated in a wheelchair is taken literally by many people.  On occasion when I have used these facilities I have been challenged so where possible I try and find one that is RADAR key only facility.  
Most of the time we don't require the space that a wheelchair needs to manoeuvre around a room, so a normal size bedroom is usually adequate but what we may need often is an adapted bathroom or wetroom.  Because of these requirements I have to book a wheelchair accessible room or cabin.  It is a shame that no one has had the insight to design a room with adapted bathroom for those of us who are disabled but not full-time wheelchair users.  
Once someone told me that there was a hierarchy in the deaf community and at the time I actually thought there was not a hierarchy in the disabled community but now I am not so sure.  Have I changed my mind?  I am beginning to think I am.  When I use my wheelchair I get much more respect from other wheelchair users but if I am using my walker it is a whole different ball game.  I can be waiting for an elevator and someone who is in a wheelchair turns up and when the elevator arrives the person in the chair often pushes me to one side. It is not only rude it is disgusting to treat a fellow human that way; scooter users are often no better.  
I would like for once for someone to take notice of people with disabilities and understand that there are all different levels and many ways a disability can effect someone.  We are not all the same but we all know how life can be challenging and we should all be able to understand and support each other.

Have things improved for disabled people?

Someone asked me the other day "Do you think that things have improved for the better for disabled people?" and even though I try to promote equality I had to think about it.  I think you could ask a hundred disabled people and you would get a different answer every time, I think it depends on a persons circumstances.  

I know in recent years people with disabilities have become the targets and victims of physical and verbal attacks in public and I consider myself very fortunate that I have never been a victim of such behaviour.
My parents removed me from Charlton Park school at the age of nine and from that day I never looked back.  My parents were never overprotective and they encouraged and taught me that I could be anything in life I wanted to be.  Because of my parents I have lived an active and fulfilling life and I have done so many things that others dream of.  I have met some amazing disabled people along the way who have succeeded against the odds.  While others I knew from my childhood who I have caught up with in recent years through social media have just stagnated.
If you want change (equality) to happen you have to want to do something about it.  Too many people just sit back on their laurels and watch others do the hard work to try and make change happen and that makes me fed up to the back teeth that it is always the same few.  It annoys me when I hear someone moaning about lack of accessibility and then does nothing about it.
It is only in the last year or two that I have found a passion for disability awareness and equality because of increasing frustration at the shoddy way people with disabilities are treated by society and I want make a difference; no matter how small my contribution.  For a long time I never gave accessibility a second thought but as I have deteriorated it has become more prevalent to do so.
Having spent a considerable number of nights in both standard and accessible hotel guestrooms over the last two years I discovered they are not always equal in facilities but I was expected to pay the same rate.  Typically you will find that a sofa, comfy chairs and coffee table are often removed from the accessible guestroom; giving an illusion of space.  Hotel chain Premier Inn state on their websites that their older hotels sometimes have smaller rooms it has been necessary to replace a king size bed for a double, I find this unacceptable and again you would be expected to pay the same room rate.
At many hotels a discerning disabled guest is not offered a choice of guestroom grades; accessible guestrooms more often than not are standard.  As a rule disabled guests are unable to stay in executive rooms or suites that give them extra facilities, comfort and access to private facilities that are reserved for the higher grade rooms. So where is the equality there?
My own research shows there is a lack of accessible guestrooms especially somewhere like London were hotels have between 0.60% and 3% of their guest accommodation is accessible.  The Building Regulations state it should be 5%.  One hotel the Crowne

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NE

Plaza Birmingham NEC have the correct number of accessible rooms but offer only bathtub facilities which is no use to someone like myself who needs a wet room.  When I recently enquired if they had any guest accommodation with a shower cubicle they informed me they hadn't and they considered a reasonable adjustment to be for a disabled guest to use their on site gym facilities where there was an accessible shower facilities.  The Building Regulations state that disabled guests should be given the choice of bathroom with a bathtub or wet room facility.  This hotel had 12 accessible rooms most hotels offer just a couple if your lucky, but again I have been denied this as a hotel to use because they do not have wet rooms. 
Am I equal to my friends I would honestly say that I do not feel equal.  It seems that when I am with other people I get ignored as if I have been taken along for the ride.  The thing that annoys me the most is people see my disability suddenly slow their speech as if I will understand them better.  I don't why they do it but I have seen it happen it and experienced it all my life.  A couple of weeks ago I went into a branch of WH Smith and the first floor was not accessible and spoke to a female assistant who said that she would get anything I wanted.  I was just so annoyed that I felt like giving her a list of 50 items!  This happens all the time places are not accessible and these businesses do not realise what disabled people can bring to their businesses.  
Being disabled means a part of us does not work properly so some of us use wheelchairs while others use sticks or crutches but it does not stop us having a voice.  My answer is yes things have improved in parts but there is still a long way to go.