Understanding How to Locate Wheelchair Accessible Hotels in the United Kingdom
If you are in a wheelchair and are looking for wheelchair accessible hotels in the United Kingdom, you should know that the United Kingdom has a very strong recent history as a country that is sympathetic to disability rights for individuals. They have instituted nationwide laws to protect both their citizens and visitors from discrimination because of their disabilities and demand access for those with a range of physical disabilities as well.
The country defines people with disabilities as those individuals whose physical and mental impairments have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal, day-to-day activities. They are classified as disabled from the moment they are medically diagnosed.
The DDA and The Equality Act 210
In the United Kingdom, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) gave disabled people rights of access to goods, facilities and services which include tourist accommodations, and also banned discrimination against people associated with disabled people (caregivers, friends and family) and people presumed to be disabled. These rights are enforceable by any individual through the Courts.
The country found however that the DDA did not go far enough so it enacted the Equality Act 2010 to consolidate and strengthen all anti-discrimination legislation including that detailed in the DDA. This legislation is much more detailed and encompassing.
The Equality Act Applies to All Hotels in the UK
The wording says to all businesses that if they provide any sort of accommodation, serviced or self-catering, the Equality Act 2010 applies to you. The business or person must provide access to goods, facilities and services including tourist accommodation and ensure that they are treated no less favourably than other customers. The Act protects anyone who is disabled, is thought to be disabled or is associated with anyone who is disabled.
Make Sure the Hotel You Choose has What You Need
Even though all UK hotels have disability access, it varies greatly and some hotels can meet the needs of any disabled guests while others can only meet the needs of some. Therefore, you need to shop for hotels in the UK that are specifically designed to cater to the access you want and to the level of disabilities you have. And when you review the hotels they offer you need to have certain questions answered about them. These questions include:
Is ample disabled parking available at your hotel at all times?
“Do you hotel provide services that are specifically designed for the disabled?
Do you provide disabled hotels rooms on the ground floor or right next to the elevators?
Do you provide a service for disabled guests where you move the beds and other furniture in your hotel rooms to make the room more comfortable and accessible?
Are the beds in your hotel rooms easily accessible from a standard wheelchair?
Is there a wheel chair accessible shuttle to nearby tourist attractions and public transportation?
Getting these questions answered in advance can save you problems during your trip.
Reservation site handiscover.com that focuses on hotels for disabled guests, reviews and offers hotels to wheelchair guests that are based on different levels of accessibility from fully accessible to partially. They can ensure that you get the proper room for your visit to the UK and many other places.
