Jaspal Dhani, Chief Executive

Presentation aims: Facts and figures about disable people Definitions of disability Providing accessible travel opportunities for disabled people

Profiling Impairment International perspective Over 650 million disabled people worldwide (World Health Organisation) Over 50 million disabled people live in Europe (EDF, 2010)

Profiling Impairment Domestic picture Over 11 million disabled people in the UK including those with long term ill health conditions (Office for Disability Issues) – 20% of the population There are about 770,000 disabled children (under 16) in the UK, which equates to 5% of all under 16s (FRS, 2003). Only 17% of disabled people were born with their impairments (IPPR, 2005). Majority of disabled people (83%) acquire their impairment/s during their working lives (Northamptonshire County Council, 2002). There are 40,000 people living in the UK today with a spinal cord injury (Aspire, 2007).

Profiling Impairment Sensory Impairments There are currently about 2 million people in the UK with significant sight loss with about 157,000 people registered as blind It is estimated that there are 8.7 million people with hearing impairment with about 55,000 people registered as deaf There are around 23,000 deafblind people

Profiling Impairment Aging nation By the year 2010, it is predicted that 40% of the UK population will be over 45 (Scope) The numbers of disabled people will increase as the population ages and as a result of the new legislation which widens the definition of disability. It is estimated that by 2021, over five million people in the UK will be over 80 years old (Social Trends, 2001). The fastest growth in the numbers reporting limiting illness or impairment has been amongst children under the age of 16. There has been an increase in the prevalence of impairment in this group from 476,000 in 1975 to 772,000 in 2002.Represents an increase of 62% (ONS, 2004).

What is disability What do we mean by the term ‘disability’? The Medical Model definition as used in the Equality Act 2010: A person has a disability if: they have a physical or mental impairment the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal day-to-day activities This definition has been rejected by disabled peoples organisations.

What is disability? The Social Model The second definition, the Social Model of Disability, was developed by the Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation. (UPIAS) This definition has been used to define disability within the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People – which the UK government ratified in July Within the context of the Social Model, disability is caused by the barriers that exist within society and the way society is organised, which discriminates against people with impairments and excludes them from involvement and participation.

What is disability? Social Model definition “The loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers.“ (UPIAS) The above term illustrates that the term ‘disability’ is caused by the barriers that people with impairments encounter on a day-to-day basis and this could be discriminatory in practice.

Discriminatory Barriers prejudice and stereotypes; inflexible organisational procedures and practices; inaccessible information; inaccessible buildings; and inaccessible transport.

Inclusive Tourism In Britain alone, disabled people spend on average £80 billion per annum! Barrier free tourism provides a massive business opportunity According to the DCMS Taking Part Survey ( ), “many more disabled people are likely to take a holiday or a trip if the condition are right.” This means barrier free holidays!

Inclusive Tourism DCMS (2010) 12 per cent of all overnight domestic trips in England between January and June 2009 were made by visitors with access needs, contributing almost £1bn to the economy. Over 50 % of disabled people travel with a partner Disabled people tend to take longer holiday breaks than the average – four days as opposed to three and, therefore, spend more money per trip. There are 20 million people aged over 50 in the UK. The incident of acquiring an impairment increases significantly after the age of 50

Inclusive Tourism Some of the barriers that disabled tourists face include: Lack of accessible facilities Inappropriate behaviour/attitudes towards disabled people Poor and inaccurate information Inaccessible transport

Inclusive Tourism Some personal insights: When booking a wheelchair accessible room, unable to obtain a second bed for personal assistant/carer – forced to book a second room; Limited number of accessible rooms; Inappropriate location of the room – near lifts; No information on safe evacuation of disable guests and no adequate means of regress;

Inclusive Tourism No warning systems for Deaf people No clear instructions for people with learning difficulties Only one fire marshal No or lack of information on website; Lack of information on accessible transport

Big Business After installing a ceiling track hoist in five of its hotels in London, the Inter Continental Hotels Group generated a Total Gross Revenue of £344,755, due to increased residential conference business.

Thank You!