💡 This weekend, I have had what one would call a lightbulb moment and a new raison d'être. It isn't anything that hasn't been discussed before, but the only way to bring about change is to be part of the solution. 💡
As a professional freelance medical writer, there is a great variety of materials I produce for my clients. In addition, due to my personal experiences outside of my work life, I also understand the importance of inclusivity and accessibility.
The unique aspect I bring to my work is where these two worlds collide. My passion for 'patient-first' is not just a tick box exercise; it really IS the reason I do what I do and why I try to focus my work on projects that make a difference to someone who will directly benefit from what I contribute.
Why was this weekend so different for us?
Last week marked the end of the summer holidays, and it is still HOT in southwest France. Being close to the Pyrénées, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to scenery and beautiful locations to enjoy. So, on Friday, we set off to a well-known lake with a sandy beach and a small restaurant, although we took our own picnic on this occasion. The lake is well‑frequented by locals and tourists alike.
Our son will soon turn 16 and has Down syndrome. While he is relatively able-bodied, he struggles with some motor difficulties and lacks confidence in certain situations. He needed to go to the toilet. We looked around and saw a small brick building, so we headed in that direction. These turned out to be what the French call 'classical toilets', which we call squat toilets in English. What happened next was, in some ways, a comedy, with me trying to hold up a person who is 5kg heavier than me. I will spare you all the details, but needless to say, we gave up. We walked to the restaurant and kindly asked if we could use their facilities. The less-than-helpful person pointed to the building from where we had just come. I tried to explain why they were unsuitable, but they claimed their facilities were out of order. There was a campsite on the other side of the lake, so we walked there to ask if we could use their facilities. Initially, they also told us to use the 'classical' toilets, as theirs were for clients only. After explaining why they were unsuitable, they agreed to let us use theirs.
I say that the situation was, in some ways, a comedy, but this is a serious issue. The problem would have been far, far worse for an older person or someone with more serious physical difficulties. I know families who have children or young adults with profound needs, and a day like that must be a regular nightmare occurrence. Either that, or they must be hesitant to leave the house.
It provoked me to do a little bit of research. In brief;
Trip advisor has NO search function for accessibility, so you have no idea what you will find when you get somewhere. 😱
Airbnb and Trivago have an accessibility search function. Still, the results from my search focusing on a city with a UNESCO heritage site that welcomes around three million visitors each year, came up with ZERO suitable properties.
Next steps:
✍ Contact the mayor of this town to highlight the situation that we found ourselves in.
✍ Search hotel booking sites, filter for accessibility, visit, and report!
✍ Visit tourist attractions that claim accessibility and report!
✍ Identify and rate different regions or cities on accessibility performance.
This sounds like a tall order, but it actually isn't because, shamefully, the list of 'accessible' accommodations in my area of France (Aude / Ariège) is limited.
Watch this space. I'm on a mission.
However, I would like your input. I am not a wheelchair user. I firmly believe you cannot understand someone else's life without walking in their shoes. So, if you have had similar experiences, what would be on your 'essential' list that I may not be aware of? I will spend the next couple of months collecting feedback from as many people as I can and produce a checklist for all the sites I visit. Hopefully, by doing this, I won't miss anything or anyone's needs.
This will be a long‑term, if not a forever, project that will be crucial research to realise something that has been a dream of mine since arriving in France…..that will wait for another day.
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