Table of contents

NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Disabled people have the same rights to full participation in society as all people and therefore to access to buildings, leisure activities, transport systems, information as well as travel. The associations of/for disabled people are claiming to have this right recognised as a fact.

Thus, the first expectation of disabled people is to be considered as persons with the same rights as everybody else and simply to be treated as such. Disability does not mean illness; a disabled person is not different from other people.

This means for example:

" Not to talk only to the accompanying person " or " not to have an exaggerated protective attitude " or " to provide help before being asked to ".

The level of accessibility of the environment influences widely the specific needs of disabled people: a totally accessible environment reduces considerably the problems encountered and therefore the needs. The knowledge about the accessibility level of tourist sites can help the tourist industry to determine the attitude to adopt towards disabled guests.

Finally, the needs of disabled persons are not so different but some attitudes related to the level of accessibility of the environment have to be known.

For example:

When you talk to a deaf person and know that there are no communication aids at the reception desk, the attitude you should have is to speak directly facing him/her, your face being well lit. When you know that the way to the restaurant is full of obstacles, the best way to behave in this situation consists in guiding the wheelchair through another way easier for him/her.