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Care Givers for Tourists with Disabilities

About a decade ago, persons with disabilities (PWD’s) and senior citizens were not considered as significant potential customers by the tourism industry. With faster means of communication and information dissemination via the Internet, the world has become a global village. Inclusive tourism has caught the attention of policy-makers and stakeholders. Physical and attitudinal barriers for travel by PWD’s and the senior citizens are starting to crumble down. However, one particular segment of adults with severe disabilities, and who depend on care-givers to perform activities of daily living, is still unable to enjoy accessible travel. To be accompanied by a full-time care-giver while on holidays imposes a huge financial burden on the disabled traveler, including loss of privacy. Sanjeevani conducted a research study of the user groups of adults with severe disabilities. The target group of 114 comprised of tourists with Spinal Cord Disorder and Injury, persons with paraplegia, quadriplegia, muscular and neuron disorders and learning disabilities. Most of them took up tourism activities more than twice a year. Eighty one per cent of the respondents would prefer to have access to trained caregivers at destinations. This could cut down travel and other costs and make them feel more “free and independent”. The local trained care-giver at destination could serve both as a local guide and interpreter with reasonable and affordable prices. The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, a statutory body created by an Act of Indian Parliament, has launched “Sahyogi” (which in English means escort) scheme on training and deployment of care-givers. The care-giver courses are run by registered and qualified organizations with the National Trust. These organizations are termed as “Care-giver Cells” (CGC’s). The scheme also offers trained care-givers for domestic and foreign tourists with disabilities. At present, there are 40 CGC’s located in 22 States in India with 426 trained care-givers available at affordable prices. After the national setup, regional/zonal associations along the lines of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, can be formed involving stakeholders drawn from the hospitality sector, tour operators, NGO’s offering services, etc. Personal care-givers at destinations would bring the tourism activity within the reach of persons with severe mobility impairments. It would instill confidence, feeling of inclusion as envisaged in article 19(B) of the 2008 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In the era of economic recession, it could boost the tourism industry, create job opportunities, and go a long way in making the lives of PWD’s beautiful.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 10p
  • Monograph Title: TRANSED 2010: 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons, June 1-4, 2010

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01361431
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 26 2012 7:51AM