‘Planning Your Holiday – How do you do it differently’ was discussed on the BBC Disability Talk Show ‘Ouch!’ during the summer. Alexa Wilson, a mum of two disabled children who have Fragile X Syndrome, phoned in to discuss the challenges she faces when planning her family holidays, as did Martyn Sibley, the travelling wheelchair user who featured in last week’s People Story. Martyn has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, so the difficulties he encounters are quite different to the problems which arise for Alexa.

Fragile X Syndrome is a learning disability similar to autism, so Alexa and her husband must plan their holiday weeks in advance. They give their children plenty of warning that there is going to be a change in their routine by using a system of visual prompts of the place where they will be going on holiday. They soon discovered that finding a suitable self-catered cottage in Wales and sticking with it for the 14^th year in row now, makes life easier for everyone: “when something works there is a comfort in that”. Flying would be traumatic and staying in hotels perhaps not safe enough for her children.

The presenter Rob Crosson asked Alexa “Is it worth the hassel – is it too much of a strain on you as parents?” and “could a travel agent help with her problems” but Alexa explained that they have, as a family, found confidence in their own knowledge and experience. If they ever need information and reassurance they will seek out a small agency that knows properties and locations in detail.

Martyn, on the other hand has to plan his holiday in advance for very different reasons, as his disability is physical. He has to go everywhere in his electric wheelchair and he needs a personal assistant 24/7. As the other presenter Liz Carr pointed out: “If you need a hand to go to the loo at home, you still need a hand when abroad”. However, taking an entourage of assistants on holiday has its own problems, and as Martyn, unlike Alexa, likes change and new places, he is always taking a risk when embarking on his adventures and preparing himself for inaccessible showers in hotels – an obstacle many listeners to the programme said they had experienced. Despite the different style of their holidays and the different natures of disability Alexa and Martyn cope with, they both gave the same advice: Start simple and take your time to plan.

And just as an after-thought - if any of you are interested in travelling in Azerbaijan, you take a bath in crude oil there which is apparently great for skin diseases and arthritis!