Me, Stefano and multiple sclerosis: inaccessibility to the square

Every year I wonder if the pounding reports in the news on the explosion of holidays in the beautiful country serve more to cheer up the tourism sector after the post-pandemic, to hide some ‘cucumber’ that our political structure is preparing for the autumn, or to hide That for most Italians, holidays have become truly inaccessible. Then the friends come back from vacation and it’s not a matter of sea or mountains, South or North, abroad or the beautiful country: “I wish Laura how deserted it was this year. I’ve never seen a desert like this”. And then I am convinced. Holidays have become a luxury item, more and more sip and more and more expensive. We’ve all heard the controversy over halved toast or a glass of water. The price increases to eat, stay overnight, transit. This year those who go on vacation can really be called lucky. And who is looking for an accessible holiday? In the sense of accessible to people with disabilities? He discounts it twice. Inaccessibility, squared.

Like every year, Stefano and I are about to embark on the usual exhausting quest. I already wrote about this stuff in the post inaccessible holidaysthe. By now the state of mind sails between resigned and stubborn: maybe there will be nothing but we’ll try, you never know. I see Stefano in particular as more determined than usual to get me out of a daily scenario that has become a cage. The fact is that despite having an excellent solution in their pocket since last year, friends at Lido degli chess (go here too to re-read A parenthesis of beautya white fly in the sector also at European level), this year it was up to both of us to change, accomplice Pinkie, my electronics that would be better in open spaces than on the beach; and unfortunately also my ability to swim is definitely lost. Without beach and without sea, where do we go? But yes, let’s try the mountain. And here the usual, seen and reviewed, skit begins again.

“Come here love, do you have a moment so let’s see? Let’s try the mountains, yes, I won’t hide from you that this year I too would like to change”. Stefano is a wizard in crossing filters, searches, offers, in discerning fake reviews from real ones. We leave loaded, we end up knackered.

Destinations found in our period in the chosen area: 290 and more. Shall we try to select accessible hotels or bed and breakfasts? ‘Your destinations drop to 40’. Look, there are accessibility filters in detail. We filter ‘accessible room’. Destinations drop. We filter ‘accessible shower with stool and grab bars’. But yes, even ‘raised toilet bowl with handle’, and possibly ‘shower bidet’ (I point out that we are not that category of tourists who are struggling: these adaptations are vital for me, we are also flying low). Available structures found: five. Available structures found in the requested period: two. You try until the end, because after years you either have stubbornness or you don’t have it. Let’s see how much a week half board costs. Two thousand seven hundred euros. Stefano is not mentioned. He tries in the very low season. Accessible destination found, one. And let’s call her! “Hello good morning I would like a double room accessible in the period… Ah sorry, don’t worry, Thanks and good work“. Let’s not give up Stefano, let’s not give up. Look, there’s one! Price is not crazy and it seems decent. Free accessible room. Wow. (The fact that I have to use the singular whenever I speak of ‘accessible room’, perhaps in a large structure, already tells you everything). Take the second level of research. “Great thanks, but… Would you please send me pictures of the bathroom to be sure?” We’re good to go. Sorry, thank you, goodbye (never, hopefully).

Inaccessibility to the square is just that. You have to imagine the load of disproportionate costs, of rare and gold-weight accessible structures, of having to sift through very few options and always paying double or almost just to be able to physically move. Yes, because accessibility for disabled people is still seen as an expensive option. If you want it, you pay for it. Despite it being a right and rule of law, despite the fact that accessible tourism has been a fair share of the sector for years and despite the fact that there is a very high retention rate among tourists with disabilities.

Do you know what, Stefano? There is that this year we have huge expenses that can no longer be postponed. Go with our rides, friendship days and trips to the Sibillini Mountains. Few complications, some nice change of scenery, few expenses and above all… very few surprises. k.

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