A list is presented of the main concerns expressed by people with disabilities when about to embark on a journey with particular reference to travelling by air and ferry. The facilities which are at present available to ferry passengers in Ireland are described and found to vary according to the age of ship and port. The facilities and information provided at Rosslare where disabled travellers can negotiate the port with complete independence are outlined and seen as a model for such developments. Wheelchair access, visual and audible information, an inductive loop system for the deaf and braille map are some of the features used. Provisions made for the disabled at Ireland's airports are then described. Assistance provided ranges from an ambulance service for the severely disabled to an escort service for the blind. As long as the disabled person supplies the information long distance journeys are well catered for. The author however sees a problem in both ferries and air travel of the disabled being `managed' in an impersonal way.
Abstract