Where to go on holiday with a disabled child?

Children love the school holidays but as all parents know, holidays need planning, particularly when the family includes a disabled child. So, with summer almost here, here are a few ‘staycation’ holiday opportunities for disabled children to enjoy and to share with their families.

Holidaying at home is made easier with a number of UK charities offering short breaks. Among them are:  

Camp Mohawk

Based in Berkshire, Camp Mohawk offers a range of short breaks with a difference.

Each break aims to support children and young adults to gain confidence and self-esteem while making friends and having fun in a secure and supportive environment.

• Term time youth groups
  Children from 8 onwards who suffer from high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can enjoy being a Kestrel (ages 8-11), Kite (ages 12-14) or Hawk (ages 15+) as part of a social group, meeting after school or college.
   
• Adventure days/Siblings Days
  During the school holidays, these days operate for children with high-functioning ASD or siblings of families of children with special needs to take part in the adventures and activities on offer at Camp Mohawk.
  
  Activities on-site include laser mission (i.e. laser quest but in the woods), animal workshops, camp-fires, archery and wall climbing, as well as trips to go bowling, to the cinema, meals out, go-karting, shopping and discos.
  
  The Camp also offers family visits throughout the school holidays.

Over The Wall

Recently shortlisted for the Charity Awards 2019 in the Children and Youth Category, Over The Wall provides a range of camps around the country designed around to fit the specific needs and personality of each of its campers.  Their ‘fun, life-changing and free of charge’ camps include:

• Health Challenge Camps
  • five - night residential camps for children and teenagers (ages 8-17) who are experiencing or have recently experienced serious health challenges.
     
• Sibling camps
  • four - night residential camps for children and teenagers (ages 8-17) who have a sibling (of any age) currently receiving treatment or experiencing health challenges.
     
• Family camps
  • two - night residential camp for families who have child or teenager from birth to 17 currently receiving treatment or experiencing health challenges.

• Partner camps
  Over The Wall also work with different charities to offer camps and which range from weekend to a full week.

The camp provides a Therapeutic Recreation Programme supporting campers to realise the amazing qualities and strengths that make them who they are.

Calvert Trust

For over 40 years the Calvert Trust has been ‘Challenging disability through outdoor adventure’.

Based across Exmoor, Kielder and the Lake District, a number of our clients have recommended the activity holidays for their ability to support them to achieve things they never thought possible, while receiving high quality care and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. 

Opportunities are available for families, individuals, groups and school groups to enjoy over three, four or seven-night breaks. At the Trust, children and adults can enjoy a range of activities from high ropes and hand-biking, to horse-riding and sailing.

Can disabled clients recover their extra holiday costs in their medical negligence compensation claim?

Arranging a family holiday with a child with disability or special needs can often feel overwhelming with so many additional considerations to ensure the holiday fits your child’s needs and requirements. Added to that, there’s the additional cost, which might include:  

• flights and airport assistance including adapted transfers
• larger and/or accessible accommodation
• hire of specialist equipment, such as wheelchairs or pool hoists
• costs of travelling with carers
• travel insurance which covers disabilities and pre-existing medical conditions

At Boyes Turner, we believe that a child’s disability shouldn’t prevent them from enjoying access to holiday and leisure activities. Where we are acting for a disabled child in a medical negligence claim, our experienced solicitors take time during the valuation process to consider the child’s ability to enjoy leisure activity and the added cost of their participation in family holidays, and ensure that these costs are provided for as part of their compensation claim.   

If you are caring for a child or young adult whose disability was caused by medical negligence, and would like to find out more about making a claim, contact the team by email on cerebralpalsy@boyesturner.com.