Euan’s Guide made treasured family time possible
THE FAMILY of a man with Motor Neurone Disease who holidayed in Benderloch is backing a new initiative aimed at welcoming more disabled visitors to Argyll.
Mary Black, who lives near Glasgow with her former oil industry manager husband Stephen, was able to spend ‘treasured family time’ at an adapted chalet at Tralee Bay owned by charity MND Scotland.
The family found it on a disabled access review website called Euan’s Guide.
Michael Russell MSP and The Oban Times have teamed up with Euan’s Guide to help Argyll businesses welcome disabled visitors.
Mrs Black, whose husband is now in a wheelchair, said: ‘Trying to find adapted accommoda- tion can be a mission. It would be wonderful if more businesses and groups got involved in Euan’s Guide to help take away some of the stress families experience when going on holiday, hoping it might be suitable.
‘It’s very important though that anyone on the list is honest about the facilities so people using the guide know exactly what to expect.’
An event is being held in the Corran Halls, Oban, on Friday April 27 from 11am-1pm for local businesses, community organisations and representatives from tourist destinations throughout Argyll and Bute to find out more.
Mrs Black, who has since used Euan’s Guide to visit other places including London, said: ‘When you have a terminal condition you want to get away together with your family as best you can. It is a special, treasured time and you need to be sure the accommodation and facilities will suit your needs - whether it’s a hospital bed, a hoist or a wet room.
‘Thanks to Euan’s Guide and the charity we were able to spend five happy days together with our grown-up children.’
Euan’s Guide aims to ‘remove the fear of the unknown’ and inspire disabled people to try new places. It was founded in 2013 by brother and sister Euan and Kiki MacDonald after Euan became a powerchair user.
After spending hours of their time making enquiries about access at places they wanted to go, Euan and Kiki realised their experience was not unique and that many disabled people had difficulty in getting the information they needed.
The idea became Euan’s Guide, now a digital charity.
To register for the event or to obtain further information, email Heather Wolfe on Heather.Wolfe@parliament.scot or call 0131 348 5738.