By Rachel Shepherd [email protected]
Inspired by her seven-year-old daughter Francesca, a special needs child, Algarve resident Rachel Shepherd has set up a website to promote businesses and amenities in the region that provide facilities for disabled visitors and residents. In her new monthly column, she tells of her experiences and how she copes with barriers.
My favourite drink used to be Lilt but there was a time when I was scared to even take a sip. So worried that the slightest amount of caffeine would hospitalise me, I became accustomed to an institutionalised lifestyle.
I used to be admitted to hospital every few weeks with palpitations and the questions from the nurses always the same: “Have you drunk any tea, coffee, pop, alcohol or eaten any chocolate”?
The answer, apart from chocolate, was always ‘No’. Well, what girl would give up chocolate? I did not drink tea or alcohol for three years, fearful that I would end up in hospital; I was the girl wandering around with her finger permanently attached to her pulse.
My fear of going anywhere was so severe I probably talked myself into a palpitation! I wanted to buy a house next to the hospital, so I could “check in” at a moment’s notice. Paranoia and panic attacks became second nature and my life was put on hold while caring for Francesca at the same time.
In 2005 I suffered a massive internal bleed, had major surgery and was admitted to intensive care. This was my 30th year of life and I knew that everything had to change.
I needed my confidence back and to enjoy every second of mine and my daughter’s life. This and my daughter’s experience have led me to Somewhere Special and a better, more confident lifestyle in Portugal.
You need confidence to travel and Somewhere Special, which us now two months old, aims to do this.
It’s an amazing experience creating a site for ALL and talking to local businesses that have been very supportive and enthusiastic.
We need to continue to grow, to raise awareness and to change people’s perceptions.
For example, the other day I parked in a disabled space while going shopping with Francesca.
As soon as I stepped out of my car door, I was confronted by a security guard shaking his finger at me and telling me I could not park there.
Good, in the sense that he is policing these spaces, making sure they are used properly but he was acting on his perception of being disabled.
He had not seen the badge on my dashboard and he had not considered that my child sitting in her car seat might be disabled.
This is a regular occurrence; it can become frustrating explaining my daughter’s disability each time I wish to park in a disabled space.
The security guard is one of many people who think disability equals a wheelchair. You do not have to have wheels to be disabled. Somewhere Special considers the whole spectrum of disabilities or medical needs, with the simple goal of providing everyone with useful information.
We are looking for businesses to join Somewhere Special. You do not have to have disabled parking and toilets to join – you may have easy access to your premises, friendly caring staff, a first aid trainer, medical facilities on site, restaurants that can provide brail menus or cater for food allergies or liquidise meals for those fitted with feeding tubes, audio guides for leisure facilities, accessible rides….the list goes on.
Jonnie Pratt from Bistro des Z’artes in Almancil is supporting us and creating brail menus for his customers.
Remember you don’t have to look disabled to be disabled, everyone is SPECIAL!
For more information please contact [email protected] We are also looking for carers, babysitters and therapists to register for a very small subscription.Somewhere Special will be donating two per cent of every booking for hotels or villas to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
For more information please contact [email protected] We are also looking for carers, babysitters and therapists to register for a very small subscription.Somewhere Special will be donating two per cent of every booking for hotels or villas to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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