'There's nowhere we can stay': The holiday struggle facing disabled people

Going on holiday is very important to Richard Douglas but finding a property that can accommodate him has become increasingly challenging.

Richard has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) – a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness that gets worse over time.

He needs specialised equipment such as a hoist which allows him to be transferred from a wheelchair into a bed, or helps him use the bathroom.

However, when planning a holiday, even at home in Northern Ireland, he says "there's nowhere really that suits my needs".

In the early years of his condition, he was able to enjoy trips abroad with his family, but over the years he progressively lost the ability to move his body.

"There are certain places we've found over the years that have been really good but there's really nowhere in Northern Ireland that suits my needs," he explained.

In order to change that, Richard is now aiming to raise enough money to create bespoke seaside accommodation that he feels allows disabled people and their loved ones to have a holiday they deserve in Northern Ireland.

He was inspired after visiting and staying in similar accommodation in Culdaff in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

"Loads of people that use wheelchairs – they are not able to go in a plane – as it's just too awkward – so to have somewhere local is very important," said Richard, who was diagnosed with DMD aged three.

Richard feels there is not enough support available to enable people like him to go on holiday in Northern Ireland.

"The law means reasonable adaptions, but for people like me that doesn't go far enough – you need the hoists and the beds to really make it workable," he said.

Paul Oakes, the equality development manager with the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland, said service providers had to make any adjustments which were regarded as reasonable adjustments so that disabled people could use their service.

The stipulation comes from the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995.

Paul said the real issue was the adjustments had to be reasonable.

"Reasonable is based on things like the cost of the adjustment and the resources available to the holiday provider – so for example big holiday providers would be expected to do more and spend more than perhaps someone who runs an Airbnb," he said.

"When you look at disability it's all about individuals and each individual is different – even individuals who have the same disabilities - the impact and therefore the requirements that they have can be very different.

"So, you can't have a law that is overly prescriptive beca