Family build specialised holiday accomm for people with disabilities
LONDON: A family is behind a plan to build specialised holiday accommodation for people with disabilities.
A family in Co Down is hoping to create Northern Ireland’s first specialised holiday accommodation for people with disabilities and complex medical needs.
Richard Douglas, 28, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy when he was three-and-a-half years old and has progressively lost the ability to move his body.
After 17 months of shielding, last summer Richard and his family were able to enjoy a short break in fully equipped specialised accommodation in Donegal.
While travelling home, Richard became increasingly frustrated that due to a lack of similar facilities people with complex needs cannot experience a similar short break away from home in Northern Ireland.
Now, his family are fundraising to start a non-profit company, Hoist Assisted Holidays, that will provide a similar facility at Atlantic View Leisure Park Ltd in Ballycastle to allow those with profound disabilities – and their families – to enjoy a short break together.
Richard’s mum, Sharon (53), said her son has always had a positive mindset and just wants to give other families the ability to enjoy time together away from home.
She said: “When Richard was three, there were little delays in his development, he was very unsteady on his feet and would have a lot of falls. But it just came as such devastating news to know it was such a horrific, debilitating illness.
“As he got older, he started to focus on things he could do. In his teenage years, he took up powered wheelchair football and that was great for him. He enjoyed playing pool and snooker too, but as he lost upper arm strength that also became impossible.
