Whether because of temporary disability or permanent need, the demand for accessible “holiday” accommodation is growing with our ageing population.

Holidaying is just one reason that people might require accommodation away from their usual abodes. We might attend to business or family or societal responsibilities in far-flung towns and cities.

If we already have access issues catered for in our homes, then it is understandable that we might expect to have similar facilities away. For some of us, the needs are relatively simple: no steps, supports in the bathroom and a bed at a reasonable height. These are minimum standards. For others, there are more complex needs, including a hospital style hoist over the bed. Provision for carers and emergency call buttons are essential for some.

The first problem in finding accessible accommodation is its scarcity. Some providers of motel rooms or caravan park cabins do have even one such facility. It is rare for them to have more than one.

The second problem is finding accessible accommodation. Some local governments have lists which are available through tourist information offices. Others do not. In my experience, the attitude can be one of total disinterest. Why should they keep lists when the person in need can approach individual businesses to inquire whether they have accessible accommodation? Well, the obvious answer is that this would assist the person seeking such accommodation.

The third problem is that when the difficult task of securing accessible accommodation is accomplished, receipts and booking confirmations do not identify the room as an accessible one. It is filed under general descriptions such as garden suite or premium cabin. Perhaps this is a deliberate policy designed to ensure that in the event that the room provided is not accessible, then any legal claims against the provider would have no written basis.

It is possible that these problems are due to innocent ignorance. When asking about accessible accommodation, I have been asked what my requirements are. There is no reason this question should be necessary. When we use the term “accessible”, we are using it according to standards which we assume everyone around Australia understands.

No provider should need to ask this. That they do suggests a complete failure of education and information on the part of governments. Surely, we should not have to repeat the question more slowly. Nor should we have to describe the level of our disability for accommodation providers. Privacy considerations forbid and this primitive state of affairs should be a matter of history.

All three problems — adequate availability, help with inquiries and proper confirmation — can be resolved by government regulation. Even organisations which operate specifically to provide information on disability services fail to appreciate the lack of understanding among accommodation providers.

Indeed, one online site which prides itself on providing information about accessible accommodation does not do this at all. If you hand over your details, then they will make inquiries and bookings for you. While this might sound fine, it also means that you must hand over, surrender, your ability to decide. This is a further erosion of independence, which after all should be the ultimate aim of policies in the area of accessibility.

If people with special needs in this area are to participate fully in Australian life, then they need to be able to do so on their own terms; they must have autonomy. Of course, there are costs involved in providing accessible accommodation and in ensuring that those in need can find and enjoy it as easily as any other member of the community. If governments must allocate some resources to ensure that providers make provisions more enthusiastically, then they should do so. Ideally of course, the expression should be “government” in that the states should not provide a labyrinth of inconsistency, but allow Australia-wide consistency through federal action.

Disability might not be curable, but nor should it be aggravated by indifference and ignorance. Accessibility should not be regarded as a dream for some utopian future but as a basic, inalienable human right.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.