Can't do normal things with special needs

As accessible as the world is trying to be it'll never be truly accessible. For most places, reasonable adjustments just means level or ramped access and maybe a disabled toilet. Some places go a bit further and allow more space for wheelchairs. Some go the extra mile and install a changing places toilet.

We had a trip to Devon recently for a family wedding. The first motorway services was pretty good and had a usable changing places toilet. However the second services we stopped at, the changing places toilet was closed off. Well, they'd put a barrier in the way. The lock was smashed off and the hoist didn't work. We moved the barrier and used it anyway. Two person lift in lieu of the hoist and blocked the door with the chair. Thanks to traffic, roadworks, accidents, etc the journey took over 11 hours so it's not like we could get away without stopping.

As anywhere truly accessible usually books up well in advance we had to find somewhere where we could manage. Maybe with a bit more research I could've found somewhere better but we stayed in a holiday park in a lodge that was described as 'easy access'. This meant the was a small ramp and a wet room. The lodge was tiny and it meant setting up a bed in the lounge. Far from ideal but fortunately we have excellent carers who made it work without complaint.

To get in the church we had a drive up the road to the a back gate. There was a very steep path down to the church where they could put a ramp in to get in through where the bell ringers go. We're lucky to have a very good power chair that coped with the incline but we did have to get there early so the bell ringers could do their thing. Getting out was the same, waiting for the bell ringers and missing the whole confetti bit.

Sounds like a lot of complaining but we did have a good time during the few days we were away. It was just a lot harder and more exhausting than it should have been.

Since getting back we cleared out the caravan ready for it to be taken away to be sold. Another normal thing that we can't do. We bought an adapted caravan with a hoist but it just wasn't big enough to really make use of it. We've had it for about 3 years and in all that time we've never managed a night away in it.

TLDR; things normal people take for granted are either very difficult, inaccessible or just impossible when a certain level of additional needs is reached.

Anyway, here's a drone photo from the caravan site where we managed to spend a few nice days out.