Disabled anglers?

JAFFA · Disabled anglers?

I came across and interesting situation today whilst doing my job as a taxi driver. I picked up a fella who was in a wheelchair and took him to his day centre. Along the way I got chatting to him and quite quickly found out he was a keen angler. Bingo I thought. We chatted for quite a bit and it surfaced he was a keen carp angler.....Double bingo I thought, common ground and this trip should be enjoyable.

As time moved on, I brought up the subject of disabled anglers facilities and I was quite heartened to find out, his thoughts on the subject we quite positive. He felt that more and more of the commercial fisheries were catering for the disabled angler and although no where near enough, owners were making positive moves.

But he told me he was quite keen to fish in France, but could find very little by way of lakes for disabled anglers, or lakes that cater for disabled anglers.

Now to my amazement, at the end of the trip, he invited me into his day centre to meet one or two like minded disabled anglers. I entered and found myself being surrounded by 14.....yes fourteen totally disabled like minded carp anglers, all of them gagging for a trip to France, but no real prospect of going.

Few questions for you all. Does anyone know(for sure) of any lakes overseas that cater for disabled anglers? Does anyone know(again for sure) of any lakes that cater for "multiple" numbers of disabled carpers?

And lastly an observation. I spoke to 14 disabled anglers today, all wanting to part with money and take a trip overseas. They inform me that there are literally 100s/1000s of like minded disabled anglers out there and none of them can find a place to go in numbers(as in a few mates together).

Are you lake owners missing an opportunity here?

kind regards Jeff

Ghost

Good question Jeff… just wish I had a good answer.

Do any of them 14 have access to a pc, it will be interesting to know how they find the facilities in the UK as well?

On most waters in the UK iv only seen 1 disabled peg.

On the Welsh news the other day, it was remarking on Swansea Council spending X amount on making the roads wider for they’re 100 seat Bus, but it only had access/ room for 1 wheelchair???

the natural

I'd never really thought about this situation myself until a couple of years ago. A few day ticket waters may have the odd "token" disabled peg but not much more.

Having never fished abroad, i've no idea whether or not there are any french fisheries that cater for the disabled.

If you get no luck on here, maybe posting the same on one of the busier forums might be worth a try.

Viv Shears

now a days any new fishery legally must have at least 10% of its swim ( or 1 which ever is the greatest) as disabled access swims.

Previously constructed fisheries should be follwoing suit now but there are reasons for exemption to this. It all comes under the disability discrimination act I believe

lucilastic

A club is excluded from the Act if it has a proper formal selection process..
..those offering day tickets,general membership or visitors would be
considered as "service providers" and therefore be subject to the Act and
be expected to provide "reasonable " access....

Big Ron

have a look here Jeff

http://catfishgroup.myfreeforum.org/can_anyone_help_about155.html

JAFFA

Ghost

bigkipper

very true ghost, are canal is well equipped for disabled angler with platform`s near every access point, built solely for disabled anglers.

and yes they are used regularly.

stix

I would say Valdore is quite disabled freindly, depending how servere.

The showers maybe a little akward though, but the swims are mainly flat and close to the waters edge (height)

Its hard to say unless you are actuly in a wheel chair

I did hear that chad had to push mac around in a carp porter when last there.