Accessible aviation courses to deepen healthcare professionals’ knowledge of disabled travel

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is holding two accessible aviation courses for occupational therapists, specialist travel operators and healthcare professionals so they can better assist their clients.

Its first course is called: ‘Being in the aircraft cabin: Helping your clients with physical & hidden disabilities access air travel.’ The aim is for occupational therapists and healthcare professionals to deeper their knowledge and understanding of a cabin environment to help support their clients.

QEF has collaborated with UK airlines and airports to focus on the issues that can cause stress for disabled passengers and the people accompanying them.

Using QEF’s mock aircraft cabin, the course will use practical demonstrations to provide insight into: boarding, being seated, aircraft embarkation/disembarkation, managing in the cabin for the duration of the flight, in flight facilities, seating options, managing continence, how to access the toilet, medication, and details about oxygen use inside the cabin.

Running for 5 hours and costing £95 plus VAT, the course takes place at the QEF Mobility Centre in Surrey on the 10th of January 2019, Birmingham Airport on the 2nd of October 2018 and on the 19th of February 2019, and at WMDLC in Leeds on the 27th of November 2018 and on the 5th of February 2019.

QEF’s second course is called ‘Navigating the Airport: Helping your clients with physical & hidden disabilities access air travel.’

This course is aimed at healthcare professionals and occupational therapists who want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the available services for disabled people at airports.

Its goal is to show healthcare professionals how services are provided for disabled passengers to increase their confidence when advising clients.

With support from UK airports, QEF’s practical course offers: an operational tour of UK airports landside and airside, a look at the available services for disabled passengers, and deepened knowledge of the different stages of flying.

A 5-hour course costing £95, it runs at Manchester Airport on the 28th of November 2018, London Heathrow Airport on the 24th of January 2019 and Birmingham International Airport on the 25th of October 2018 and the 15th of January 2019.