Disability holiday support staff: Pros and Cons of Bringing Your Own Person
We get a lot of questions about disability holiday support staff, and most people want to know: should I take my own person with me on holiday? And as usual with these kinds of things, the answer is: it depends. This guide to the pros and cons of bringing your own disability holiday support staff will help you decide.
Pros of bringing your own person
Pro #1: Someone you already know and trust
This is the biggest benefit, and it makes perfect sense. You already have your support people you like and trust, so it makes sense to bring them on holidays too. You have that relationship with them, and you know they won’t drive you mad on holidays. You would rather have them by your side than risk bringing along an unknown stranger who doesn’t know you, your preferences, and your quirks. For many families choosing autism friendly travel, this familiarity is a huge comfort.
Pro #2: Potential to reduce your travel costs by bringing your own disability holiday support staff
If you are on a budget, you might be able to negotiate a deal with your carer. Essentially, you cover the cost of their travel, and they provide care while you holiday together. This means you avoid additional holiday support staff costs and can potentially be cheaper than using third-party carers and holiday support. We say potentially, because there can be hidden costs or downsides to this arrangement, which is why many travellers also consider structured NDIS holiday packages that balance affordability with professional support.
If you’d like to pursue this arrangement, we recommend you be very clear about expectations for you and your disability holiday support staff. Specify exactly what level of support, what hours and what the carer can get up to on their time off. This kind of arrangement works best when everyone is clear on the responsibilities and duties involved. If the carer isn’t getting paid, they probably intend to take time off from providing care to enjoy the destination. So, it’s important that you agree in advance how much time will be dedicated to providing support and how much time will be free for the carer to relax and holiday too. Keep in mind that when your carer is not around, you will be potentially limited in what you can enjoy.
Cons of bringing your own person
Con #1: Not getting a disability travel expert
Our team supports people with all kinds of disabilities on holidays, so they know what they’re doing. We are familiar with destinations, so we know the better attractions, restaurants and hotspots that have the best access. We’re also experienced travelers who are able to think on our feet. We’ve seen and handled most problems before, so we are typically more able to respond when plans change. Delays, booking issues and other problems do arise on holidays so having an expert on hand to do the worrying for you and sort everything out is often highly valuable. We understand the stresses and strains of holidays and we know how to deal with anything that comes up. Your usual carer may not have that level of expertise, which is why choosing professionals who specialise in wheelchair friendly holidays makes all the difference.
Our director Peter Negri tells:
‘Once in LA airport I had organized an accessible shuttle bus and it was delayed. The hire company had all the excuses under the sun and were blaming me for making a booking mistake. But I had all the paperwork to prove I’d done everything right. My passenger was getting anxious. As it turned out, we had to wait about an hour. I told my passenger ‘mate, let me do the worrying for both of us. We are at the world’s busiest airport, let’s do some people watching for a while.’ My goal was to make him laugh and relax and alleviate his anxiety.
‘People with disabilities are understandably a bit anxious about travelling and worried about what they can do, and this guy was no exception. We’re trained to deal with that anxiety and keep them distracted and relaxed while problems are getting solved. We ended up having a great time people watching in the airport for about an hour till our shuttle bus arrived. It’s that level of expertise and quick thinking that we take pride in, which makes holidays less stressful and more fun for our passengers.’
Con #2: Long days for the carer
If you bring your own carer, they will need to prepare for long working days. It’s a holiday, so you’re likely to want to get the most out of your time away — and that means a busy schedule. So, if you’re at-home carer is used to a 8am-2pm shift, they can be surprised that the day will be more like 8am-10pm. That’s the nature of the job for disability travel support staff. We’re used to it. But your usual carer might struggle with the additional workload.
Con #3: Lack of dedication
If you haven’t clarified with your usual carer about the demands and hours required while on holiday there can be confusion or conflict during the trip. This can often be the case when the carer isn’t being paid for their time. Essentially, they are exchanging care for free travel and accommodation. This means they don’t have the level of 100% dedication that a paid carer provides. We’ve heard thousands of stories of carers providing the bare basics of support and then leaving passengers high and dry while they enjoy time off. When you recruit a professional, you don’t encounter these problems. Yes, our staff have a good time as it’s part of the travel, but they are there to do a job and the payment arrangement ensures strong motivation to deliver.
Con #4: Your carer doesn’t want to do it
Sometimes we take on your carer and train them and hire them through our company so they can accompany you on your travels while still accessing NDIS disability holiday funding. However, when we attend induction sessions with carers and explain what’s required as a condition of employment, many of them change their minds. Initially they like the appeal of a holiday but when they realise the level of organisation, troubleshooting and long working days required, they sometimes decline! Carers have their own lives and aren’t always available to attend holidays and be away 24/7. When a day-to-day carer accompanies you, their job description changes drastically. They go from a familiar destination to an unfamiliar one, all while adding daily travel management to their responsibilities. Not all carers are up for it. So be clear with your support person to find out whether they are willing and capable of providing the disability holiday support you need.
Con #5: Doesn’t expand your horizons
When you stick with the same routine and the same support staff you miss out on the chance to meet new amazing people. One of the goals of the NDIS is to expand your horizons and deliver social and community inclusion. By travelling with a new support person, you get the chance to take a break and escape the dependent relationship you have with your at-home crew. You can both take a break from each other and come back refreshed and energized.
Con #6: Lack of insurance or contingency plans
When you bring your own carer, you need to cover their travel insurance costs as well, which usually obliterates any potential cost saving. But what happens when a carer is unwell or injured on your holiday? If they are suddenly incapacitated for some unforeseen reason, your trip is potentially ruined. Whereas when you use professional support staff, it’s our job to find a replacement and we will simply arrange for a replacement carer to be by your side as soon as possible, so you can continue your travels with very little inconvenience.
As you can see, even though you may be tempted to bring your own support person, it’s often a good move to use the professionals. If you’d like us to take care of your next holiday, we’re here to help from the moment you first call us to when you arrive back home. Check out our 2023 travel brochure or contact us to start planning your ideal getaway.
