Cherylee Houston was left in "tears of frustration" after being asked if she minded being "lifted" in and out of a hotel to use their disabled room because of the establishment’s steps.
The ‘Coronation Street’ actress – has been in a wheelchair since she was 23 after being diagnosed with rare connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – claims she booked a "disabled access" room at a hotel only to be asked if her wheelchair was "modern or old fashioned" because there are steps to the room.
In a series of messages on Twitter, she wrote: "So again I booked a hotel on @bookingcom and again the hotel phoned up and said "is your wheelchair modern or old fashioned as there’s steps to the accessible room." Me "Erm that’s not an accessible room ". The hotel "Yes it is once you get in and we have another accessible- room ". The hotel "Yes it is once you get in and we have another accessible-
"Room without steps". Me "We’ll have that one then"
On hour later the phone rings, hotel again. "We have two steps into the hotel, would you and your friend mind being lifted every time you enter or leave the hotel?"
No, no I wouldn’t. I booked this using your search boxes
"For disabled access. Help!
"I’ve been on hold for 20 mins now @bookingcom whilst they try and sort out another booking which isn’t wheelchair accessible when it booked saying it was. It’s really frustrating to keep having to give your time to sort other people’s mistakes – that is the bane of disability
"You can’t do anything for 24hrs? @bookingcom I’m going in just over that. I was on hold for half an hr just to be told you can’t do anything for a day… Please will someone call me. This is terrible service for wheelchair users.
"I am sat here in tears of frustration as again access has made things really difficult for me just to get on with my life. Everyone knows being on hold to call centres is frustrating but when it’s not your fault and they say they can’t help
"As he couldn’t get hold of the hotel to book the accessible room. I don’t want an accessible room in a hotel that I would have to be lifted into. That is not accessible. I would like an alternative sorting
"Without it taking my day and tears to sort. (sic)"
The 45-year-old star – who plays Izzy Armstrong in the ITV soap – then retweeted a number of messages from people supporting her and sympathising with her.
And she shared a message the hotel had posted to her, which read: "Hi Cherylee, The property has informed us that they already contacted you regarding the room access, and that they did gave you their accessible room already, but there is two steps at the entry of the Hotel and they do not have any kind of rampe to access it, but to access the room with not be an issue. If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us (sic)"
Cherylee tweeted: "Wow! Erm it’s definitely an issue to me! After half an hr on the phone to
@bookingcom this is their response about wheelchair access. So @bookingcom is this your solution? (sic)"
Fortunately, the cobbles favourite’s problem was eventually resolved.
She wrote: "Very kindly @bookingcom have sorted out my hotel problem, I’m aware that without my job and a twitter campaign this might not have been the case. I’ve offered them training, this is a problem for many disabled people across many companies. This shouldn’t be the norm re access. (sic)"
Cherylee Houston in ‘tears of frustration’ at hotel issue
