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Cyprus Sunday Mail 11/2010 - When Christos Neophytou realised the full extent of his growing disability, he turned it
into a business idea.
The now
wheelchair bound 48-year-old, set up C and A holiday apartments in
Polis around 10 years ago along with the help of his family. The
apartments are suitable for all guests, but are specially designed
for people with a disability. The roomy bedrooms have all the
equipment necessary for a less able-bodied person, such as rails on
both sides of the toilet. There is a purpose-built hoist by the side
of the swimming pool to help lower guests into the water, and even
the sun beds are slightly raised so anyone in a wheelchair can slide
onto them.
His efforts for a section of
society still so poorly catered for was acknowledged last week at an
awards ceremony in Nicosia. Organised by the Confederation of the Organisation of the Disabled, he was the only one of four recipients
to receive a business award.
Neophytou suffers from Friedreich’s
Ataxia, a neurological inherited degenerative disease which attacks
the central nervous system and causes movement problems. The disease
usually presents itself during a sufferer’s teens or a little later.
Neophytou was 18 when he went for tests and was subsequently
diagnosed with the disease. One of the main symptoms is a lack of
coordination, resulting in the sufferer not being about to walk
well.
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DISABILITY NOW 2/2009 - There are a
number of companies that specialise in holidays for disabled people
– renting equipment, providing airport transfers and excursions in
adapted transfer vehicles, accessible accommodation and whatever
personal support you may need during a stay in Cyprus.
A keen ambassador for
exploring Cyprus as a disabled person is Chris Neophytou. Chris has
used a wheelchair since his late 20s and created the first holiday
complex specially designed for wheelchair-users and their families
in Polis, one of the most attractive and fastest growing seaside
resorts. Located on the north-west coast of Cyprus (though still in
the southern Republic), Polis is close to the Akamas Peninsula and
the harbour village Latchi.
As Chris says: “I knew
from experience how difficult it is for wheelchair-users to find a
place they could go to for a holiday; a place where they felt safe
and where they had a sense of freedom. I used my own experience and
knowledge as a disabled person to create the perfect holiday place:
that’s the key really, giving people pleasure, but within a safe and
friendly environment.
“For those seeking the
thrill of a new adventure, parasailing, snorkelling and scuba diving
are all possible, as is swimming in the Med. We have a
glass-bottomed boat with a ramp and hoist to get people into the
sea. Here in Cyprus, almost anything is possible.”
Polis has relatively
good pedestrian areas and there is little traffic, so it’s safe to
use the road wherever the pavement is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Many public buildings, like the archaeological museum and some
restaurants have adapted access for disabled visitors.
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NEW PATHWAYS 7/2009
- We recently went to Polis, Cyprus and stayed once more at the
magnificent C & A Tourist Apartments
www.ca-tourist-apts.com.cy and were once again bowled over by
the extreme the family has gone to in providing such a haven for
mobility impaired clients.
They have built a new extension which houses
extremely spacious one and two bedroom apartments sleeping 2 to 5
people. They have interconnecting doors with separate
kitchenette and roll in shower. There’s a large dining area in the
main entrance of the building if you didn’t want to go totally self
catering. They do fantastic breakfast and evening meals,
BBQ/Greek nights on site.
If any reader contacts C & A Tourist Apts and
speaks with Chris, one of the proprietors, he has a disability that
causes him to have a speech impediment, and he has happily agreed
that I can leave my details with you and if a member wants to speak
to me and ask more, I am happy to help.
baileyhague@yahoo.co.uk
Best wishes,
Dawn
and Pete Bailey-Hague
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