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Subject Topic: Child Disability issues Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonJana101
12/7/2015 at 2:32pm
 Location: Sussex
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Hi, We are planning on buying a caravan (two adults + one 3 year old child). Our girl has Angleman Syndrome (AS), a genetic disability. She finds it hard to get to sleep, will fidget and try to get out of bed etc. She does not talk and has problems balancing, but will try to crawl into any space available! We are looking for a caravan design that will keep her safe at night; that her sleep space can be 'blocked off' somehow so that she does not get into mischief while we are asleep. Are there any manufacturers or dealerships out there that cater for such needs or would we need to have the caravan specially adapted and if so have any of you had similar needs? We would appreciate any feedback from other families with disabled children (especially the energetic/destructive types) :-)


PersonJayen
12/7/2015 at 3:05pm
 Location: Button Moon
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We had a Swift challenger five berth (think it was a 550se 1998) that had at the back a double bed made out of two bench seats and a table and there was also a little bunk above. There was a sliding wooden door that could divide this area off into a little bedroom. I suppose you could put a little hook and eye latch on it so it could be secure at night? Might be the ideal set up for your circumstances.

Post last edited on 12/07/2015 15:19:02


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PersonBaileyjake
12/7/2015 at 5:34pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 570 6 + Shogun SG4 View Baileyjake's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baileyjake Reply   Quote Baileyjake Quote  
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I looked at a ranger 540/5 that had a room with a bunk and a double at the back with a door you could close. I sometimes think that's a better layout than the fixed bunks we have with just a curtain. Basically my boys 3 and 6 won't go to sleep until we do and often they end up on the front double with us by the morning. They can also easily open the door to the outside that's next to their beds. Luckily until now they have only gone in the awning in the morning.


PersonBaileyjake
12/7/2015 at 5:39pm
 Location: West Midlands
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Oh yeah and my boys are not registered disabled but they certainly are destructive. They don't do it deliberately it's just British light weight caravans aren't particularly robust. Either buy a heavier German van or an older van and accept they will break bits on it.

I have heard of adria caravans with a door for wheelchair access. So maybe they have dealers who can offer disabled access solutions.


PersonJana101
12/7/2015 at 6:57pm
 Location: Sussex
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Thank you Baileyjake and Jayen. Useful advice about the bunk at back with door. Will start invesigating.


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Personalbee
12/7/2015 at 7:44pm
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Hi, we had a caravan with a double seat area at the rear, for this I made a ply wood panel out of approx 6mm ply. on the top edge a curved wooden moulding for added strength and to smooth the edge. this went across the caravan held against the wash room wall by the cushions, rested on the bunk bases and slid into a plastic channel on the wall the other side made out of the white channel used to conceal wiring. it can be covered with sticky back plastic. when not in use we stored it under seat cushions. the exact measurements would need to be worked out once you had the caravan. but it was easy and cheap to make and worked well for us as a play pen and cot. hope this makes sense.


PersonRainbowsend
13/7/2015 at 4:21pm
 Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
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We have a caravan with rear double seat as others have suggested, its a Lunar Quasar 525 but the divider is a pull across concertina door that wouldn't stand wear and tear. As Albee says a wooden panel cut to size/shape would work. I understand your problem as I worked with adults with special needs and challenging behavior. Don't forget that caravan windows and doors do not lock from the inside and everything in a caravan is made to be light so might not be that hardwearing.
If you're looking for this layout its classes as a double dinette.

-------------
Jean

Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.


PersonJana101
13/7/2015 at 7:49pm
 Location: Sussex
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Thank you albee and Rainbowsend. I will bear your comments in mind. We are going out this weekend to look at caravans and will take Kitty with us. I hope that the staff will be 'understanding' when we let her loose in the interior!


PersonGrampian91
13/7/2015 at 9:08pm
 Location: Midlands
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Watch out for the windows near the bunk, The catches are not exactly child proof and if you limit access to everything else this maybe the only thing to tinker with.

A few threads where children have been returned to vans/tents with the parents oblivious to them being gone.


PersonJana101
13/7/2015 at 9:43pm
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Quote by Jean above [everything in a caravan is made to be light so might not be that hardwearing], are european caravans more hard wearing than the English? Also as Kitty is very strong and likes kicking and shaking furniture. Albee's idea of building units gave me an idea of perhaps padding the walls.   


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PersonBaileyjake
14/7/2015 at 7:37pm
 Location: West Midlands
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German caravans such as hobby, hymer and burstner are more solidly built than the common British built vans but I believe some like buccaneer are also well made. Problem is the more well made vans might be too heavy for the average car to tow so a compromise has to be made. Having 2 young scamps my self I would recommend an older van to begin with, possibly already with wear and tear. Then you won't be so stressed when they break something off. You might also be more willing to start screwing brackets into the walls etc if you want to modify it. But if I were in a position to buy another caravan, already have my bailey, I would buy an adria.


Personalbee
14/7/2015 at 7:54pm
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Hi, Good hunting, your problems can be overcome, with a bit of thought if you have a cot at home have a look at that for ideas. in the words of my old mate Pete, "every problem has a solution" don't let them put you off letting your daughter enjoy the world of caravanning.


PersonJana101
15/7/2015 at 9:53pm
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Thanks Baileyjack and albee. We certainly got the caravaning bug now, and looking forward to seeing one in real life! Good idea about an older model and getting it modified.
Gosh! trying to find out how much weight my Mazda CX5 can tow is a whole physics course! What is all this GTW, MTPLM, MIRO and MAM - they don't make it easy, do they? Never mind, I'll ask the car dealer for guidance.


Personkazo2014
16/7/2015 at 6:02pm
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if your car is the 2.2 auto awd 150 hp model then you can go to a caravan that is 1300kgs fully loaded according to whattowcar.com


Personminikings
23/7/2015 at 8:37am
 Location: Norfolk
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Hi, we have an Avondale Rialto 535-5. It has a separate room at the back with bunk beds. Our boys have ASD and it is the perfect caravan for us. They have their own space and love it.


PersonJana101
23/7/2015 at 10:25pm
 Location: Sussex
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Thank you Minikings - I have put the Rialto on our list of vehicles to view.
Thanks Kazo2014, Great website. I will check out what our car can tow.

Great feedback from everyone. I really feel much more confident in moving forward.



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