When you say that "Europe is lightyears behind the US" I imagine that you are referring to mainland europe rather than to the UK.
We have been working towards the DDA in building designs since the mid 1990's, and the act which came into force this year means that every business has to consider how to offer its services to disabled people.
For example, the DDA does not specifically require braille documents for the blind if a member of staff can be made available to read out the docments instead.
A hairdresser whose salon is up a long flight of stairs need not install a lift: she can offer home visits instead.
All businesses in the UK now have to publish an "Access Statement" and it is very well worth obtaining these before taking your trip.
Now I am not a multi-million dollar cruise line, I operate a small caravan park, and even on this scale we have had to do much to cater for disabled people.
For instance, our access statement details which facilities are accessible and which are not easily accessible and how we can cater for disabled guests. For instance, because our self-service laundry building (built in 1956) cannot accommodate wheelchairs, our staff will collect laundry from disabled visitors, put it in the laundry and return it afterwards. We will deliver items from our grocery shop, and because car parking is some distance from accommodation, staff will carry suitcases etc when needed.
Now, at first glance, our premises do not appear "disabled-friendly", but because we have considered our disabled guests' needs and have found solutions to them, we have some very satisfied disabled guests.
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