Disabled Access Day – Venue Pack
Welcome to our venue pack that we have put together to help prepare for the big weekend in March.
Some of you may be ‘old timers’ having run events for Disabled Access Day others will be new to the experience. The important thing we would say is that it should be fun for everyone. Not just for the people who come along to your event but also for you as organisers.
If we can help in any way, then please get in touch as Paul and Ryan (the Founder and the Coordinator) would love to hear from you and about your plans. You can call or email at any time and we’ll do our best to help - please email or call us on 0131 510 5106.
What is Disabled Access Day?
Disabled Access Day is all about visiting somewhere new, whether that’s a theatre, a gallery, museum or anywhere else. It’s also an opportunity for venues, businesses and organisations to showcase their accessibility, try something new and engage with new customers.
You may know that the first ever Disabled Access Day took place on the 17th January 2015. It come out of a conversation between a group of disabled people and their friends. No one imagined that the day would end up to have 261 venues across eleven countries signed up, from local coffee shops to national museums. Venues of all sizes took part.
How many people take part?
Disabled Access Day 2016 took everyone by surprise when it quadrupled in size! March 2016 saw over 1,000 places holding events and it was estimated that over 10,000 disabled people, their friends and families went to try something new.
As Paul said:
“Never in my wildest dreams, but always in my wishes, did I imagine people across the UK and beyond would engage with the spirit of Disabled Access Day 2016 so fully and with such fun!”
We had so many stories from the people who took part in the venues that their open their doors and held events.
Quote from David who took part:
“We spent the whole afternoon in the Imperial War Museum in London. They were well prepared for all kind of disability. As a visually impaired person I felt very well looked after... We had a very enjoyable day which included my first tandem riding experience after 4 years... Felt a bit pampered today.”
Quote from Nat who took part:
“I have just had such an amazing day on Saturday, I went up the Blackpool tower for free, it was amazing!!!!! My cousin lives there, so we met them and we had such a fab fab time, I went on the glass view floor, I didn’t know wheelchairs could go on that, it was totally amazing, I have never done anything like that before!!!”
We know there are tonnes of great accessible venues out there, we also know that many of them don’t shout about it! Disabled Access Day is the perfect day to engage with new people and start (or continue) promoting all the accessible facilities at your venue.
So whether it’s a special event or a good old fashioned welcome - get involved this Disabled Access Day and help us make it even bigger and better than last year’s event.
Top Tips: Preparing for Disabled Access Day
Disabled Access Day might seem like a while away but time will fly! So here are some top tips for preparing for the day:
Getting your staff ready
We regularly hear from Euan’s Guide reviewers that the best experiences come from great staff and excellent service. A warm welcome goes a long way to making sure the day goes well for everyone. Preparing staff so they feel confident, and not anxious, by providing training is a great thing to do as everyone then feels comfortable about the day.
Getting familiar with equipment
We know that you may have some great equipment to make visits easier for disabled visitors. It’s always good to check that staff know how things work or where things are. Induction loops are a great example as they are helpful for many hearing-impaired visitors but to be effective they need to be regularly tested and you need clear signage so people know they’re available. Platform lifts are another accessible feature that are often easily forgotten about, especially if not regularly used. Check that staff know how they work and that signs and instructions are clear and easy to see.
Check your access information
Like many venues you probably have a website and may be some printed leaflets. It’s a great opportunity to look at these and see that they are still up to date. Do they include information about accessibility such as information about arrival, level routes to get in, details about accessible toilets and other ways you can help with a visit.
Check your signage
Like your website and information leaflets your signs are worth checking as things can easily change over time. Follow the route that direction signs indicate and see how you get on. Are there any gaps, are signs easy to read and do they make sense? Where do the signs start?
What are your toilets like?
We mentioned toilets in the information section because often disabled people will not choose to visit if they can’t find out if there is an accessible toilet. It’s always good to go and take a look at your facilities to see if they’re clear of obstructions, the emergency alarm cord is in place, and the locks work.
Be creative with your space
Like people, wheelchairs and mobility aids come in all different shapes and sizes, and people need to be able to move around your venue to enjoy their experience and see what’s on offer. Aim to keep your floor space free of obstruction and have a clear path around the room. It’s good to have enough room in aisles for a wheelchair user and for somebody to pass. Aim to keep your venue as bright as possible – dark environments can make it difficult for visually impaired visitors to read information or notice important signage. Where light levels are important for your environment, you can always illuminate signs.
Help visitors by sharing your information on Euan’s Guide!
People are unlikely to assume that your venue has good access, so it is a good idea to tell potential visitors about your facilities. Before visiting a new place for the first time, disabled people will often look for information about what to expect when they arrive, including whether your space includes features such an accessible toilet, level access or good signage. Information about parking and public transport is particularly helpful as well. If people can find this information, they are more likely to visit – and don’t be surprised if they return again and again!
Engage with your customers
Your visitors are often your champions. Invite feedback on accessible features that your customers look for or use, and encourage them to share their experiences by reviewing on Euan’s Guide. It may be a nice gesture to offer some incentive or thanks for their time, such as loyalty card stamps or a free sample for example. Use this feedback to adjust your venue, if you need to, in time for Disabled Access Day.
How do I register my event?
It’s as easy as 1,2,3…
1) Sign up for Disabled Access Day
2) List your venue on Euan’s Guide
3) Plan and promote your event
Register on Euan’s Guide (if you haven’t already)
Euan’s Guide is the disabled access review website and app and is the main sponsor of Disabled Access Day 2017. For your event to feature on the Disabled Access Day website you need to register on Euan’s Guide by going to the ‘list a venue’ page, it will take between 5 and 15 minutes to add your venue and you can always come back and add more information at a later date if you don’t have it all to hand.
You will also be asked to add photographs so people know what to expect – pictures of your toilets are particularly useful! Once you’re done hit submit and our moderators will work behind the scenes so your venue goes live on the site as soon as possible.
Add your Disabled Access Day event to your Euan’s Guide Listing
Once you’ve received an email to confirm your venue is live all you need to do is log in to your account and add an event. To do this go to your profile, scroll to the bottom of the page and you’ll see your venue where you can click ‘add event’. Complete all the information and make sure you tick the box at the bottom of the form so that your event appears on the Disabled Access Day website.
Go to DisabledAccessDay.com
You’re finished! If you go to the ‘Event Search’ on the Disabled Access Day website and type in the location of your event you will see it appear in the search results! Wasn’t that easy?!
Now all you need to do is start promoting your event!
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