Mystery ShoppingChecklist

Access to Meetings

Making sure there is good access is not always as difficult as it might seem. In many cases small changes can make a world of difference. Below is a checklist to ensure meetings are accessible to everyone who wants to attend

Getting there:

Is there information available about the facilities at the venue prior to the meeting?

Is there designated or reserved parking for disabled and olderpeople close to the meeting venue?

If the parking is on the road, is there a dropped kerb close by to allow a wheelchair user access to the pavement?

Is the parking for disabled people clearly sign-posted from the road? If there is more than one entrance to the building is it sign-posted from all the possible approaches? Lower case lettering in a sans serif font such as arial is easiest to read.

Is the approach to the meeting venue unobstructed and in good condition? Broken paving slabs, gravel, potholes, parked cars and other obstructions make access considerably more difficult.

Getting in:

Steps, even a small single step, can make a building inaccessible to many disabled or older people. If your meeting venue has steps up to the entrance, is there a ramp in place so people with mobility difficulties can get in?

Is the ramp appropriately designed for the job? A badly designed ramp can be dangerous and does not improve access. A good ramp should have a low gradient (about 1:20), be strong and level, with raised sides or railings either side.

Is the door into the building wide enough for a wheelchair user to pass through easily? Heavy,awkward to open doors or doors with handles that may be out of reach severely limit accessibility.

Are any glass doors marked to aid visibility?

Inside the building

Are the reception staff friendly, helpful and have a positive attitude to ensuring accessibility

Is there level access from the building entrance to the meeting room. Internal steps are just as much of a problem as external ones and will need ramps to make them accessible.

If the meeting room is not on the ground floor is there an accessible lift?

Does the reception area have a hearing loop and is it switched on at all times

Is the flooring non-slip, even and level? Highly polished surfaces can be slippery while thick carpeting and loose rugs or mats can cause people to trip or get stuck.

Is the building well lit? Even on a sunny day some visually impaired people may need the lights switched on to read any signage

Are any corridors inside the building spacious enough for a wheelchair user to pass through comfortably? Obstructions such as stacked furniture or piles of boxes can cause difficulties for visually impaired people as well as people with mobility difficulties.

Is there enough space inside the building for a wheelchair user to move about easily?

Are there accessible toilets and are they clearly signposted?

In the meeting room

Is there enough room to manoeuvre wheelchairs around comfortably?

Are themeeting papers available in appropriate formats for everyone attending?

Is there a hearing loop in the meeting room?

Do any refreshments meet a range of dietary requirements?

Are there visible emergency alarms as well as auditory ones?

Are the Emergency Evacuation procedures displayed and do they meet the needs of disabled people?

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