Hi everyone and welcome to the very first Disabled Access Day podcast!The place you can find out all the latest news and hints and tips regarding Disabled Access Day this year, that is taking place from the 10 to 12 March 2017.Now, this might be the very first time that you've heard of Disabled Access Day.So let me tell you a little more about it, of course in an ideal world Disabled Access Day will technically be every single day.Society will be step free and barrier free for everyone all of the time.But I think it's fair to say there were not there yet and until a day of total inclusion arrives Disabled Access Day is here to showcase what really can be done when we strive for the reality access and inclusion being a top priority for many, many people.
The idea came from Paul Ralph who is a power chair user and lives in Edinburgh and he was invited to go to try out day's local bus company. He had the chance to explore a stationary bus it was a great opportunity for him to say I’ve tried something new and I really really enjoyed it.He was chatting to his friendsafterwards and thought it would be amazing if other disabled people had similar opportunities and experiences available to them, happening across the UK, all at the same time.
But, without the same amount of pressure that can often surround accessibility today. You all know, what I mean all of those electric ramps on London buses that everybody watching you get up we absolutely don't want that all of the time. Now, disabled access is three years old and the events just keep growing with over a 1 000 places doing something and more than 10 000 disabled people and their friends getting involved in the spirit of you and someone new. Which is really our slogan for this year. It doesn't matter what you doing or where you going or what your preferences are really as long as you go out there and go and try somewhere or something new.And, you can relay that information and that experience back to your friends, that's really all we are hoping for.And, of course this isn't a quick fix,Disabled Access Day is not a quick fix. What we are really, really trying to do is encourage venues to see what a difference it makes when accessibility is put on the top of their agenda.And actually what a difference it makes for disabled people their friends and their family, and how much more accessible it makes society as a whole as well.
So, as this is our very very first podcast I thought we would focus on disabled individuals themselves and as a disabled person that's a brilliant thing for me to be focusing on as well.We often get asked about what we can do as a family on Disabled Access Day. We often get asked about transport and Disabled Access Day and we often get asked about how we can then review what we've done in the amazing experiences that we've had other disabled people can get involved and have those experiences too.
So those are the three things that I'd like to focus on on today's podcast.So, first of all how can we make a family day out of Disabled Access Day. So it is running from March 10 to the 12th as I said it's a whole week and this year because we had such an amazing turnout for the last two years, we thought why not expand a little bit and see what happens. So that's really, really exciting. But in terms of family time that makes it even better as well because now we've got a whole weekend to get involved. Whether you are a parent or whether you're a child listening to this and whatever you want to do this something for you to get involved in, that we can assure is accessible safe and loads of fun as well. And of course fun for the family is a phrase that is in high demand.For the many people that are looking for a day out for everyone to enjoy many, many parents have different preferences and things that they enjoy to their children and what we want to do when no different here are Disabled Access Day, we want to make sure that we can find things that all the family can enjoy. And here are just a few venues and attractions they can provide incredibly accessible experiences whatever your age and especially if you're a big kid at heart which let's be honest, is many of us.
So first of all I want to tell you about a venue that will particularly have the water babies within is getting quite excited.have you heard of Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool if you haven't I really, really do suggest going for a family friendly and fun place with brilliant inclusive facilities, such as changing places toilets, pull friendly wheelchairs and water ambassadors to help navigate the pool for anyone who might require assistance, Sandcastle Waterpark really is the place to be on Disabled Access Day.And any other time of year as well. So the accessible parking on site the reception is fitted with induction loops and accessible changing and lower desks and things like that, are just considered the norm here. So you go in as a wheelchair user the lower desk for you to book your tickets to get involved and then you can go you can get changed in the accessible changing room and there are even Water Ambassadors there to get you get you into the pool and give your hand navigate in the pool if that's what you need. So really, really access and inclusion is the priority here don't forget to brave the waterslides if you dare!There’s much fun that can be had for anybody who is a bit of an adrenaline junkie as well. So isn't it wonderful there are actually adrenaline and accessibility can go hand in hand. I don't know about you but that's something that I don't have much experience of so it's great to see that it's starting to happen.
What if water parks aren’t the place that you want to be on Disabled Access Day. Well we have museums of all shapes and sizes, that can guarantee an interest for all ages.Museums really are one of the places to be for an accessible family day out especially on Disabled Access Day. Last year Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield introduce so many inclusive activities including an autism friendly hour storytelling with puppets and British sign language, interpretation including touch tours of the museums and stalls run by several disabled access groups.There were also a number of incredible talks on topics such as inclusive design, improving access for disabled children and becoming a dementia friendly museum.So you can go and have an amazing time looking at all these different exhibits, in a way that is accessible to you but you can get involved in some cool talks and swot up on all things inclusion, which let's be honest we all should be doing.So museums really really are a fantastic choice, feel free to go onto the Disabled Access Day website at and have a look at all the different museums that are getting involved this year.There is a place you can go if you, go into the what's on tab in the website you can go and have an event search and put in somewhere near to you see if there get involved in Disabled Access Day.So it really really is a brilliant way to find out where to go and what to do.
So if you looking for something a little more on the exotic side why not go to Belfast and try out Salability.This is a really really amazing project and they really do have something for everyone from boats with drop-down bows, to allow wheelchair users to stay in their chairs whilst on the water to motorboats and quayside hoist allow everyone to get into position and have a go at steering themselves. That's pretty cool hey!And if you're lucky you just might spot the friendly colony of seals that regularly swim near by. I don't know about you but that sounds like why a great access day to me.
And of course, we want access to to be a memorable family day out everybody and we want you to take loads of pictures. Tell us about your experiences so feel free to tweet us Access_day and use the hashtag #AccessDay.Tell us about the amazing experiences that you've had because one thing that is really really important about Disabled Access Day is it not just one day of the year hopefully.And, hopefully long-term we can get disabled people from all over the country getting involved in different venues and different experiences every single weekend. And if you can tell is about an experience that you've had from March 10 to the 12th this year on Access Day then we can hopefully share that around and make sure the other disabled people get to enjoy those experiences as well, that's what it's really all about.
so let's look at transport than two of course all of these venues and the brilliant things that the putting on a really really important the destination is important but so is how we get there. What's the point in having an amazing exhibition if actually disabled people can't get to that venue?So transport is a really really big issue for us and it's something that we don't take very lightly. And we are aware that it can either make or break an experience depending on how accessible it is and how much assistance is available and how clearly it signed. In recent years were happy to say that many transport networks have really improved when it comes to inclusion for all.
And here are just some of our favourites, because obviously I can't tell you about all my favourite ones on a short podcast.But here just dotted around the UK are some of our very, very favourite ways of transporting. First of all let's look at the Thames Clippers now if you haven't been on the Thames Clippers I really do recommend it is an amazing way is nothing else to see London from the water, what a great opportunity.But it's also so accessible, so if you rushing around from meeting to meeting or if you going around with the family on Disabled Access Day and to want to get with few different venues around London are you unsure how to do it without traffic jams and taxi fares then try the Thames Clippers.As Paul founded did, they are totally accessible spacious and provide much less stress and a much nicer view than the two the water transport is definitely making waves in London so it's a brilliant thing to experience for Disabled Access Day itself.
If you are going to London or if you don't really fancy getting on the water, there are other things for you to get involved when in in terms of transport. One of them is the tram network in Manchester and this is a tram network running right through the city, with level access throughout so if your wheelchair user or you got some kind of mobility impairment this will be a really really great way of getting round the city for you. It's really one to be rivalled is the Manchester Tram Network when it comes to city living on a budget as well.So you can forget all these high car parking fees and just enjoy the experience of going around on this tram and looking at Manchester through the window, it really is brilliant.And the best bit there’s no special equipment needed for disabled people to get onto and off the trams, not even any portable or automatic ramps are required so is no dependence on staff necessary, winner, winner!
Let’s look at planes, if you are wanting to go somewhere quite exotic for Disabled Access Day, and we do have many many different countries taking part including Iceland, Portugal and Belgium. Then one of our main partners for Disabled Access Day is Gatwick Airport. and they really really had to be mentioned not only for their willingness to place inclusion in which is one of their priorities but also how they demonstrate this on the ground. And how they introduce access and inclusion from a ground level. The staff at the airport are given brilliant training the check-in and the security processes are made really really quick easy and stress-free as possible.And they're putting on some extra special events for Disabled Access Day from the 10th to 12 March.Now we all love a holiday but those at Gatwick also helping us to love landing back home as well.So if you are wanting to go somewhere exotic Gatwick Airport I would truly recommend somewhere to fly from and to.
So family days and transport all covered but what about when you've had your Access Day experience, when you've had the most amazing time with the family, friends or even on your own spiriting someone something or somewhere brand-new.How to tell people about that, now word-of-mouth is really really brilliant thing and I really recommend that you go and tell all your disabled friends and family all about it.There should be a better and a bigger way to make more of an impact right? Well you and Euan’s Guide is an amazing charity helping to support and power Disabled Access Day to help it really make a great impact. And and Euan’s Guide if you've not heard of them provide disabled access reviews two places from all over the UK she can go on Euan’s Guide as a disabled person typing a particular venue and see if someone else has already been reviewed it. and they might have reviewed everything from disabled parking to accessible toilets to how you get in and out of the venue and what's on offer white once you're inside. It's a really, really excellent way of circulating accessibility knowledge. And one thing that we want to encourage people to do at Disabled Access Day it is to review their venue or their experience on Euan’s Guide once disabled access date is over. So that disabled people their friends and their family can get involved later on in the year or of course on disabled access to next year.
So, how do you write a Euan's Guide review you can go on to you and guide website And there's loads and loads of hints, tips and inspiration for writing your own review on their if you want that.
What makes a great review, that something that can help you with on this podcast. Photos, videos and audio clips describing the venue are really helpful, so don't forget to take the camera and maybe even give somebody a little interview when you doubt why not? Potential visitors can then imagine and plan their experience before they even arrive, because as you know a lot of disabled people worry about three things. Whether they can park or get to a venue, how willthey be able to get in, or whether or not the bathroom will be accessible and fit their requirements.So can get photos of all three of these things and describe your experience you're onto a winner already. Think of the highlights of the visit as well with the staff really helpful and of course that's a massively important thing you can have the most accessible venue in the world but actually the thing that we've been told makes or breaks a trip is how helpful the staff are.So if the staff were particularly brilliant don't forget to mention it, if there was brilliant signage across the venue again make sure that that's in the review and if the access ramps were of a really great gradient for solo travellers you might not need assistance when once you’re there, again that's something that a lot of disabled people will want to know about.
So here are some hints and tips from the guys at Euan’s Guide themselves about what makes a brilliant review in terms of parking and transport don't forget to let people know if there is a car park or on street parking nearby and if there are any blue badge parking spaces as well.What about a convenient drop off point if you get a taxi? that's something that is also really really good to mention.If you're not driving and using public transport as part of your experience, know where the nearest station is or if there is a bus stop nearby how far away the nearest public transport is.Those are all things that other disabled people want to know and if you can let them know in advance and that's an absolutely amazing thing to be able to do.
When thinking about access, think about the doors at the automatic the easy to open is the level access for wheelchair users, and are there any ramps, if there are steps how many are there and actually within a venue can disabled people get to all the main areas and use them.I’ve been to many, many museums in different galleries where a lot of the access is brilliant, but some of the most exciting exhibitions are up some stairs and I can’t get to them, and again that's something that disabled people it's really good for them to know in advance so they don't get the hopes up a little bit too much, like I often have. Again, what’s the signage like and can you easily find out where to go, what’s the lift like what type are they and how big are they and other any alternative reading formats as well when it comes to looking at gallery photos or museum exhibits. Do they have information available in Braille or large print and is a hearing late for deaf or hard of hearing customers?