Get Involved! www.disabledaccessday.com 1 Foreword The first ever Disabled Access Day happened on the 17th January 2015, initiated by a group of disabled people and their friends and sponsored by Euan’s Guide. The day ended up being a lot bigger than initial expectations! The idea for Disabled Access Day We were inspired by the idea of came from Paul Ralph, a powerchair Disabled Access Day and the user, who had been on a ‘try it out potential for it to increase the day’ with a local bus company. numbers of conversations between venues and disabled people, as well “Prior to this, I had not used the bus as to raise the profile of disabled network in my hometown because I access. We were delighted by the was unsure how the ramp operated, backing from the many venues, how ticketing worked and if my organisations and businesses powerchair would fit. that got involved, in particular their appetite to improve their I attended a demonstration own accessibility and to get more organised by the local bus company feedback from disabled people. with the opportunity to explore a stationary bus. Extra staff were We loved hearing about what on hand to explain the process of everyone got up to on the day and getting on and off safely. There was were truly inspired by the journeys also ample time to become more people took, some of which you can familiar with the layout of the bus read in this report. and with what you need to know as a wheelchair using passenger. The first Disabled Access Day was really a pilot, achieved with I’m now a frequent bus user. very little resource but lots of drive to improve disabled access, Chatting with friends, I thought to showcase some of the good how great it would be if there were practice, and to try out some new similar initiatives, including some places! Given the limited resources more informal events, happening the project had, we were blown across the country on one specific away by the results, and hope that day. The idea of encouraging next time will be much, much bigger. disabled people to also try something new that day appeared We hope you’ll join us next year on and out of it came the idea of the 12th March 2016! Disabled Access Day.” Kiki MacDonald Paul Ralph Co-Founder of Euan’s Guide 2 The aims Disabled Access Day aims to be a fun event that everyone can take part in no matter where they live. Try something new Encourage disabled people and their families, friends and carers to try something new. Confidence Give disabled people the confidence to explore new places in a welcoming setting. Highlight Highlight accessible venues across the UK and further afield. Staff training Give venues an opportunity to refresh their staff training and focus on disabled access. Educate Educate the wider public on the access issues faced by disabled people. Raise awareness Raise awareness of the importance of disabled access. Showcase Give venues an opportunity to showcase the services and facilities they provide to disabled people and reflect on how they can improve. 3 What happened in 2015? Individuals could get involved by simply visiting somewhere new and venues could take part by organising a special event, providing an incentive or by extending a special welcome to disabled visitors. A few highlights: LONDON EDINBURGH The National Theatre opened its Lothian Buses organised an event doors for people to learn more which gave disabled people the about the accessible performances opportunity to learn more about it hosts throughout the year and the accessible features of their provided backstage tours. buses and try out a demonstration bus. UK WIDE BELFAST Over 170 Caffè Nero stores got The NOW group celebrated involved in the day. They offered the event by hosting a ‘Sharing a hand crafted coffee to everyone Session’ for young disabled people taking part. to share ideas on places with good access and discounts for disabled people. 4 2015 Activity Hotspots A map of the UK & Ireland showing locations of events, activities and venues taking part in Disabled Access Day 2015. 5 Mik Scarlet @MikScarlet A wonderful @Access_Day wiv the equally wonderful @digidiane outside Mik’s Day @StPaulsLondon. Roll on next year! Mik Scarlet & his wife, Diane, ventured to St. Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of London. “Our visit to St Pauls was amazing. The staff were so helpful and friendly and our guide was super informative and engaging. A real day to remember and I can’t wait until the next Disabled Access Day, as it allows you to visit places and KNOW that you the access will be spot on!” Mik Scarlet is a Broadcaster, Journalist, Actor, Musician, Access / Inclusion Expert & Wheelchair User 6 Borough Market @BoroughMarket The first 50 people who come to the pod get a FREE Borough Market coolbag & Borough Market plenty of #AccessDay info is available London’s iconic Borough Market hosted “Taste & Aroma”, a Saturday Demonstration kitchen which, for the first time, featured a British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter. “We had great engagement from customers and really positive social media coverage - we’ll also be making BSL signed demonstration kitchens a regular feature as a result” Kate Howell, Director of Development and Communications, Borough Market 7 What people did... 01 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 8 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 1. MK Centre for Integrated Living. 9. A library visit in Leeds. 2. An Assistance Dogs demonstration 10. A garden tour of the Royal Botanic in Edinburgh. Garden Edinburgh. 3. Young people at WAC Arts in London. 11. A group from Freespace taking a tour 4. Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell. of Scottish Parliament. 5. A family visiting the Houses of 12. A child enjoying a visit to The Deep in Parliament, London. Hull. 6. Odyssey Cinema, St Albans 13. A powerchair user at the Lothian 7. A family visiting the Tower Bridge Buses demonstration. Exhibition, London. 14. A cinema visit in London. 8. Cycle fun at York Sport Cycling. 9 What people said... Fiona I'll make it my business to go somewhere new that day... and to make note of the accessibility! This is a great idea and a positive way of generating awareness and hopefully change in how people, business and organisations think about and approach access. ‘What are you doing on Disabled Access Day?’ BBC Ouch C My partner and I are both disabled and will go to the I may take the chance to play cinema on Saturday. It will be tourist and visit the Tower of the first time in 8 years that London instead of just going Lisa we have been to the cinema. past it or go to one of the There’s a small cinema in our museums or galleries in London. town, that we will try to access. Tracey Brilliant idea! It’s good to have a non-whingey voice for the I'm a disabled lady who has frustrations of getting about in a never visited Caffe Nero. I'm world that is sometimes unaware up for visiting somewhere new! of the disabled population. Sue ‘Give us an equal chance to participate in life and we will prove our worth – and pay our way’ Melanie Reid, The Times Magazine 10 ‘Access day could spur disabled people to new adventures’ Disability News Service Laura A new coffee venue... thinking... Christoph How exciting! I’d like to make a difference, find venues ‘Disabled Access Day A Great Success’ to praise for excellent Able Magazine accessibility, and also find venues which need improvement and alert Pleased to get out and about with my Nick them to the need for disabled daughter, her quality of life is change. much improved if we go places and do things! ‘Museums To Take Part in First Disabled Access Day’ Museums Association Sophie Three days away... I am a powerchair user who is always willing and ready searching for new places to go and things to go out and DO to do with friends. This sounds great and I something! hope it's the start of something great. I Brenda will be taking part! ‘Disabled Access Day Encourages People To Visit Somewhere New’ The Londonist 11 Who took part in 2015? Organisations Hampstead Theatre Household Cavalry Museum Capability Scotland Houses of Parliament Euan’s Guide Huddersfield Sports Centre ENAT Inn on the Park English Federation of Disability Sport Living Sport Scope London Canal Museum Scottish Disability Sport Lyric Hammersmith Sense Scotland MK Centre for Integrated Living Standard Life Mollett’s Farm Tourism For All National Theatre Tourism South East No. 1 Royal Crescent in Bath Visit England Norfolk County Council Visit Scotland Oxford University Museums Visit Wales Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre Royal Air Force Museum Royal Engineers Museum & Library UK Wide Sculthorpe Moor Nature Reserve Services for Independent Living Caffè Nero Shropshire Disability Network Visits Unlimited St. Paul’s Cathedral Barclays StarBistro (Cheltenham) St. James Theatre England Stratford Town Walk Suffolk Owl Sanctuary Accessible Derbyshire Tate Modern Ascot Racecourse Thames Clippers Aspire Leisure Centre The Art House BlueAssist UK Ltd The Deep Borough Market The Story Museum Buckingham Palace - The Queen’s The Swan at Streatley Gallery Thomas Pocklington Trust Caffe Concerto Thomley Hall Calvert Trust Exmoor Tower Bridge Exhibition Calvert Trust Kielder Tricycle Theatre Carver Care and Mobility Volunteer Cornwall Cutty Sark WAC Arts DASH Westminster Abbey Disabled Holiday Information Winchester Area Access For All Eureka! Worthing Leisure Hackney Museum 12 Northern Ireland Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre National Trust Aberdulais Tinworks and Belfast Lough Sailability Waterfall Positive Futures Sparkle NOW Group Tenby Golf Club The National Botanic Garden of Wales Trehyddion