Tag: accessible

World Theatre Day.

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As an avid theatre-goer, I firmly believe that the magic of the stage is something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and enjoy. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a live performance unfold before your eyes, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have seen a variety of shows at various theatres throughout England.

From the toe-tapping tunes of Mamma Mia to the dramatic storytelling of Evita, and the whimsical adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Pirates of Penzance, I’ve been captivated by the range of performances on offer.

Photo by Malik Talha on Pexels.com

Of course, as someone with specific access requirements, I do need to ensure that the theatre I’m attending is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible loo. Additionally, as a shorter individual, I also need to have a clear viewing point – even with my chair’s seat raised slightly higher than the average theatre seating.

It’s important to note that everyone’s access requirements may differ. Some may require a hearing loop, signed performances, or audio descriptions. Regardless of these needs, I firmly believe that the theatre should be a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

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Inclusion isn’t the same as Belonging.

Just because you’re included doesn’t mean you feel like you belong so inclusion isn’t the same as belonging.

I’ll explain further. Take this example a group of classmates decide to go bowling in and out for a meal in the evening they invite you along including you in the event you’re not left out.

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However when you get to the bowling alley you find there are steps down to where the actual bowling is. Now being in a wheelchair you can’t get down those steps. So while everyone else is bowling, you are left at the top having a drink, while you watch anyone else having fun. You don’t feel like you belong.

After this you all go to the pub for a meal together. The pub is it totally accessible, your friends checked it out in advance, and booked a table you could easily get to.

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Photo by ELEVATE on Pexels.com

They made sure the pub catered for everybody’s food requirements, and you all have a brilliant time, that’s when you feel like belonging!

As I’ve shown you are included on both things, but only one of them make you feel like you truly belong there. That’s the difference between the two.

Everybody should always feel like they belong, it’s lonely otherwise!

Dear businesses,

If you own a business be absolutely fantastic if you could give accurate and up-to-date information detailing your accessibility.

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At the moment if someone wants to know detailed access information, quite often it means that they need to to phone or email the company direct to find out further information as only the basics, if that, are put on websites.

Putting a wheelchair symbol on your website purely suggests that you believe that someone who uses a wheelchair can access your services.

What I want to know is whather you have a disabled loo, disabled parking spaces, do you have a lowered desk inside?

Are you all on one level, and if not do you have a lift? If you don’t have a lift do you have a second floor, I want to know what services I can on access and what I can’t. Do you provide an alternative method of access?

If you are a cafe or restaurant do you have tables of different heights that’s allowing people to choose whichever it is more comfortable for them?

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Hotels is no good just to say you have an accessible room. We need to know more information how much space is there to get around the room, does accessible bathroom have a shower or Bath? Do you provide a hoist? How do I access the room does it use a key card or a swipe card? How high is the bed?

All these things may seem silly to you, but it ensures but we get a room suitable for us and you don’t get lots of hassle because we complain.

You might not be 100% accessible, just be honest we would rather know! You might be accessible for someone who has mobility issues, but it’s not for a wheelchair user. So put that on your website.

This is just a few ideas but you get the gist.

Need a wee?

This is something we all need to do, it is a basic human need. So you probably don’t think about you just had to the toilet and then go back to whatever you were doing.

If you use a wheelchair or have other access needs then this basic need becomes slightly trickier. Where is the nearest new you can use? Is it locked, and if so do you have a key? Is it being used as a storage cupboard? Is there an emergency pull cord for you if necessary? Maybe you need a hoist, or grab rails, or enough room to manoeuvre your chair to enable transferring, is the room big enough?

They are more and more changing places toilets been added to buildings nowadays which is fantastic, however, not all of them I registered on the changing places website which means that people looking for them are not aware of there existence.

If you know of one, or just added one to a building yourself, please please register it. This will go long way in making many people’s lives easier. Allowing them to enjoy time out doing different things with family, friends, go to work, or hospital appointments etc…

The other upside of this is that you will also bring more business to your company, and to the local area, as people who rely on these loos will be able to go out more. Travelling further, and have longer days out.

If you want to create one of these changing places loos, or you want to register one that already exist, or you just need to find one yourself. Then please go to this website it will have the information you need. https://www.changing-places.org/

A toilet.

Craft trolley.

I think this trolley is great, it was so easy to put together, is built well and has different sections plus hooks to hang stuff on too.

Mine is kept by my desk, and has all the basic craft essentials stored in it. The glues, scissors, trimmer, double-sided tape, envelopes,card blanks etc….. and still there’s space left.

The trolley came from Amazon. Here’s the link to the item. https://amzn.to/3Ln55kr (sponsored link, meaning I may earn a small amount)

Powerchair Out of Action

On the Southport Pier before the control panel got locked! With the use of a powerchair, I can drive into a taxi, get on/off the bus and cover miles on footpaths to reach a chosen destination without depending on anyone else to drive me everywhere. My powerchair allows me to be independent and move about […]

Powerchair Out of Action

We need train staff! Petition hand-in Mon 20 Feb

Sarah Leadbetter from NFBUK getting on a train, with assistance. On Monday 20 February, WinVisible is joining the National Federation of the Blind (NFB UK) and Association of British Commuters at Downing St to hand in petitions to keep staff in train stations and to keep the guards on the train, for disabled / women’s […]

We need train staff! Petition hand-in Mon 20 Feb

Today.

Well the day started off with a pissing wet walk, 3 1/2 miles with the dog. One of us enjoyed it, guess which one, no not me.

Got back and had a cuppa to warm up again. Then got a few bits tidied away before pizza for lunch, in case you’re wondering it was pepperoni.

The next-door neighbour popped in briefly, much to the dog’s delight. The neighbours are lovely and always make a fuss of him.

Had a browse online of my social media accounts, e-mails etc…. now gotta sit down and do some quite frankly boring paperwork, but……. it’s in a good cause so will be worth the time spent doing it, yes I am finally going to be employing a P.A. (Personal Assistant) which is going to make life so much easier and allow for some spontaneity in my life and enable me to see friends and family more often hopefully as they’ll be driving my car as well as helping with other tasks that I need help to complete.

Well, have a absolutely fabulous afternoon while I spend a few hours doing the paperwork.

A box full of paperwork.

Getting about.

My favourite form of transport happens to be in my favourite city to visit. It is the Dublin tram (Luas) . Luas is the Irish word for speed. There are two tram lines, one is red and the other is green.

The tram network is incredibly accessible and wheelchair friendly. I was able to use the trams independently apart from needing help initially to purchase a ticket, and there may well have been a way to do this online – which would have got round the fact I couldn’t reach well enough to use the ticket machines.

The trams and the platform allow a level entry, with no ramp required and no gap to worry about. They stop at the places people need to go, such as the hospital, and museums.

All the announcements are made in English and Irish, so by the end a week I was able to recognise all the stop names, and knew the order in which they went.

Photo by Selim Karadayu0131 on Pexels.com

Important Day for inclusion.

Yesterday I went to Portcullis House in London to take part in the official launch of the Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry. This aims to make walking & wheeling more inclusive for us all, and to give disabled people a voice in the process.

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/all-themes/all/disabled-citizens-inquiry/?fbclid=IwAR1eWAS6BR4AD0nDmIMzMps7Ra0WqLFTXpmdx27PYJNOW1v8ps5Jggo1E-g