Ten Top Tips for
Better Accessibility
Jenifer Littman – Associate Consultant – Tourism for All UK
World Class = Accessible
• 11m in the UK have a condition recognised by the Equality Act – that’s
almost 1 in 5.* *Taking Part Survey 2007/8
• They have an annual spend of at least £50 billion.
• By 2025, more than a third of the UK’s population will be
over the age of 55, with a corresponding increase in
hearing, visual and mobility impairment
• Visitors from the US, where 20% of the population has a disability,
have high expectations of accessibility. There are 124 million disabled
people in Europe – plus older people
with their families.
• World class events must be accessible
PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES
This is about the art of the possible – the legislation asks that you
take ‘reasonable steps’ to removal of barriers. Think through the
visitor journey.
Improving your accessibility is an investment that may be very
inexpensive and will repay itself
REMEMBER – ITS NOT JUST ABOUT WHEELCHAIRS!
See ‘Easy Ways to Win’ by VisitEngland for a host of tips.
http://www.visitengland.org/busdev/bussupport/access/facilities/index.aspx
Also www.tourismforall.org.uk/Advice-for-Tourism-Businesses.html
Here are MY Top Tips:
Tip No I: Clutter Free (and don’t move things)
Westward Living
Tip No 2: Alarms that work for different people
• Vibrating pillow alarm Flashing light alarm
• Toilet/bathroom emergency cord
• Ensure all controls are reachable
Tip No. 3: Good signage
No. 4: Helpful bits of kit
No 5: Good Visibility
• Large print menus and information sheets
• Good contrast (Avoid all white toilets/bathrooms.
Provide coloured towels for use with white
furniture)
• Good lighting
where needed
• Nosings on stairs
Tip No 6: Adjustable heights – from kitchen tops to
sinks to bed-raisers
A Little Bit of Heaven
No.7: Have some training
• How to greet or guide a disabled person
• How to help a person with limited hearing
• What not to do
• Make people feel welcome
• Check the wording you use
• ‘Welcome All’ training
• Tourism for All online training • http://www.tourismforall.org.uk/TFA-TrainingCourses.html
INFORMATION IS THE KEY!
No.8: Provide accurate information
• Create an access statement Online tool on
VisitEngland
http://www.access.tourismtools.co.uk/
• http://www.scandichotels.com/Always-atScandic/Special-needs/
• Check the accessibility of your website
• Include access information on your website
• Use correct terminology (accessible toilet, not
disabled toilet) etc
Provide MORE information
As well as your own facility make sure that you can
offer other useful information to guests:
• Accessible transport to get to you (car hire,
accessible taxis, public transport)
• Accessible parking
• Accessible places to visit, stay, shop, eat and drink
• Accessible activities
Getting out and about…
No.9: Market your accessible facility
“I always find out essential information such as
level access and availability of cabs before I go
anywhere, mainly via the internet” *
*Access to tourism: disabled people’s views 2012
• If you have good facilities, shout about it! Don’t
let them go to waste.
• Enter the awards schemes
• OpenBritain website brings together accessibility
information in one place and is linked to
VisitEngland, Virgin Air, MS Society and more
www.openbritain.net
No 10: Offer Great Customer Service
• Many access issues can be overcome with
great customer service
• Thinking through your offering from a
different perspective will always lead you to
become a better provider
• Its not just about ‘them’ – its about You
You too may one day need a little extra care!!
www.openbritain.net
THANK YOU!
[email protected]