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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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Ten Top Tips forBetter 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
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.aspxAlso www.tourismforall.org.uk/Advice-for-Tourism-Businesses.html
Here are MY Top Tips:
PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES
Tip No I: Clutter Free (and don’t move things)
Westward Living
• Vibrating pillow alarm Flashing light alarm
• Toilet/bathroom emergency cord• Ensure all controls are reachable
Tip No 2: Alarms that work for different people
Tip No. 3: Good signage
No. 4: Helpful bits of kit
• 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
No 5: Good Visibility
Tip No 6: Adjustable heights – from kitchen tops to sinks to bed-raisers
A Little Bit of Heaven
• 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-Training-Courses.html
No.7: Have some training
INFORMATION IS THE KEY!
• Create an access statement Online tool on VisitEngland http://www.access.tourismtools.co.uk/
• http://www.scandichotels.com/Always-at-Scandic/Special-needs/
• Check the accessibility of your website• Include access information on your
website• Use correct terminology (accessible toilet,
not disabled toilet) etc
No.8: Provide accurate 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
Provide MORE information
Getting out and about…
“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.9: Market your accessible facility
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!!
