Access advisory visits and audits
At first glance, it can appear to be a daunting task to set out on the road to becoming accessible to your visitors, but with some help and advice from us we trust that this will become a little easier as we talk you through the options that may be open to you. In the past, some operators have assumed that it is only about becoming accessible to wheelchair users, but it is important to establish that our approach is much broader than this, taking into account the needs and requirements of older customers, or those with reduced eyesight or hearing difficulties for example.
The safety of your guests is paramount, and your first thought should be towards ensuring they can leave the building or facilities safely in the event of an emergency at the same time as you think about how to get them in.
As well as the built environment, think about the external environment and the surrounding area.
For example, do people have to get in and out of their vehicles in order to open and close gates before they reach you, are there cattle grids to cross, what’s the road surface like, is there a level parking area close to the entrance, is there a covered area where guests can gain access to and from their vehicle to avoid the pouring rain, in a medical or other emergency will their mobile phone operate in your area, do you have information about nearby accessible attractions, pubs and restaurants?
What will you tell people about your facilities, how will you achieve this?
What about disability awareness or equality training for you or your staff?
We ask many questions about your proposals but also provide the answers, as for over 25 years, many thousands of older or disabled people and their families, personal assistants and companions have told Tourism for All what they would like to see given the chance.
With over 14 years of working with the tourism industry to create better facilities for less-abled guests, Tourism for All's trading subsidiary, Tourism for All Services Limited offers unrivalled experience and understanding of both the industry and customers’ needs.
Contact Brian Seaman on 0845 124 9974/ email brian@tourismforall.org.uk
(Last Updated: 12-02-2008)