About Our Website, App, and Organisation
AccessAble provide free online Detailed Access Guides to thousands of venues across the UK and Ireland.
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How can I get my venue featured?
If you would like your venue featured on www.AccessAble.co.uk please email us at [email protected]
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How do you get the information in an Access Guide?
We get this information by sending a surveyor to visit each venue. The surveyor collects the data on a hand held computer, taking relevant measurements and photographs and talking to a representative of the service face to face. The survey template that is used can collect over 1000 individual pieces of information, per venue, relating to accessibility. The template has been developed in consultation with 100s of different disability groups.
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How are you funded?
Our funding comes from our partners who commission Access Guides and other services from us. We currently work with over 350 partners across the UK and Ireland.
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How can I get involved?
There are loads of ways you can get involved with AccessAble. You can sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to get the latest news and join in our discussion groups. You can come along to one of our engagement events or surveyor workshops. You can suggest a venue for us to include on the website or a way we can promote our Access Guides. You can also apply for a role in our friendly team.
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My area isn't featured, how can I get it on the website?
Our aim is to have Access Guides for everywhere, we don't want there to be a postcode lottery when it comes to access information. However, at the moment we do have different levels of coverage, depending on where you are, and this is down to the support and funding we have or don't have from partners. If you would like to help us bring AccessAble to your area or an area you are interested in, please send us an email to [email protected]
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Why do you cover venues that aren't accessible to me?
AccessAble does not aim to tell anyone what is right or wrong for them, we aim to give detailed information about what you will find at a particular building or attraction. We provide information that relates to a wide range of conditions and we recognise that what is accessible to one person is not necessarily accessible to another person. For example, what a wheelchair user, someone who is neurodivergent and a person with hearing loss will be looking for will really vary. As a result we provide information and people then decide what is accessible to them.
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Can you provide printed copies of Detailed Access Guides? What about alternative formats?
We are happy to print and send hard copies of specific Detailed Access Guides, or any other promotional materials, on request and can provide these in alternative formats as required. If you'd like to request printed materials or an alternative format, please get in touch with us.
Email address: [email protected] (opens email client)
Phone: 01438 842 710
Text: 07897 023 494
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How often is this information reviewed?
Every venue on the website is contacted each year to find out if their access has changed. A venue owner or customer can contact us at any time to inform us of changes to venues. Venues which have had structural changes are revisited by AccessAble surveyors annually, a note of any changes will be made as soon as we are informed, but full details will not be taken until we can collect them in person.
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How do I link to AccessAble.co.uk?
To link to www.AccessAble.co.uk please email us at [email protected]
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What are the recommended height ranges for fixtures and fittings in an accessible toilet?
- The toilet seat should be 47cm to 49cm from the floor.
- The toilet roll holder should be 80cm to 100cm from the floor.
- The wash basin should be 72cm to 74cm from the floor.
- The soap dispenser should be 80cm to 100cm from the floor.
- The towel dispenser should be 80cm to 100cm from the floor.
- The hand dryer should be 80cm to 100cm from the floor.
- The underside of the baby change table should be 70cm to 75cm from the floor.
- A coat hook for a seated user should be 95cm to 115cm from the floor.
- A coat hook for a standing user should be 130cm to 150cm from the floor.
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My venue has received a call from AccessAble, what is this about?
Every venue on our website is contacted each year by a member of our team to find out if access has changed. Our call team will ask each venue questions about their accessibility. If there have been structural changes they will arrange for our surveyors to revisit the venue so that we can update the Access Guide.
It is our commitment to anyone who uses our service, because we know that accessibility information needs to be detailed, accurate and up to date.
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What is what3words?
what3words points to a very specific location.
Its developers divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each measuring 3m by 3m (10ft by 10ft) and each having a unique, randomly assigned three-word address. It's an easy way to find and share exact locations. Click here to find out more.
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What is a Virtual Access Guide?
Our new Virtual Access Guides use 360-degree imagery, enabling you to ‘virtually’ explore routes to key facilities like accessible toilets and Changing Places, so you can find out exactly what to expect when you arrive. Click this link to see an example of a Virtual Access Guide, and watch this video to find out more.
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How can I deactivate my AccessAble account?
To deactivate your AccessAble App or website account, you will need to login to the website, www.AccessAble.co.uk. From within the My Account area of the website, you are able to 'deactivate your account' which will remove your personal data from our database. You are able to sign up again at any time in the future.
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How do I contact the venues listed on www.AccessAble.co.uk?
If you’d like to contact any of the venues listed on www.AccessAble.co.uk directly, with feedback or questions, you can use the contact details listed at the top of the venue’s Detailed Access Guide. These include a telephone number, a link to send an email, and a link to visit the venue’s website.
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What are the recommended height ranges for counters and reception desks?
Counters and reception desks should include two work surface heights to accommodate standing and seated users (including wheelchair users). The surface height for a seated user should be between 76cm and 86cm, and the surface height for a standing user should be between 95cm and 110cm.
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Why do the images in AccessAble’s Detailed Access Guides not have alternative text?
Our Access Guides contain lots of detailed information. This includes written information about everything shown in all images. Our aim is to provide the best possible experience for all users, including screen reader users. Feedback from these users tells us that adding alternative text to Access Guide images would duplicate the detailed written information, resulting in a more frustrating user experience.
About Accessibility and Disability
Here are some questions about accessibility and disability we get asked a lot. If you don’t find an answer here please contact us and we will try to help.
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How do I apply for or renew a Blue Badge?
Answer questions about your disability, check your eligibility and fill in an application form to apply for or renew a Blue Badge online on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/apply-blue-badge?step-by-step-nav
Alternatively, you can contact your local council to apply by post instead.
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How do I appeal a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision?
Before you can appeal to a tribunal, you’ll need to ask the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at the decision again. This is called mandatory reconsideration.
If the DWP didn’t change their decision when you asked them to look at it again, you can appeal to an independent panel, called a tribunal.
The tribunal looks at the evidence from both sides, then makes a final decision. The tribunal is part of the court system - it’s not part of the DWP.
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Am I eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long term ill-health or disability. You must be aged 16 or over and have not reached State Pension age to claim.
You must also have a health condition or disability where you:
- have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
- expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 6 months to live)
You must have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years, and be in one of these countries when you apply. If you’ve recently returned from living in another EEA country, you might be able to get PIP sooner.
The process is different in Northern Ireland.
You can get PIP whether you’re working or not.
There are additional rules if you live abroad or if you’re not a British citizen.
Information taken from https://www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility
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Where can I get a Radar key?
The Radar key gives you independent access to over 9000 accessible toilets in the UK - including shopping centres, pubs, cafés, department stores, bus and train stations.
Official Radar keys can be purchased from Disability Rights UK
Phone: 0203 687 0790
Email: [email protected]
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What is proof of disability documentation?
A copy of your award letter from the Department for Work and Pensions showing that you are eligible for disability benefits is normally accepted as proof that you’re disabled. Alternatively you could show a copy of your blue badge or your disabled peresons bus pass.
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How do I report a hate crime?
If you’ve experienced, or know someone who has experienced, a hate incident or hate crime you can report it to the police.
You can contact the police directly, or you can use an online reporting facility such as True Vision. There are also local organisations who can help you report the incident or crime.
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What are reasonable adjustments for disabled people?
The Equality Act 2010 says changes or adjustments should be made to ensure you can access the following things if you’re disabled:
- education
- employment
- housing
- goods and services like shops, banks, cinemas, hospitals, council offices, leisure centres associations and private clubs like the Scouts and Guides, private golf clubs and working men clubs.
Adjustments only have to be made if it’s reasonable to do so. What's a reasonable thing to ask for depends on things like:
- your disability
- how practicable the changes are
- if the change you ask for would overcome the disadvantage you and other disabled people experience
- the size of the organisation
- how much money and resources are available
- the cost of making the changes
- if any changes have already been made.
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Where can I hire a wheelchair/mobility scooter?
Local Red Cross branches often lend wheelchairs.
Some shopping centres have a Shopmobility scheme, where you can borrow a wheelchair or mobility scooter while you're shopping. This is usually free.
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What is a Sunflower Lanyard and how do I get one?
The Sunflower is a globally recognised symbol for non-visible disabilities, also known as hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities. Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time. You can purchase a Sunflower Lanyard pack, in a range of languages including English from: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/shop.html