Discover somewhere new for Disabled Access Day!
What is Disabled Access Day?
Disabled Access Day is held this year on the 16th March 2019 and is all about visiting somewhere that you’ve never been to before and trying something new in an atmosphere of cooperation, safety and fun. It’s about places helping to create opportunities, experiences and a warm welcome.
Here are some key messages to think about during Disabled Access Day and into the future.
Try something new:
We encourage people to try something new. It may be visiting somewhere, trying out something new, watching, listening or simply being there.
To celebrate #AccessDay we have put together a few of our favourite accessible locations for you to visit:
Encourage places:
Encourage places to create opportunities for disabled visitors to feel confident in exploring somewhere new in a safe, unhurried and welcoming environment.
Raise awareness:
Raise awareness about the importance of disabled access and encourage conversations between disabled people, businesses and venues.
Showcasing:
An opportunity for places that have great accessibility to showcase the services and facilities they provide.
Sometimes people say that it should be every day. It would be fantastic if #AccessDay was every day and society was barrier-free for all. We are not there yet, and until that day comes, Disabled Access Day hopes that with a positive message we can one day achieve that!
Sometimes activities take some extra arranging with additional dedicated time and Disabled Access Day provides an opportunity to do this.
To celebrate #AccessDay we have put together a few of our favourite accessible locations for you to visit:
Transport Facilities:
Welcome Break – We are thrilled to have installed Changing Places into 10x Welcome Break Service Stations providing vital confidence to the disabled community as they travel across the UK.
You can find a Welcome Break Changing Places at Membury West (M4), South Mimms (M25), Hopwood (M42), Gordano (M5), Newport Pagnell North (M1), Corley North (M6 – Near Coventry), Sarn Park (M4 -Near Bridgend), Fleet South (M3) and Charnock Richard North (M6) and Keele South(M6).
Plan your journey with the changing places map here.
Airports – We have installed Changing Places into major airports including Heathrow (Terminal 4) and Stansted Airport (Landside and Airside). These vital facilities are perfectly positioned in these important amenities.
Plan your journey with the changing places map here.
Venues:
Thorpe Park – Fancy visiting somewhere fun this Disabled Access Day? Why don’t you try visiting Thorpe Park. As one of the top attractions in the UK, Thorpe Park is synonymous with fun and thrilling days out for families. With an OpeMed installed Changing Places, this amusement park is a perfect location to visit this disabled access day.
For venue access information, click here.
Plan your journey with the changing places map here.
What’s on at the National Army Museum?
From 8.30am to 10am, the galleries will be open early for families with additional sensory needs. Select interactives will be turned off, noises and lights turned down, and a quiet room will be available for downtime.
Explore the Museum further with sensory backpacks that enhance the experience with tactile aids.
All visitors to this special early opening will be sent a visual story in advance to provide an idea of what to expect on arrival. Please note that the Museum opens to the general public at 9.30am, with the galleries opening at 10am.
The museum is also running two storytelling sessions about animals in the British Army. These sessions are delivered in both BSL and English, with interactive elements to get the whole family involved. The museum also includes a Changing Places facility.
We hope where ever you visit this Disabled Access Day, you have a great day and enjoy supporting the disabled community. For more information on how to take part visit www.disabledaccessday.com.