e-newsletter: May 2006
Just when summer looked to be upon us, down came the rain. And as we script May’s Newsletter – it’s still pouring here in England! Never mind, a bit of the ‘wet stuff’ can in no way dampen our enthusiasm for the task in hand – to create the internet’s number one access, special needs and mobility resource.
Meet the team
One advantage of today’s information technology is that we have been able to build a team of skilled and dedicated people from around the UK who all contribute to the ongoing development of ‘the Guide’. With management functions in Gloucestershire, web design and development in Suffolk, research in Manchester and sales in Glasgow, we are a shining example of how electronic communication has transformed the nature of doing and managing business.
But we believe that e-commerce needs a human face too, which is why the team travels thousands of miles each year to meet with advertisers and users, as we strive to deliver the best possible service to both. And to build on what has been achieved we will be welcoming new members to the Good Access fold in the coming months and will be introducing them and existing colleagues in forthcoming newsletters.
Richard Thompson - Managing Director
UK Leisure TimeThe UK’s museums have done more than most in addressing the needs of visitors with physical and sensory impairments. Indeed some of the most innovative access solutions can be found there, enabling people of all abilities to experience the history and heritage of our Islands. Five such museums are Pictavia (new to the Guide), Imperial War Museum Duxford, The Helicopter Museum, Museum of Archaeology and The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery. We look forward to featuring more museums shortly.
When we launched our new worldwide travel portal, Holiday Access Direct, last month we knew it would cause a stir. We did not however anticipate the response from the travel trade – and especially high street travel agents. Historically, mainstream travel agents would not have been an obvious choice for accessible worldwide travel but things are changing rapidly out there and agents are recognising the benefits of providing specialist services to disabled travellers. Two such agents are Barrhead Travel and Travel Economy and we anticipate more agents coming on board.
New accommodation featuring on Holiday Access Direct includes a superb villa in Orlando – Accessible Florida, which offers quality accommodation just minutes from all the action in one of the world’s most exciting holiday playgrounds.
For many people, access to mobility aids and equipment is an essential requirement when planning overseas trips. This can limit options if rental services are unavailable in your desired destination. Two products which can overcome such obstacles are available from Manchester based mobility company Aquasoothe. Designed to be easy to pack and carry, the Enigma ‘wheelchair in a bag’ is the perfect solution when wheels are a must on arrival at your destination. And for motorised mobility, the compact, lightweight and portable ‘Active 8’ scooter can make getting around even easier.
Independent Living May has seen the arrival of some of the UK’s leading mobility companies onto the Good Access Guide. Three are from north of the border in bonnie Scotland. Edinburgh (Bathgate) based scooter specialists TLC Health are also pain management, cardiology and respiratory equipment suppliers. Kincaid Mobility of Glasgow, with their 5000 square feet of dedicated showroom, provide a wide range of mobility, paediatric and sports equipment. A company pursuing a different route to market (literally) are Central Mobility. The management team of Maureen McIlroy and Ian Martin have established Scotland's newest Mobility Assessment Centre in Glasgow’s Forge Market. A second centre is due for opening soon at the city’s Bellshill Market. We wish them all the best of luck.
MotoringWe’ve some exciting plans for our Motoring site including high profile positioning on the Good Access Guide home page.
We are in discussions with some of the UK’s major players with the aim of making this the definitive site for accessible motoring.
DDA NewsService providers large and small are obliged to address their obligations under The Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This means making ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the way they do things and may include physical changes to their premises, altered practices and procedures, disability awareness training and the introduction of alternative information formats.
Alternative Format:
It is no longer acceptable to deliver information in a single format – we must all be able to offer alternatives. These may
include large print, Braille, audio and, almost certainly…an accessible website. A leading
provider of translation (transcription) services is Adept, who promise
to provide ‘any format which increases the access to information for disabled people or persons’. We think they are going to be extremely busy!
That’s it for May. We look forward to bringing your more from the UK’s leading online guide to life, leisure and mobility in next months Good Access Guide Newsletter.
