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going out
Make it showtime for everyone

People often avoid going out because they fear venues may not cater to their needs. Now,
they can use an app to find out how disability friendly a venue is and post their own reviews.
Hannah McCreesh talks to the team who want to get rid of access anxiety

t is not only sad but also an people can go to calm down
incredible injustice that, in 2020, should they be feeling anxious or
Ileaving the house can still be a overwhelmed.
source of fear and anxiety for The app is not intended to be
people with learning disabilities used only by people with
and autism. disabilities – it gives carers, friends
Places not being accessible is the and families a valuable opportunity
primary reason for this. Countless to become access champions and
venues describe themselves as submit reviews and share their
being disability friendly yet, upon experiences of disability access at
arrival, you find out that they have different venues.
completely mis-sold themselves.
Just like that, an enjoyable day Access audits
or sometimes even holidays Venues that receive consistently
are tainted by feelings of stress poor ratings and feedback can
and anxiety. contact Access Rating for help to
Unfortunately, accessibility for improve the experience for
disabled people is often just a disabled and non-disabled visitors.
tick-box exercise for venue owners. All about going out: Mark Esho, Rich Copson and Jignesh Vaidya The team combine their
Without proper feedback from knowledge of disabled access
people with learning and physical Vaidya have brought out an accessibility regulations with personal experience to
disabilities, venues will continue to come app called Access Rating. make getting around easier.
up short when it comes to providing a The founders were fed up with spending As part of their services, they offer
space where disabled people can feel time researching venues before visiting access audits and a disability access
relaxed and are catered for. only to find that, upon arrival, the consultancy for people managing venues
It is a catch 22 situation. Without people disabled toilet was being used as a and other buildings used by the public.
with disabilities giving venues both positive cloakroom or other shocking situations. Venue owners and managers can ensure
and negative feedback, they will continue their building complies with disabled
to do the bare minimum they can do to get First app made by users access regulations and meets best
by or remain unaware of access issues. While some disability accessibility apps practice standards.
“ Without people As Access Rating is made by and for grown used to visiting venues and being
are already out there, none are user led.
Esho says: “As a disabled person, I have
let down by their accessibility. I am tired
people with disabilities, its founders hope
it will make a difference to the lives of
of having days out and plans ruined by
giving venues positive and
negative feedback, they people with physical disabilities, learning their simple inability to adhere to proper
disabilities and autism.
accessibility standards.
“By developing Access Rating, we hope
In 30 seconds, users are able to search
will continue to do the through more than 100,000 venues and to eliminate ‘access anxiety’ for people
bare minimum ” restaurants throughout the UK to find with physical and
learning disabilities –
a venue and submit their disability
at the thought of leaving
If this is to change, people with learning access review. that’s the anxiety faced
Users can rate each venue from 1
disabilities and their families, friends and (poor) to 5 (good). They can comment on the house and running
carers need to be active and speak up to physical issues, such as accessible toilets, into troubles caused
challenge venues that are simply not and a free comment section allows people by accessibility.
accessible enough. That is the only way to criticise or praise aspects of venues and “No disabled person
accessibility will become a priority tip off other visitors about them. should have to deal
for these businesses. For people with learning disabilities and with that. Together, I
It can be difficult to know where to autism, this could be a valuable opportunity believe, we can make a
start, but three disabled entrepreneurs to say whether a venue has flashing lights real, tangible difference
think they have the answer. or lots of noise – anything that could cause to the lives of the
Discouraged by their collective a meltdown or sensory overload. everyone living with a
experiences of poor venue accessibility, Visitors could also include information disability in the UK.” n
Mark Esho, Richard Copson and Jignesh about sensory rooms or places where ● www.accessrating.com

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 27