Accessible Places is a new website which will help consumers with additional access needs find the best accessible places around the world to spend their leisure time, places that have been reviewed by people with the same access needs.
Existing travel websites contain mostly generic reviews, stating for example ‘suitable for wheelchair users’, which is of no use if you have a sight or hearing impairment or you’re getting older and are a bit unsteady on your feet.  In fact what may be suitable for a small manual wheelchair probably won’t be suitable for a larger electric wheelchair.  Everyone has different access needs.  Accessible Places also welcomes reviews from parents or carers of babies and toddlers who have their own specific access needs.

The website allows you to set up your own specific tick-box review form by selecting from the access needs already registered, already in excess of 100, and by adding access needs that aren’t listed yet.  You can then print off your form and start reviewing shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes, tourist attractions and hotels you visit, entering the results onto the Accessible Places website when you return.  This means the information can be shared with everyone, giving a more targeted, relevant review to those with the same access needs.

Steve Wilkinson, Director of ¹Accessible Places said “To make Accessible Places work we need people with additional access needs to review the places they visit so we can promote accessible places around the world, and ultimately we’ll encourage owners and managers of businesses to become more accessible”.

A ²survey carried out in 2006 into the opinions and shopping habits of disabled customers revealed that  83% of disabled people ‘walked away’ unable or unwilling to make a purchase, the most important factor being inaccessible premises.  A recent Government ³report suggests that the situation hasn’t changed much, stating that disabled customers are a significant but poorly addressed market worth £40-£80 billion per annum and that small companies could be losing one in five of their customers.
Website:  http://accessibleplaces.net
 
Contact Details
Steve Wilkinson, Director
Tel: 0783 4760 375
Email:   ( )
Twitter: @accessiblebiz
Facebook: http://facebook.com/accessibleplaces
Accessible Business CIC, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
(ENDS)
___________________________________________________________________________
Notes to Editors:
1.         Accessible Places is the trading name of the social enterprise company Accessible Business CIC, a “dealing with disability” initiative of Accessibility Champion,...