Check out Chorley for access
Disabled residents and visitors can now check out access to shops and venues across Chorley thanks to a new online service which is being launched this week.
DisabledGo, a national disability organisation, and Chorley Council have worked together to create a new accessibility checker for people with disabilities, dementia and their carers, friends and family so they can find out about the accessibility of places they would like to visit.
The free online access guide to over 200 places across the borough, which is launched on Friday 8 April, also provides information about parking, walking distances and toilet facilities.
Speaking about the upcoming launch DisabledGo’s Executive Director, Anna Borthwick, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have worked with the Council and local disabled people to produce the access guide to Chorley. The Council is leading the way in Lancashire and we really hope others will follow their innovative approach to promoting the area to all.”
Chorley Council chief executive Gary Hall said: “This guide will be really useful to people with disabilities and dementia and their carers, family and friends so they can check out a place and know exactly what facilities and access it has – whether there’s a parking bay nearby, if a hearing loop is available, if staff are dementia-trained and so on. It should give people the confidence they need to get out and about in Chorley.”
Disabled Go is a social enterprise working across the UK to tackle social isolation and inequality by providing better information. It was founded by wheelchair user Dr Gregory Burke in response to his frustration about the lack of information for people with disabilities trying to access new places.
DisabledGo’s website www.disabledgo.com aims to answer everyone’s questions about the accessibility of places they would like to visit. It has been developed by the disabled people who use it, reflecting the needs of people with a wide range of impairments.
All sorts of places are included, restaurants, shops, leisure centres, parks, theatres, libraries, museums, supermarkets, hotels – this list goes on! Crucially, each place featured on www.disabledgo.com has been personally visited and assessed by one of DisabledGo’s surveys to ensure accurate, detailed information is collected.
By using the guide people can find out whether accessible parking bays are available, how you would need to walk to get to an entrance, if a hearing loop is available at reception, what side the transfer space is in an accessible toilet, whether there are tactile lift buttons, if staff have received dementia training, if somewhere plays background music, if flashing fire alarms are available and if there are places to sit and rest.
All the information about Chorley www.disabledgo.com/organisations/chorley-council/main will sit alongside information on over 125,000 different places spread all across the UK, making it a great tool for planning a trip too.
If you are interested in finding out more about the project why not come along to the launch, at The Lancastrian, Chorley Town Hall, on Friday 8 April from 2pm – 3pm (arrival from 1.30pm).
If you would like to attend, simply contact DisabledGo to book a place. Please contact Philip Holt, Partnerships Manager (Local Authorities) at DisabledGo by email at [email protected] or telephone him on 01438 842 710.