Archive for the Front Page Category

Tried Contacting Us?

Tried Contacting Us?

Tried Contacting Us?

Telephone IconOur telephone and emailing system has been down since yesterday approximately 3pm yesterday.  We are pleased to announce that this problem has now been resolved, from 9am tomorrow morning everything will be fully working again.

@ Icon AWThank you for your patients, if you have unsuccessfully tried contacting we apologise for any inconvenience.  If you are not able to get in touch with us in the future please feel free to visit our Facebook and Twitter accounts as they are monitored regularly.

Accessible Wales strengthens links with Cynon Valley Museum

Accessible Wales strengthens links with Cynon Valley Museum

Accessible Wales strengthens links with Cynon Valley Museum

The recently opened Cynon Valley Museum

The recently opened Cynon Valley Museum

Followers of our regular blog posts will know we have a strong history of working with the Cynon Valley Museum. That bond goes back ten years, as they were one of our first clients.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones with Cynon Valley Museum Development Manager Charlotte Morgan

Principal Consultant Richard Jones with Cynon Valley Museum Development Manager Charlotte Morgan

When Accessible Wales’ non-profit arm Accessible News opened in 2008, a disability support surgery called Empower was established in the museum.  This surgery has helped local people on issues ranging from housing to benefits and employment advice.

As part of our 10-year Anniversary,  Accessible Wales is looking at ways to help further local charities and voluntary organisations. The Cynon Valley Museum had recently reopened and is run by a charitable trust.

After meeting with then Chairperson Dinah Pye and Manager Charlotte Morgan, Accessible Wales offered to carry out a detailed access audit free of charge.  For more information on our Access Consultancy Service please click here.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones commented:

“I’m pleased to continue to work with the museum. Organisations like this are a big part of the fabric of an accessible Wales and we want to see the museum thrive by being there for the whole community.  We will help in any way we can to make that happen.”

Accessible Wales has now delivered the Access Review audit to the Museum management and Trustees, and are looking forward to working with staff and volunteers in the future.

Development Manager Charlotte Morgan receiving the Cynon Valley Museum Access Audit

Development Manager Charlotte Morgan receiving the Cynon Valley Museum Access Audit

Development Manager Charlotte Morgan said:

“As a new organisation taking over an existing facility, it has been invaluable to us to work with Accessible Wales, who have been able to help us identify improvements that we can make. We are grateful for their tireless work with us and look forward to doing more in the future to make sure the heritage of the Cynon Valley is accessible for everyone.”

If you run a charity or voluntary organisation and think we could be of help to you then please do not hesitate to get in touch by visiting our contact page.

For more information about the Cynon Valley Museum please visit their Facebook page here.

Accessible Wales at the heart of the Cardiff Community

Accessible Wales at the heart of the Cardiff Community

Accessible Wales at the heart of the Cardiff Community

As former Chair of a Citizen’s Advice Bureau based in Rhondda Cynon Taff, Principal Consultant Richard Jones is a committed supporter of the organisation.  Accessible Wales are proud to confirm they are a supplier of training for the Barry branch of Cardiff and Vale Citizens Advice Bureau.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones with delegates from the morning course at Cardiff and Vale CAB

Principal Consultant Richard Jones with delegates from the morning course at Cardiff and Vale CAB

Accessible Wales recently carried out two successful half day courses during the same day.  Below are some of the positive comments we received during both courses:

“The trainers own experiences made situations and challenges easier to understand.”

“I think the delivery was extremely well balanced giving both sides as to what was realistically achievable i.e.  Changes are effected by budgets and what one person finds appropriate another may not.  The main point to remember is communication.”

“Excellent delivery on a subject that I now know much more about.”

“Superb.  Richard is a quality speaker with a great sense of humour.”

“I found the course very interesting and the trainer very informative.”

Accessible Wales provides clients with a flexible service, meeting their needs in terms of content and timing. Topics discussed are often perceived as difficult and thought provoking, and include addressing what is a disability and the etiquette used when interacting with people with disabilities. Practical demonstrations of access issues are always useful and welcomed by delegates.

Delegates from the afternoon course at Cardiff and Vale CAB joined by Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Delegates from the afternoon course at Cardiff and Vale CAB joined by Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Courses can be tailored to suit your needs, with the choice of either a full day (5 hours) or half day (3 hours) courses.  We schedule regular training courses at a central venue, or if you have more than five staff members we can come to you.

More information on our training service can be found on our Disability Awareness Training Page.

For more information or to be added to our mailing list, visit the contact page or (01685) 810432

Another New Testimonial Added

Another New Testimonial Added

Another New Testimonial Added

Training with staff from St John’s Medical Practice

We have added a new testimonial to our Testimonials Page.  We have trained staff members in St John’s Medical Practice in Aberdare and Caerau Lane Surgery in Cardiff and have received a testimonial from Managing Partner Lynwen Francies.  To read it go to our Testimonials Page.

Naidex 2017 – A Review

Naidex 2017 – A Review

On Wednesday 29th March I along with volunteers from Accessible News attended the Naidex Exhibition which took place in the NEC in Birmingham.  With over 150 seminars, 250 exhibitors and an abundance of live demos and interactive features it was a tremendous event.

I have attended this event a couple of times before, once when I was studying in college and later with my mother through the RCT Carers Support Project.

Accessible WC in the car park of the Birmingham NEC

Accessible WC in the car park of the Birmingham NEC

I was inspired with confidence when, after arriving at the venue and parking the car, I noticed an accessible toilet in the car park.  Now I know as an exhibition concentrated on all aspects of disability and impairments you’d expect accessibility, but how often are people with disabilities let down…. Not in this case!

Accessible WC door showing disability is not just about wheelchairs

Accessible WC door showing disability is not just about wheelchairs

The second thing, on a similar theme I noticed was the sign on the accessible WC door was the sign highlighting that not all people with disabilities use wheelchairs, something that is backed up by a recent campaign we ran on facebook.  With over 718 shares on our campaign and 1400 likes we were spurred on to change our logo to adopt the positive “thumbs up” as opposed to the traditional wheelchair.

The Magic Carpet Exhibit

The Magic Carpet Exhibit

The exhibitors that were on display were phenomenal, with stalls ranging from funky customised walking sticks and mobility aids to fluffy and cool wheelchairs for children.  The shift in stalls from the gadgets and gizmos last time I went up, to mobile phone based app products and sensory equipment (such as the exhibit above) was tremendous, it shows the way technology was advancing.

Made 2 Aid Electronic Neater Eater

Made 2 Aid Electronic Neater Eater

There were great devices such as this robotic arm that fed people who could not feed themselves.

Testing the magic knife

Testing the magic knife

As a keen foodie and founder of wheeliegoodmeals.co.uk I was interested to see the magic knife, it was a knife that needed very little pressure to cut through everything from bread, tomatoes and Swede.

Changing Places accessible changing room

Changing Places accessible changing room

I have read a lot in recent times about Changing Places the campaign for fully accessible toilets, and was impressed that there was a fully accessible changing facility in the exhibition hall.  This facility had a tracking hoist, bed and accessible WC, and enough room for easy manoeuvrability.

Sports area

Sports area

The exhibition also had a large sports arena allowing people to try wheelchair football and Goalball for people with visual impairments (amongst other activities)… I may have to have a go next time!

Wheelchair accessible motorhome from Coachbuild

Wheelchair accessible motorhome from Coachbuild

The last thing we looked at was a wheelchair accessible motorhome from Coachbuild, something that was inspirational.  With a wide range of features that could be interchanged to make it accessible to people with a range of disabilities it was a sight to behold.

I would recommend the exhibition to anyone, we’ve learned a lot through our visit.  While there is a huge amount of bespoke technology created to help people with disabilities, there are a vast amount of organisations customising everyday products to make them accessible.

To view our photo album click here.  Thanks for reading, come back soon to find out more about what we’re up to.

 

 

Richard Jones

Principal Consultant.

Naidex Here We Come

Naidex Here We Come
Principal Consultant Richard Jones getting ready for Naidex 2017

Principal Consultant Richard Jones getting ready for Naidex 2017

Today I will be attending the Naidex exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham. The NEC was opened in 1976 by the Queen and since then has grown to become the number one venue of choice for organisers,  exhibitors and visitors with 20 exhibition halls.

Keep your eyes peeled for updates throughout the day on our social media pages. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Thanks for reading

Richard Jones

Principal Consultant

Accessible Wales’ new clients are Minty Fresh!

Accessible Wales’ new clients are Minty Fresh!
Gentle Dental Practice in Aberdare with Dr Parul Sood and Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Gentle Dental Practice in Aberdare with Dr Parul Sood and Principal Consultant Richard Jones

We are pleased to announce that we are working with Gentle Dental Practice and Maendy Place Dental Practice to improve their accessibility.

These RCT-based dental practices approached us as part of an access improvement scheme through Cwm Taf University Health Board.

Dental practices often face challenges when trying to provide the most accessible service to patients. These challenges include levels and layouts of older buildings including difficult front access and challenging toilet facilities.

Maendy Dental Practice with Practice Practice Manager Deborah James with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Maendy Dental Practice with Practice Practice Manager Deborah James with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Accessible Wales is working with both practices to highlight access issues and improve them, resulting in the best possible access standard for patients with a range of disabilities

If you work for a dental practice in the Cwm Taf University Health Board area and would like to take advantage of the grant funding available, contact Alison Green.

If you would like more information on the access improvement services we offer then please visit our Access Services page.

Training Staff from the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service

Training Staff from the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service

Training Staff from the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service

We are pleased to have trained staff at the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service in Rookwood Hospital Cardiff.  The service is a registered charity and receives a grant from the Welsh Assembly, this funding meets the Services core running costs; therefore all capital related costs are generated from fees charged for the provision of services.

Staff of the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Staff of the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Eleven staff members were trained our training course, we will upload feedback soon when we refresh our training section of our website.

Staff members were very intune to the potential challenges faced by those using their service who had a disability.  As a group they were excellently informed, working towards the Social Model of disability to empower people with disabilities.

Driving simulator used to assess people with disabilities

Driving simulator used to assess people with disabilities

We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak at the simulator that is used to assess people with disabilities who want to drive.

Accessible Wales would like to thank those who attended the course for their involvement and we look forward to working with them in the future on projects through Accessible News .

We’re Here To Stay

We’re Here To Stay
Outside our office in Robertstown

Outside our office in Robertstown

I’m pleased to say that we’ve signed a new lease for our office “Accessibility Suite” in Robertstown and will be here for another three years.  I’d like to thank our Landlords Centaur & Barclay Property Group for accommodating us.  We can confirm that the lip on our front door will be removed and accessible car parking installed.

Here’s to another three years

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