Sober October

On October 14, 2020 / Front Page, News

Sober October

Hello folks, for the last two years now I have fundraised for Macmillan Cancer Support by taking part in Sober October.

I’m now in to my third year and am looking to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause. In recent months we’ve all become COVID obsessed, and rightly so, but there is another big C that has been around a lot longer, and has killed, and is killing millions more people. In one article I read online it said there was 165,000 deaths to Cancer every year in the UK.

If that wasn’t enough in recent weeks there have been two deaths from cancer in my life. My best friend Greg’s mother died of cancer, a strong and much loved lady who served as a councillor for her local community. Greg and I also recently lost a close friend, a friend who was always there for me through everything – never asked questions, put up with me going off radar for weeks on end and still (ironically) had a pint with me regularly. He was a true friend and I’ll miss him.

This year I’m raising money with them both in mind, if you’d like to sponsor me please visit this link http://www.gosober.org.uk/users/richard-jones-11. I know it’s a big ask because money is tight at the moment so even sharing this post will go along way.

Thank you for reading and your support.

Bye for now

Accessible Wales… in association with the Access Association

On October 5, 2020 / Access, Access Association, Front Page, News

Accessible Wales… in association with the Access Association

Accessible Wales is proud to announce it is a member of the Access Association. The Access Association is a national network of individuals who are passionate about access and inclusive design. Their aim is to provide peer support and sharing knowledge.

We has been open for 13 years and as we enter a new phase in our life we are going to be developing our access consultancy service.

Above are just some of the companies and organisations who have benefited from our access service since we opened in 2007.

Richard Jones, Principal Consultant and founder had the following to say:

I am delighted that Accessible Wales has joined the Access Association. We initially opened up with the view to solely looking at access but then there was a desire from our clients for Disability Awareness Training. I feel that as we move in to the new normal post-Covid, access improvements will be more important than ever. That is why we want our fingers on the pulse to keep up to date with the latest legislation and best practices. Being a member of the Access Association will allow us to do that.

I’m of the firm belief that access is a right not a privilege and as such we should do all we can to make society more accessible

Over the next four months Accessible Wales will be concentrating on developing the access services currently offered with a view to re-launching it in early 2021. If you would like to know more about the services offered currently please visit our access consultancy page.

We’re confident… disability confident

On October 2, 2020 / Disability Confident, Disability Information, Front Page, News

We’re confident… disability confident

Accessible Wales Disability Confident Certificate

Accessible Wales is signed up to the Disability Confident scheme.The scheme supports employers helping them to open up to employing disabled people.

Over 18,000 organisations have signed up to the scheme. These organisations are playing a leading role in changing attitudes for the better.

These two websites will offer more information on the scheme.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

#disabilityconfident

Principal Consultant Richard Jones made the following comments on the Disability Confident scheme:

As a disability consultancy company, with disabled people as the cornerstone of our operation it made perfect sense that we would sign up to this scheme. We are currently registered at level one but are striving to gain level two registration recognising the importance of doing as much as we can to promote good practice whenever possible.

Stay safe, keep your distance!

On September 30, 2020 / COVID19, Front Page, News

Stay safe, keep your distance!

Accessible Wales is supporting the 2m social distancing rule. It is important that everyone maintains the key principals to keep the transition of the virus down. That is why we have added the NHS Distance Aware badge to our website, our marketing and placed posters up in our office.

The important measures you need to carry out to help to stop the spread of this virus are:

Keep socially distant (2 metres or 6.5 feet away
Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds regularly using soap and water. Use antibacterial gel where that is not possible.
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
Work from home if possible
Avoid using public transport
Wear facemasks indoors in public places or outdoors in crowded areas. There are some people who will be exempt from wearing facemasks you can visit this page on the Public Health Wales website to find out if you qualify.

Handwashing is important to fight Coronavirus

For more information on Coronavirus from Public Health Wales please visit their website.

With cases increases and winter on the horizon it is vitally important that we do all we can to ensure that we look after our health and the health of our friends and family.

At the start of the pandemic we uploaded lots of useful links to our sister website Accessible News, pop over there to check out if any of those links would be useful to you.

Online Town Centre Accessibility Forum – Aberdare

On September 28, 2020 / Access, Disability Information, Events, Front Page, News

Let’s Talk Access

Statue of Caradog surrounded by new COVID19 barriers.

There have been many stories in the media about the potential decline in the town centres throughout the country. With the current COVID19 restrictions in place people are shopping more online and out of town for convenience and personal safety.

In 2007 Accessible Wales worked with Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority and traders in Mountain Ash to carry out a “Town Centre Access Improvement Project”. During this project the local authority commissioned Accessible Wales to carry out access audits for those businesses to help them to improve their access for disabled people.

We are now proposing to work with businesses in the eight town centres to help improve access for disabled people. Starting with an online forum ror businesses based in Aberdare on Thursday 5^th November at 10am for more information you can download the flyer here.

Following on from this meeting more events will be scheduled for businesses in Ferndale, Llantrisant, Mountain Ash, Pontypridd, Porth, Tonypandy, Treorchy. The project will then be evaluated and before rolling out to other local authorities.

This forum will be an opportunity to discuss what each business thinks are the key access issues in their area, and any potential access issues their business may have.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones working in Accessible Wales before lockdown restrictions

Principal Consultant Richard Jones says:

This is a great opportunity to engage with local businesses in the town centre to help improve access for disabled people. The online forum will be an independent vehicle to help start to make access improvements in Aberdare, with a view to it being rolled out to the other town centre and beyond.

Now more than ever it is important for small local businesses to do as much as they can to keep their doors open. We want to do as much as we can to help.

If you would like to know more about the services we offer please either get in touch with us via 01685 810432 or email info@accessible.wales.

Accessible Wales is 13 years old today!

On September 26, 2020 / Events, Front Page, News

Accessible Wales is 13 years old today!

We opened thirteen years ago today, with a launch in the Glancynon supported by Cymru Health Care. We start our fourteenth year in very different circumstances, the world certainly isn’t the same as it was in 2007.

With the current Coronavirus restrictions in place we sadly can’t celebrate with any form of event but when the time is right we’ll pop a cork or two.

Richard Jones and Wynne Williams (Cymru Healthcare) joined by Alun Evans and Roy Noble at the Launch of Accessible Wales

For now, we’re proud to announce that we will be launching our online training range in October starting with our online Disability Awareness training course. While we’re still working on developing these packages, more will be launched in the coming weeks.

Principal Consultant and company founder Richard Jones would like to thank all those who have supported the company in the last thirteen years. Thanks go to the clients we’ve worked with, partner organisations and to all our friends for helping out when needed.

Disability Awareness Training – October 24th 2019 10am – 1pm

On October 4, 2019 / Events, Front Page, News

Disability Awareness Training – October 24th 2019 10am – 1pm

Do you have three hours free for a bit of personal development? If the answer is yes, then why not register for our latest Disability Awareness training course.

The course is taking place at our office in Roberstown on Thursday 24^th October 2019 10am – 1pm for only £30 per person! Our courses aim to raise the awareness of delegates towards the needs of people with disabilities which should increase the accessibility of your service.

To book on this training course visit here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-awareness-training-half-day-course-morning-tickets-69002872449

Delegates Undertaking a Disability Awareness Quiz

Some of the subjects covered are:

Understanding more about disability:

Delegates will look at their own understanding of disability and how disability relates to them

Examine potential access issues and customer service scenarios:

This is activity is split into a hands-on activity looking at some potential access issues and a practical activity looking at customer service scenarios.

The right thing to say at work; to understand is to get it right:

Looking at appropriate language, the etiquette of communicating with people with disabilities.

We have many, many positive comments for all our courses, here are just some of the comment’s delegates have made when attending our training.

“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.”

“A very pleasant course to attend. Richard and Gemma work very well together. It was informative and easy to understand.”

“Found the course informative and now feel like I have a better understanding of what to look for and to do to make things more accessible for people with disabilities.”

Principal Consultant Richard Jones about to start a training course

Hosted by Principal Consultant Richard Jones, sessions are informal, extremely informative, very emotive and at times, highly amusing!

To book visit us on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-awareness-training-half-day-course-morning-tickets-69002872449 or call 01685 810432, block bookings are welcome.

You can also download a flyer with information on this training course by clicking here. We also have training scheduled for Monday November 25th 2019 which will also take place in our office but will be 1pm – 4pm, to download a flyer for this course click here.

Disability Awareness Training coming up, at times to suit you!

On August 16, 2019 / Events, Front Page, News, Training

We have Disability Awareness Training coming up!

We have four training dates scheduled for September, October, November and December. These courses are full and half day and vary in times and days to suit most diaries, and if they don’t suit your diary… let us know we can come to you!

You can download our training calendar here.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones working with delegates on one of the activities

Delegates studying the layout of an accessible WC

The first course we have scheduled is a Disability Awareness Training Full Day course on Wednesday 25th September (10am – 3pm) costing £50 per person. You can book a place on this course by visiting our Eventbrite page.

Here’s a downloadable training flyer for this course.

The next Disability Awareness Training course is a Half Day course on Thursday 24th October 2019 (10am – 3pm) costing £30 per person. You can book a place on this course by visiting our Eventbrite page.

Here’s a downloadable training flyer for this course.

I write to thank you for the invaluable training you have provided to our staff both at the Aberdare and Cardiff sites. Our staff thoroughly enjoyed the training sessions and found the interaction both educational and fun. Many staff members are apprehensive around training as they worry they will made to feel or look foolish – this was definitely not the case with your training and everyone came back animated and enthusiastic about the subject.

I would happy to recommend your training to anyone and will be looking to do refresher courses next year.

Lynwen Francis
Managing Partner
St John’s Medical Practice, Aberdare

This is just one of our many testimonials, you can read some more of them by visiting our training feedback here , you can also download our training brochure, this will give you information on all the training services we offer.

All our training is customisable and can be tailored to the needs of our clients.

Delegates looking at access issues that challenge people who use wheelchairs

Call us on 01685 810432 to find out more.

The Glancynon Inn lives on!

On July 18, 2019 / Access, Cllient News, Disability Information, Front Page, News

The Glancynon lives on!

The Glancynon Inn, Hirwaun, one of our first access clients

I am delighted to have received a letter today confirming that planning application to knock down the Glancynon has been withdrawn.

As well as being one of our first clients Alun “The Glan” was a close friend and a mentor to me and I know he would be over the moon to know his pride and joy was not at risk of being demolished.

I am glad common sense prevailed and hope this fantastic community facility will thrive under the new management.

Best Wishes

Richard Jones

Principal Consultant

World Autism Awareness Day; not all disabilities are visible.

On April 2, 2019 / Access, News

World Autism Awareness Day; not all disabilities are visible.

Did you know only 8% of people with disabilities use wheelchairs?

Today (2^nd of April) is #WorldAutismAwarenessDay and we are proud to say that we are putting the finishing touches on a new training course – An Invisible Disabilities Awareness Training Course.

Can you spot a person with a disability? Not all disabilities are visible!

This course will, amongst other things, look at the potential stigmas that people with invisible disabilities face as well as looking at the reasonable adjustments that employers can make to help employees with invisible disabilities.

We will be updating our website and social media when our course is completed, however, in the meantime you can find out about the courses we offer here.

Click the hashtag to find out more about #WorldAutismAwarenessDay.