Posts Tagged Aberdare

Out-of-town Developments: Are they a more accessible option for disabled people?

Out-of-town Developments: Are they a more accessible option for disabled people?

Out-of-town Developments: Are they a more accessible option for disabled people?

Having read with interest a recent report on BBC News about Out-of-town developments affecting town centre trade we write today with some
thoughts on the debate between out-of-town shopping developments versus the traditional town centres. An aspect of this debate that is
often overlooked is access for disabled people.

Aberdare Town Centre
Aberdare Town Centre

Accessible Wales are big supporters of the traditional town centre, with many friends owning or working in businesses on the high-street. They can be the heart of a community, bustling with shops, cafes, and other amenities. However, they can pose significant challenges for disabled people.

Principal Consultant, Richard Jones believe that out-of-town developments have huge benefits for disabled people, but also makes the following comment:

I am a big supporter of the town centre and would strongly urge decision makers to invest more time and money in improving access. If thought was put in to the access and provision in a town centre and disabled people were engaged with a big difference could be achieved.

Accessible Wales is willing to work with any business or town planner to help improve access as are many other access consultants and access groups, it’s just a case of reaching out and engaging. Download a fully copy of our statement here , for more information contact us using the contact us page.

Accessible Wales… in association with the Access Association

Accessible Wales… in association with the Access Association

Accessible Wales… in association with the Access Association

Access Association Member 2020/2021
Access Association Member 2020/2021

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.

Stay safe, keep your distance!

Stay safe, keep your distance!

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
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

Online Town Centre Accessibility Forum – Aberdare

Let’s Talk Access

Statue of Caradog surrounded by new COVID19 barriers.
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 5th 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
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.

Market Street, Aberdare
Market Street, Aberdare

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

Accessible Wales is 13 years old today!

Accessible Wales is 13 years old today!

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
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.

Happy Birthday Accessible Wales
Happy Birthday Accessible Wales

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

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

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 24th 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
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
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!

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

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
Principal Consultant Richard Jones working with delegates on one of the activities
Delegates studying the layout of an accessible WC
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
Delegates looking at access issues that challenge people who use wheelchairs

Call us on 01685 810432Telephone Icon to find out more.

Accessible Wales Training Calendar
Accessible Wales Training Calendar 2019

November and December Training

November and December Training

November and December Training

In case you’ve missed it, we’ve got a training course coming up and we’ve got four spaces left to fill… you lucky people!  Our next training course is taking place Thursday 22nd November 1pm – 4pm and will be held in our office.  To book a place on this course click here or call us on 01685 810432.

Delegates from Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Council receiving their certificates
Delegates from Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Council receiving their certificates

We held our first training course in our new training suite in October and it went down a storm, well without too many hitches anyway!!

Feedback received from a delegate from Merthyr Council
Feedback received from a delegate from Merthyr Council

It was really nice to receive this comment on one of our feedback forms at the end of the course; this feedback was left by Leigh King, Inspire 2 Work Merthyr Tydfil Council.  Some of the other comments left were:

“Really enjoyed the informal fun course, which made everyone aware of how to deal with situations that arise when dealing with disabilities. Thank you, Richard and Gemma. Excellent” Gillian Bishop – Inspire to Work MTCBC

“Excellent delivery by Richard and Gemma. Easy to understand and informative. Highly recommend to work colleagues.” Kelly Williams, Inspire 2 Work

“Excellent course. A wide range of info provided. Particularly thought the role play scenarios were a great way to highlight different disabilities” Lesley Jones, Inspire 2 Work

Delegates Undertaking a Disability Awareness Quiz
Delegates Undertaking a Disability Awareness Quiz

If you cannot make the November course don’t fear, we’ve got a course in December!  Our December course will be held on Tuesday 11th December 10am – 1pm, again in our office in Roberstown.  To book on this course click here or call us on 01685 810432.

Delegates from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council taking part in activities
Delegates from Merthyr Council taking part in activities

Delegates from Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf Councils taking part in activities

You can read all our training feedback here.

If you’d like to download information on this course and share it with friends and colleagues you can click here.

You can download our training brochure here which outlines the other courses we offer.

If you have any queries you can get in touch with us by emailing info@accessible.wales or calling 01685 810432.

Get Your Diaries Out!

Get Your Diaries Out!

Get Your Diaries Out!

Principal Consultant Richard Jones training staff from the office of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner
Principal Consultant Richard Jones training staff from the office of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner

Yes, that’s right we’ve been planning our training schedule for 2018/2019!

As you know we’ve been working on our new training suite and we’re almost ready to launch it; with that in mind we’ve scheduled six in-house training courses running from September – March.

We’re offering both Full and Half day training courses at times and days to suit most diaries.  You can download our calendar here, more dates will be added throughout the year.

Our first course is a Disability Awareness Training Full Day course on Wednesday 10th October 2018 (10am – 3pm) costing £50 per person.  To book a place on this course you can purchase training places at Eventbrite here, there are ten places available.  Download more information about the course here.

Delegates looking at access issues that challenge people who use wheelchairs
Delegates looking at access issues that challenge people who use wheelchairs

Our second course is a Disability Awareness Training Half Day course on Thursday 22nd November 2018 (1pm – 4pm) costing £30 per person.  To book a place on this course you can purchase training places at Eventbrite here, there are ten places available.  Download more information about the course here.

To book on one of our courses please visit the appropriate Eventbrite page or call us on Telephone Icon 01685 810432 or email info@accessible.wales.

Delegates showing their certificates at the end of a course
Delegates showing their certificates at the end of a course

You can read our training feedback here.

If you would like us to train your staff at your venue, we can come to you!  Call us on Telephone Icon 01685 810432 to find out more.

Are you Disability Aware?

Are you Disability Aware?

Accessible Wales will be holding a Disability Awareness Training course on Thursday 21st September at the Cynon Valley Museum.  The course costs £32.45 and will run from 10am – 1pm.

Delegates on the  November 2016 Training Course with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Delegates on the November 2016 Training Course with Principal Consultant Richard Jones

Since opening in 2010 we have built up a successful training service with our Disability Awareness Training course being our flagship course.  You can find some of our testimonials by clicking here, we’ll be adding more soon.

Richard Jones, Principal Consultant

Richard Jones, Principal Consultant

The course is facilitated by company owner and Principal Consultant Richard Jones the courses are light hearted and informative.  Delegates will be pleased to know that the training they receive will be carried out in Richard’s informal, yet informative style aimed at helping them understand disability on a practical day-to-day basis.

Lynwen Francis, Practice Manager from St John’s Medical Practice says the following about the training her staff received:

“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.”

Even if you’ve attended similar courses before, this course is one that you should have under your belt to help you with your professional and personal development.  Whether you’re a taxi driver, a politician or professor this course will benefit you!

To book a place on this course visit here, alternatively you can email us for more information.  Block bookings can be catered for, we can also train your staff/volunteers/members at your venue.  Get in touch for more information.

Disability Awareness Training, Thursday 21st September

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