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

Access Day 2019

On March 16, 2019 / Access, Front Page, News

Access Day 2019

March 16th is National Access Day, as a company we’ve been helping Welsh companies become more accessible since we opened in 2007. To mark National Access Day here are five of the clients who have had access audits/reviews from us over the years.

Aberdare Community School
Museum of Modern Art Machynlleth
The Glancynon Inn
Computashack
Swansea Museum

In homage to National Access Day (and because we’re in a good mood after the rugby) we’re offering 25% off all our access consultancy service during March 2019.

25% off access consultancy service in March 2019

Friends Reunited

On January 31, 2019 / 10 Year Anniversary, Front Page, News, Partnership Working

Friends Reunited

Great meeting today with Jamie Williams, Director of Cymru Healthcare Ltd today. Cymru Healthcare and Accessible Wales are old friends with Managing Director Wynne Williams helping to sponsor Accessible Wales launch in the Glancynon in Hirwaun in 2008.

Richard Jones said:

It was great to catch up with Jamie today and talk about the work both companies are carrying out now as well as joint working in the future.

Both Richard and Jamie are of the opinion that local businesses should work together to make our community stronger.

Jamie Williams Director of Cymru Healthcare with Principal Consultant Richard Jones.

You can find out about both Accessible Wales by visiting www.accessible.wales or Cymru Healthcare by visiting www.cymruhealthcare.co.uk.

November and December Training

On October 31, 2018 / Events, Front Page, News, 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 22^nd 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

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

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

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 11^th 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!

On August 13, 2018 / Events, Front Page, News, Training

Get Your Diaries Out!

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 .

Training delegates studying the different elements of an accessible WC

Delegates talking about the way society approaches disability

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 01685 810432 or email info@accessible.wales.

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 01685 810432 to find out more.

Boosting Students Knowledge at Coleg Y Cymoedd

On April 19, 2018 / Cllient News, Front Page, News, Training

Boosting Students Knowledge at Coleg Y Cymoedd

In February Accessible Wales announced it would be working with Coleg Y Cymoedd to train their students, you can read the blog post here.

Students from Aberdare Campus of Coleg Y Cymoedd recently took part in a one-hour Introduction to Disability Awareness as part of the BOOST programme.

Students from Coleg Y Cymoedd BOOST programme

The students were from the Health & Social Care department and made the following comments when completing feedback forms.

“The session was fun and interesting and allowed me to have a better understanding of the terms and the correct of the terms and the correct way to communicate. The activity allowed us to experience the difficulties others may face and was fun.”

“This session went really well and I was able to gain an understanding on disability. It helped me learn a lot more and I am thankful to have this opportunity.”

“This was a fun and interesting activity. It helped me improve my knowledge on what a disability is and how to support an individual if they are visually impaired.”

“Fabulous course”

Rebecca Roberts, Campus Services Supervisor made said the following on the training received by Coleg Y Cymoedd students:

The workshop that Richard and his team delivered at Accessible Wales, was fantastic. All the learners provided excellent feedback, and commented the workshop was so inspiring they were keen to secure more. As they are working with vulnerable people, who are disabled, the insight to disability awareness helped with their studies. The workshop had an element of practical work which they thoroughly enjoyed.

I will look forward to working with Richard and the team, to deliver more workshops throughout the year.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones makes the following comment:

Having met with Rebecca this week I am pleased to say that we will be continuing to work with students from Coleg Y Cymoedd undertaking a variety of courses in the future. We are looking forward to continuing to work with such a great education provider as well as helping to make a difference to those students attending our courses.

If you would like more information about the flexible training programme Accessible Wales offers please visit our Training Services Page.

Posts Tagged Accessible Wales

Let’s Talk Access

Accessible Wales is 13 years old today!

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

Some of the subjects covered are:

We have Disability Awareness Training coming up!

The Glancynon lives on!

Access Day 2019

Friends Reunited

November and December Training

Get Your Diaries Out!

Boosting Students Knowledge at Coleg Y Cymoedd