Posts Tagged Invisible Disability

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

World Autism Awareness Day; not all disabilities are visible.

World Autism Awareness Day; not all disabilities are visible.

World Autism Awareness Day; not all disabilities are visible.

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

Today (2nd 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.

Can you spot a person with a disability?

Can you spot a person with a disability?

Can you spot a person with a disability?

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It’s not as obvious as you think!

Today is world Mental Health Day, it is important to remember that not all disabilities and health conditions are obvious.

1 in 4 people in Wales suffer with a Mental Health condition at some point in their lives, but that doesn’t make them less of a person.

Mental health conditions, like any other conditions should not be seen negatively, today is a great opportunity to encourage people to talk about their mental health, this will help break down some of the misconceptions surrounding the subject.

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