A Busy Few Weeks Ahead

On October 23, 2017 / 10 Year Anniversary, Cllient News, Front Page, News

A Busy Few Weeks Ahead

It’s all go with us at Accessible Wales. The next few weeks are extremely busy, we’re not complaining though!

Museum of Modern Art in Maclyneth

Next week we’re going to be carrying out an access audit of the museum of Modern Art in Machynlleth. Our Access Consultancy service can be tailored to suit premises of any shape and size and can take the form of a Detailed Access Audit or an Informal Walkthrough Review. When carrying out any form of access consultancy we consider all forms of access not just ramps and steps, only 8% of people with disabilities use wheelchairs! Access improvements can be as simple as moving a chair from behind a door or changing the location of storage facilities. For more information on the access related services visit our Access Consultancy page.

Percy Pickdon

We are also excited to be working with Schools in Rhondda Cynon Taff carrying out our Anti Bullying and Respect training courses during Anti Bullying Week. Our training is hosted by one of our newest team members Percy Pickdon. If you would like to book our training for your school please get in touch with us, you can contact us via our Contact Page.

Monday 13th November – Friday 17th November is Anti Bullying week and we still have some spaces available, if you’d like to book a training course, or know more about the training we offer visit our Training Page.

Because of this we will be in and out of the office over the next few weeks, if you would like to get in touch with us, call 01685 810432 or email info@accessible.wales and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

20% off services until the end of October

As you know we’ve been open ten years and we’re offering 20% off all services booked by the end of October, get in touch now for more information.

If you’re trying to email us we’ve changed our address, instead of info@accessiblewales.co.uk it’s now simply info@accessible.wales

Are you Disability Aware?

On August 2, 2017 / Events, Front Page, News, Training

Accessible Wales will be holding a Disability Awareness Training course on Thursday 21^st 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

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

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

Accessible Wales at the heart of the Cardiff Community

On May 25, 2017 / Cllient News, Front Page, News, Training

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

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

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

On May 22, 2017 / Cllient News, Front Page, News, Training

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.

Training Staff from the Wales Mobility Driving and Assessment Service

On December 12, 2016 / Front Page, News, Training

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

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

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 .

Training Comes Home

On November 11, 2016 / Events, Front Page, News, Training

Accessible Wales Training Venue

Yesterday, Accessible Wales was pleased to carry out our Disability Awareness Training Course back in our old home, The Cynon Valley Museum.

Hands on activity walking around the museum

Delegates on the course included staff from Rhondda Cynon Taff, Forest View Medical Centre and Rhos House Surgery. The course was our three hour course which covered topics such as:

Introduction to Disability
Customer Service Scenarios
Appropriate Language and Signage

Our training courses are awareness based and can be full or half day. They are practical, and allow delegates to explore issues that their clients/customers may encounter when accessing their services/products.

At Accessible Wales we pride ourselves in ensuring that all our delegates leave our training with a raised level of awareness to ensure that they are able to offer the best possible service to those they serve.

Richard Jones with Charlotte Morgan from the Cynon Valley Museum

Principal Consultant Richard Jones can be seen pictured above with Charlotte Morgan, Development Manager for the Cynon Valley Museum. Since opening in 2007 we have carried out a multitude of training sessions in the museum and are proud that we can rekindle our relationship. A trust has taken over the running of the Museum and Accessible Wales will be working hand in hand with them to improve the access and help them grow, helping to make the museum a hub for the community.

Richard Jones with course delgates and volunteer Lindsey Williams

For more information on the training we offer visit our Disability Awareness Training Page. We will be adding more feedback from our recent courses but for now you can read many comments on our Testimonials Page.

All our training is customisable and can be offered in full day or half day format, we run regular training courses at a central venue, or we can come to you, if you have more than five staff members we can come to you.

Keep your eyes peeled for the launch of our Anti-Bullying training course for children, for more information email info@accessiblewales.co.uk.

Disability Awareness Training, 10th November 2016

On October 8, 2016 / Events, Front Page, News, Training

Disability Awareness Training, 10th November 2016

Staff from The Caerau Lane Surgery, Ely and Old School Surgery Pontyclun on our most recent course

We have training scheduled for Thursday 10^th November 2016 in the Cynon Valley Museum. Training starts at 2pm and finishes at 5pm and is £30 per person, for more information click here .

Training with staff from Monmouthshire Town Council

We’ve trained scores of people since we began training in 2008, you can find some of our testimonials by clicking here, we’ll be adding more soon. Thee contents of the course content will contain:

An Introduction To Disability
Customer Service Scenarios
Language and Signage

Delegates from a Disability Awareness Training Course in 2015

Led by company owner and Principal Consultant these courses are light hearted and informative. The courses are informal and aim to help delegates understand disability on a practical day-to-day basis. Principal Consultant Richard Jones says:

The training courses we carry out gives our clients a good base of knowledge, delegates can – explore disability and how it impacts on their day-to-day professional and personal life. Often disability can be a difficult subject to talk about, this course is light hearted and relaxed allowing delegates to explore any concerns, queries or questions they may have about disability.

Staff from Karl’s Kabs and Town’s Taxis attending a Disability Awareness training course in 2014

Disability Awareness Training Thursday 10th November 2016

This course has thirteen places available on it, if you would like us to come to your staff we can… let us know! All our training is bespoke, if you would like to know more about our training, visit the training page… or better still give us a call on 01685 810432. You can also download our training flyer here .

Disability Awareness Training Coming To A Venue Near You… Soon!!

On May 31, 2016 / Front Page, News, Training

Training Now Open To The Public

Accessible Wales is pleased to announce that we are opening our training up to members of the public. Our flagship Disability Awareness training course will be three hours long and will be scheduled in venues throughout the Cynon Valley over the next six months.

If the courses prove to be successful we aim to roll them out throughout Rhondda Cynon Taff and beyond. The contents of the course will be:

An Introduction To Disability
Disability Perception
Customer Service Scenarios
Language and Signage

The training courses we carry out gives our clients a good base of knowledge, delegates can -explore disability and how it impacts on their day-to-day professional and personal life. Often disability can be a difficult subject to talk about, this course is light hearted and relaxed allowing delegates to explore any concerns, queries or questions they may have about disability.

To find out about our training service you can click here. As soon as our sessions are booked, we will publish them on here and share the information on our social media.

If you’d like us to train in a venue near you, or your venue, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Great Training Course at Old School Surgery – Pontyclun

On May 24, 2016 / Front Page, News, Training

Staff from Old School Surgery Pontyclun after Successfully completing a Disability Awareness Course

On Thursday 19th May Accessible Wales trained staff from the Old School Surgery in Pontyclun. The course was a three hour course and covered issues such as:

* Introduction to Disability

* Appropriate Language and Signage

* Access Issues

* Customer Service Scenarios

This course is our most popular course, we have trained staff from Celtic Manor, Bridgend College, St John’s Medical Practice (Aberdare) to name just three of the many organisations who’s staff have benefited from our training.

This course was a huge success, Principal Consultant and Senior Trainer Richard Jones described the group as

Enthusiastic, highly skilled with a desire to know more.

When reviewing the feedback the following comments were made.

Richard was fantastic at explaining disabilities and was easy to understand and talk to. Thank you

(Sophie Williams)

I found the course interesting – The practical tasks were thought provoking and has made me more aware of the problems that people with a disability may face. I intend to use what I have gained in knowledge to promote more independence with patients.

(Susan Pinniger)

The course made me appreciate some of the the facilities within the workplace which could be difficult to some patients/visitors.

(Christine Howells)

Richard Jones said the following about the course:

It is always great to carry out this course as I believe passionately in, not only it’s contents but also the wide sweeping benefits it has on the clients we’ve trained. The staff of the Old School Surgery, Pontyclun were an extremely able group who were all ready highly aware and wanted to know more. They took in as much information as they could and embraced all the activities thoroughly, it was a pleasure to lead the course.

All twelve feedback forms stated that they would recommend our course to colleagues and friends in the future.

Principal Consultant Richard Jones with staff from Old School Surgery Pontyclun after Successfully completing the course

If you would like to know more about our training get in touch, you can call 01685 810432 or visit the contact page. All our training is customisable for our clients needs, we can create bespoke training courses to suit the needs of clients in all industries. The training experience a delegate will receive when attending our flagship Disability Awareness course is light hearted, informal yet highly informative and very factual. Delegates will be introduced to disability from a first hand perspective, this subject can often be emotive and difficult to discuss but trainer Richard Jones’ unique style and light hearted approach helps makes delegates feel at ease and therefore learn more, and ask questions they may not normally ask.

We also offer training in Equality and more specifically Disability Equality, these are courses which look at (as the name suggests) the equality aspects of disability. These courses are not only beneficial for staff members who are on the front line but also those who hold more of a leadership and strategic overview. For more information visit our Training Page.

Disability Awareness Training

On May 19, 2016 / Front Page, News, Training

Delegates from a Disability Awareness Training Course in 2015

Today the staff of Pontyclun’s Old School surgery will join the many other people who have been trained by Accessible Wales to become more aware of disability.

We will be carrying out a half day course, this is not the first time we’ve trained staff from this surgery with Practice Manager Raechel Baker being one of our first clients.

If you would like to know more about our training, visit the training page… or better still give us a call on 01685 810432.