New Accessibility Checker for Warrington

Warrington is set to join DisabledGo.com with its very own Accessibility Checker, thanks to an innovative partnership between Warrington Borough Council, Warrington Disability Partnership and the team at DisabledGo.com.

The project will see 700 places across Warrington being visited and assessed so that people can find out exactly what they can expect in terms of accessibility. All the project’s partners are keen for local disabled people, carers and voluntary organisations to provide feedback on what places should be included through social media, email, phone or post.

All the places suggested will be assessed by a trained surveyor and there will be the opportunity for local people to come along to work experience days. People can also join the team of surveyors to help assess the different places included, which will be managed by Warrington Disability Partnership.

Dave Thompson MBE DL, Co-Founder and Chief Executive at Warrington Disability Partnership said “We are looking forward to working closely with Disabled Go and Warrington Borough Council on this project. I would like to commend the Council for investing in what will no doubt be a very valuable information resource for Warrington’s disabled residents and disabled visitors to our town”.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to involve our staff and volunteers in undertaking access assessments, which in turn allows us to receive part of the funding allocated to the project”.

Every place that is included in the Accessibility Checker will have its own Access Guide, which will includes details of parking, entrances, toilets, together with measurements and photographs. There really will be lots of detail and the information isn’t just about physical access, it covers things that people with visual impairments, hearing impairments, autism, dementia, learning disabilities and mental health issues have all said are important.

Commenting on the partnership, Anna Nelson, Executive Director from DisabledGo said,

“We are really excited to be working with Warrington Disability Partnership and Warrington Borough Council on this project. Warrington has a long history of leading the way on accessibility, being know worldwide for Disability Awareness Day. Dave Thompson MBE DL and the Partnership have worked tirelessly over the last 25 years to make a real difference to the lives of disabled people and continue to do so through a whole host of projects, including the Accessible Warrington Pledge. We feel the Accessibility Checker will be a great addition for the borough and really looking forward to hearing people’s feedback and working as one team over the coming months. From delivering the project elsewhere we are confident it will be a great resource for anyone living in or visiting Warrington’.

The work to survey places across the borough is due to begin in February and the Accessibility Checker will launch 16th July 2017 at Warrington Disability Awareness Day.

The access information to places across Warrington will join over 125,000 other places already covered across the UK on DisabledGo.com, making the website a great tool for planning a day out or trip away.

DisabledGo would love to hear from anyone who has suggestions of places to include on the website, feedback on how the information can be improved or how it can be promoted.

For more information please get in touch with Rachel Carter at DisabledGo — rachel.carter@disabledgo.com / 01438 842710.

Published: 14/12/2016