Accessibility

Have you ever had any difficulties getting into a shop you’d like to visit?

Have you ever needed somewhere to rest during a busy shopping trip?

Do you wish the price displays were easier to read?

Richmond AID’s Employment & Community Involvement Manager , Jamie Cutler, is working to raise awareness of the problems disabled people can have when accessing goods, facilities and services, information, employment and transport.

Our Access Aims

We want to achieve these outcomes:

Better access to shops and businesses that are physically accessible
Better access to public transport for people with all types of disability
More awareness of the needs of people with sensory impairments
More ShopMobility schemes
Increase awareness amongst policy and decision-makers of access issues

Richmond AID is working with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Council (LBRuT), business and local traders and our clients in working towards a more inclusive society for disabled people.

We Need Your Input!

Jamie’s role is to raise awareness and promote change in the borough so that more people can enjoy better access for all kinds of services. If you would like to make a contribution – be it to volunteer a few hours, tell us if you have trouble accessing your favourite shop or cafe, let us know about Access and Disability issues in your local area, or if you are a business-person who may benefit from an Access Consultation, visit our Access Services page.

ShopMobility

We are working towards establishing a ShopMobility scheme in Richmond town centre. Richmond AID is working with the Local Authority and business sector to promote the merits of a local scheme. We want to know what you think…

Could it benefit you?

Would you support it?

Have you used other Shopmobility Schemes?

Get in touch with Jamie Cutler and tell us what you think on 020 8831 6072 or email at j.cutler@richmondaid.org.uk

Your Rights to Access

The Law:

The Equality Act 2010 upgrades and also simplifies The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which dates from 1994. This gives disabled people important rights of access to everyday services. This includes the right to access council services, GP’s surgeries, banks, pubs, hotels, and theatres. Access to services is not just about putting ramps and wide doorways into shop entrances – it is about making services easier to use for all disabled people, including people who are blind, deaf, or have a learning disability.

Reasonable Adjustments

The DDA makes it unlawful for those who provide a service to treat disabled people less favourably than other people for a reason related to their disability. Service providers now have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the way they deliver their services so that disabled people can use them. Examples of reasonable adjustments include:

Installing an induction loop for people who are hearing impaired
Giving the option to book tickets by email as well as by phone
Providing disability awareness training for staff who have contact with the public
Providing larger, clearer signs for people with impaired vision
Putting in a ramp at the entrance to a building instead of, or as well as, steps

What is a reasonable adjustment for a large organisation may be different to a reasonable adjustment for a small local shop. A large company may be able to completely refit their building, for example, but an individual trader on the high street may not be able to.

They could still make adjustment though: for example by making sure there is enough space in aisles and around the counter for people in a wheelchair and people with a visual impairment to get around the shop, or to display in their window that someone is available to give assistance to those who need it.

For more information contact, Jamie Cutler, on 020 8831 6072 or email at j.cutler@richmondaid.org.uk

Access Surveys

Richmond AID began to undertake surveys of local shops, cafes, restaurants and business last year, starting with Teddington and Hampton Wick. In order to promote awareness of Access issues and to provide information about accessibility we have produced a number of reports and guides which explain how accessible the high streets of Richmond are. Richmond AID has produced reports of Teddington and Hampton Wick with the results of our research.We have also published a guide to the shops and facilities in Teddington so that residents and visitors can have a reference of how accessible local businesses and services are.

Visit the Access Surveys & Guides page for a full list and description of the available reports.

Twickenham Town Centre

Broad Street, Teddington

High Street, Hampton Wick

FREE Access Consultations

We also provide FREE Access Consultations to local businesses who may want advice on how to make small, inexpensive changes, to attract new customers. To find out more visit our Access Services page.