A new online service which gives information on how user-friendly Cumbrian venues are in terms of access for people with disabilities or restricted access requirements has been launched by Cumbria County Council.
Cumbria County Council is the first local authority in the country to assess meeting venues through Direct Enquires, the National Access Register. Over 100 meeting venues in the county have been comprehensively assessed so that potential users can see whether they're suitable for wheelchair users, the visually impaired and blind, the hard of hearing, and a range of other needs such as whether guide dogs are accepted.
The disabled access information encompasses everything from parking, entrances, lifts, toilets, counter heights, wheelchair and pushchair access to staff assistance and auxiliary aids such as Braille, large print and induction loops.
The venues assessed are not all county council-owned, instead they are the most popular venues used by businesses and public sector organisations for meetings and conferences - such as major hotels, sports grounds, stately homes, theatres and a range of other buildings.
Cumbria County Council has been working with the Cumbria Disability Network to find the best way of promoting venues catering for all kinds of disabilities. All public bodies are required under Disability Equality Duty (DED) obligations to pay 'due regard' to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.
Cllr Elizabeth Mallinson, cabinet member responsible for equality, said:
"Before the launch of this service, a person with disabilities couldn't tell how accessible a venue was before getting there. Now, they can go to the web to search for meeting venues and prioritise the support facilities they require."
Joel Rasbash, Equalities Officer at Cumbria County Council, said:
"This project will remove the barriers people with disabilities face when taking an active part in public life. It's a valuable service to a large section of the community and the council hopes the private sector will follow our lead."
The service will be officially launched at the 'Voices Count - Listening to Disabled People' event on 2nd July 2007 at Carlisle Racecourse. To see the list of venues, visit www.directenquiries.com/cumbria using the 'Accessible Meeting Venues in Cumbria' link provided at the foot of this news online release.
Notes
directenquiries.com, was developed as the Nationwide Disabled Access Register in 2002 in partnership with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and The Employers' Forum on Disability. For further information on Direct Enquiries ring 01344 360101 or e-mail press@directenquiries.com
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Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332
Accessible Meeting Venues in Cumbria