Creating an Accessibility Guide

An Accessibility Guide is designed to provide potential visitors with important accessibility information. It is important that the guide is comprehensive, but also written in the same style as the rest of your web site. It is your key document to welcome people with a disability and encourage them to visit. No disability is the same so it is important to provide quality information that allows everyone to make their informed decision as to whether your venue is suitable for their individual needs.

The guide should be presented in the following format:

At A Glance

This should be the front page of your Accessibility Guide. It gives an overview of the types of disability you cater for with a brief description of what you offer guests in each disability category. This section should also include information on discounts, booking options and acceptance of the Companion Card.

The At a Glance section should include a photo of your business and its setting.

Getting There

This section is to provide all of the options available to get to your venue. It is a good idea to provide a Google map that allows “directions” to be obtained and printed.

by Car 

Clearly describe where there are drop off points and where they are in relation to the main entrance. It is important to state the parking time allowed at the drop off point and whether the car can be left unattended for a brief period of time. If parking is available at the venue describe whether the accessible parking bays are, the distance to the entrance and the surface of the car park. If no parking is available, state where the nearest accessible parking is, both street and commercial if applicable.

by Public Transport

If your business is accessible by public transport the following information should be provided.

Train – Details of the nearest station and the distance from your venue. If not all entrances are accessible describe how to find the accessible entrance at the station.

Bus – If your business is serviced by bus, what are the bus route numbers and which bus services are accessible with low floor buses. If pre-notification is required supply the phone or booking number.

by Taxi 

Establish which local taxi services provide wheelchair accessible transport and supply their contact details as part of your accessibility guide.

Arrival

It is important that visitors with a disability know where to go when they arrive at your venue.

Paths of Access

The guide should clearly indicate where the accessible entrance is, made it is made off and whether it is level or sloped. If the accessible entrance is not the main entrance to the venue, the guide should clearly indicate where it is and how it is accessed. If portable ramps are required the guide should provide contact details.

Photos of the entrance in relation to the street and/or car park should be provided.

Main Entrance

Describe the main entrance door and whether it is manual or automatic. If there is a ramp around an entrance with stairs describe the location  of the ramp. The width of the door should be provided, especially if it less than 850mm. Provide information on after-hours access and a mobile contact number if guests are not able to use an intercom.

Photos of the main entrance should be provided including the location of the ramp.

Reception/Ticket Office

Provide information of where the reception/ticket desk is in relation to the main entrance. If there is a priority queue for people with a disability provide information on where the queue is. If one or more of the counters have a hearing loop provide information on which line to use. For reception areas provide information on whether seating is provided and if there is a lower counter available and its location.

For hotels, provide information if luggage services are available and whether in-room check-in is available.

Photos of the reception/ticket office should be provided.

Inside Spaces

Toilets

Where public toilets are available provide information on their location throughout the venue. Where more than one accessible toilet is available provide information on whether it is right or left hand transfer. Provide information and measurements of the door width into the cubicle, the space available beside the toilet, the height of the toilet seat from the floor, and the clear space available within the toilet cubicle. Describe what sort of taps are used with the hand basin.

If available, provide information on the nearest adult change facility.

Photos of each toilet facility should be provided.

Lifts

Where lifts are provided the following information should be available in the Accessibility Guide:

• Width of the doors into the lift
• Depth of lift
• Width of the lift
• Position of the lift buttons and whether they are raised and include tactile markings
• Whether the lift has visual and audible floor indicators

Bars and Lounges

For each bar and lounge space describe the room layout including the servery, seating arrangements and furniture type. This is important where there is a mixture of high top, standard tables and chairs and low coffee table arrangements. State whether the chairs are movable to allow for the seating of wheelchair users. Describe the lighting in each area and whether or night there is background music playing in each space.

Photos of each area should be provided.

Cafes/Restaurants

As with bars and lounges provide a description of each dining venue including the table type, whether chairs are movable, the clear space through the space to allow people to navigate through it and lighting and background noise. Information on the nearest accessible toilet should be provided. Detail the menu choices and the dietary requirements that are provided. For each venue provide information on whether ordering, food delivery and bill payment is at a counter or at the table. Advise whether menus are available in braille, large print, and simple English.

Theatres/Theatrettes

Provide information on where the accessible seating is located, and whether closed caption devices are available. Provide information on whether the following is available:

Open Caption

Open captioning displays subtitled dialogue, sound effects and music descriptions on the screen. The

soundtrack still plays with the film, regardless of a persons ability to hear it.

Sensory Friendly

Lights up sound down – Sensory Friendly Films, to accommodate families affected by Autism Spectrum

Disorders. These sessions allow families to enjoy a trip to the movies in a safe and accepting environment.

Cry Baby

Cry Baby sessions give parents with newborn babies a chance to enjoy the movies. These sessions are run

with the lights up and the sound turned down.

Outdoor Spaces

Provide as much information as possible on the following within your grounds/gardens

• Slopes and widths of garden paths
• Surface material that paths are made of
• Identified step free routes through the gardens or grounds
• Provision of seats for people who cannot walk long distances
• If BBQs and picnic facilities are provided what are the heights of the benches and cook tops. Provide details of any picnic tables that provide a roll-under area for wheelchair users
• If there are observation decks, fishing platforms, bird hides and boardwalks provide information about whether they are level with the ground or provide ramped access. State the door widths if applicable.
• For lawn areas describe the slopes and thickness of the grass
• Provide any information of where accessible toilets are located within the garden or grounds

Provide photographs of the garden areas including the paths, picnic tables BBQs and other facilities

Pools and Spars

Describe the method of entry into the pool/(s)

• Level entry (ie: sloping beach type)
• Ramped
• Stepped (with or without handrail)
• Pool lift

Provide information on the equipment that is available (beach/pool wheelchair, noodles, other flotation devices, hoist, unisex change room with adult bench)

Provide information about shaded areas that are available and whether blocks are available to raised deck chairs.

Provide photographs of the pool, in particular, the entry points, beach wheelchairs and the deck furniture

Accommodation Providers

Bedrooms/Cabins

Information on bedrooms should contain the following:

• Number of accessible bedrooms available and whether any have adjoining rooms
• The door width into the room from the hallway or from outside
• Within each room the bed configuration and whether a king can be separated into singles
• The height of the bed above the floor (If blocks are available to raise the bed add that information)
• The clear space underneath the bed (to accommodate the feet of a hoist if required)
• The space beside and at the end of bed
• Provide information on whether furniture can be moved, additional bedding provided and whether you can move bedding to install a hospital bed if required.
• Information on whether televisions provide closed captioning
• Describe the wardrobe space and provide measurements of the heights of the hanging rails
• Other equipment that may be onsite or can be hired locally if required (commode, hoist, shower chair)
• If a desk is available in the room provide information on the clear space under it for knee clearance.
• Provide photographs of the room. Ensure the images cover the whole room

Ensuite Bathrooms

• Provide the following information:
• Width of the door from the bedroom
• Clear space available next to the toilet
• The position of grab bars
• Whether the toilet has a backrest
• Whether the vanity unit has a roll-under space for wheelchair users and if so the height above the floor level
• The type of tap fitted to the vanity
• Whether the shower has level entry with the bathroom floor. If there is a lip or hob what is its height
• Describe the position of the shower controls, whether the shower has seat (fixed, fold-down or portable) and whether the shower has a detachable shower rose. Also describe the position of the handrails within the shower.
• Provide information on the mirrors with the bathroom, their position length and whether they are on an angle for wheelchair users.
• Provide images of the bathroom showing the toilet and the space beside it including the handrails, the shower with the shower seat folded down or with the portable shower chair in the shower, and the handbasin.

Self Contained Kitchens

Describe the kitchen layout and the clear space between the work areas, island benches or kitchen tables. Describe the location and height above the floor of the oven, dishwasher, microwave, cooktops and work surfaces.

Are all storage areas for cutlery, crockery and utensils below 1.2 metres from the floor. Describe any “roll-under facilities in the kitchen ie: bench space, sink etc.