Informing users of your facilities

Consideration should be given to adequate directions to public conveniences for both pedestrains and car users (where appropriate) and to clear signage both outside and inside the WCs, including facilities available, the person/authority responsible, and how to contact if required.

Access symbols

The public, private and tourist industry use a whole range of symbols to tell disabled people about access to and facilities within specific sites. Local authorities also vary in the way they publicise public conveniences. Not all local maps clearly state whether a facility is unisex or an adapted cubicle within male and female facilities.

The wheelchair symbol is widely used and taken to mean that a wheelchair user can get in. However, experience has taught many disabled people to distrust this symbol, particularly when it comes to accessible WCs.

Individual leaflet advertising

All over the British Isles it is possible to pick up, in pubs, restaurants, tourist sites and so on, leaflets describing tourist attractions. In those parts of the country where tourism is a major money earner for local people such leaflets are often the only way that a business is able to say to people ‘look we are here – come and see what we have to offer’. and represent a big investment by the individual tourist attraction. Many of these leaflets either do not give information about facilities for disabled people, or state that disabled people should ring up.

This has led to a proliferation of ‘special access guides’ alongside the general tourist leaflets and guides for an area. It is difficult to understand why access information cannot be included in general guides.

Please write or ring for access information

There is nothing more irritating than reading a leaflet to be told ‘disabled people – please write or ring for information’. The extra costs of searching for information can be considerable. Ringing up beforehand can actually result in three to four phone calls to get to the right person and such calls can last a considerable length of time. Once you have information you then have to ring the contact points given to check individual facilities. Add to this the cost of leaflets and booklets and the money outlay begins to grow.

Time investment

There is still a false assumption that disabled people and/or their carers have time on their hands to search out such information. In fact they have less time than most to seek out such information because of the extra time that has to be spent on daily living. The emotional output involved in checking one tourist or conference venue can reduce one to frustration, anger and despair, as well as waste valuable holiday or business time that could be spent enjoying oneself or conducting one’s work.

Room for improvement

ITAAL believed that the above reflected the need for a reliable national symbol system that is properly policed by the industry itself. Until this happens it means that the onus remains with the disabled person or carers to check out facilities before visiting. There is urgent need for local tourist information centres and local disability groups to come together to share information and produce inclusive tourist information literature that gives accurate information on access for prospective disabled customers.

Regional and national information

Regional and national tourist offices need to ensure that there is also uniformity and inclusiveness of disability information in regional and national tourist literature.