Tag Archives: AccessAble

Fun Fact Friday: Shopmobility

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Buckingham Shopmobility Service is a scheme that allows anyone with a mobility problem, whether temporary or permanent, to get out and about in Buckingham Town Centre. There are even allocated free parking spaces for Shopmobility users, next to the Shopmobility building.

There are electric mobility scooters and manual wheelchairs available. (Manual wheelchairs are available for a small fee). The wheelchairs can be folded for loading into a vehicle for home use, hospital appointments, visits to local events and places of interest. The service is sponsored by Buckingham Town Council and is free for anyone who wishes to shop or sight-see in Buckingham and the surrounding areas.

If you would like to use this service, find it on the far side of Cornwall’s Meadow Car Park, Buckingham, MK18 1RP. You can also reserve a mobility scooter or wheelchair, by contacting a member of the Shopmobility team on 07738 314 027 or email TIC@buckingham-tc.gov.uk. Currently, Shopmobility is only open on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and it is closed every other day including Bank Holidays. Hopefully the full service will be able to resume once restrictions are lifted.

Accessibility problems? AccessAble help to provide disabled access information to the area with access guides to 100 venues including shops, restaurants, hotels and parks. Follow the AccessAble link to go to the Buckingham AccessAble webpage.

Town Council agrees to fund new AccessAble website and new look Accessibility Guides for Buckingham

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Town Council agrees to fund new AccessAble website and new look Accessibility Guides for Buckingham!


Three years ago, Buckingham Town Council paid DisabledGo to carry out and publish detailed accessibility surveys of 65 venues in Buckingham. The Town Council have commissioned the renamed AccessAble to update the surveys each year and to add 5 more each year. In addition, Buckingham’s Access Awareness Group will continue to support the scheme. Volunteers will be trained to carry out and submit additional surveys at a workshop to be arranged in 2019.
AccessAble, previously called DisabledGo, have been working for over a year to develop and launch the new website and App, involving its user community every step of the way.
Councillor Mike Smith, Chair of the Town Council’s Resources Committee, said, “I’m delighted that the Town Council are continuing to support AccessAble.  We are committed to supporting venues across the town that are accessible to everyone, and to promoting the continuing good work to achieve this.”
The website has been completely rebuilt, the search is faster and easier to use and there is inspirational content so you can find new places to explore. The Accessibility Guides themselves are simpler to use and more clearly laid out. If you are after the detail you can navigate to it easily through a side menu or if you would prefer just the key information and photos you can use an ‘easy read’ toggle. The whole website looks totally different with many more photos, videos and icons.
A major part of the development has been working with users of screen readers and assistive technology to make sure the website and App meet the broadest range of accessibility requirements possible.
Another AccessAble development is new Accessibility Symbols. They have increased the number used from 19 to 32, which will enable anyone using the website or App to filter their results by the access requirements that are important to them. This includes symbols that may be helpful for people with autism, visual impairments and learning disabilities. The symbols can also be used to filter by facilities like Changing Places, accessible toilets, Safe Places, hoists and accessible fitting rooms.
Speaking about the development, AccessAble’s  Executive Director, Anna Nelson said, ‘AccessAble exists to provide detailed information to venues throughout the UK and Ireland, so that disabled people, carers and anyone who needs to know more about accessibility can find out if a place will be right for them.
We are passionate about delivering our social mission and helping more of the c.20m people who have accessibility requirements. As part of the launch AccessAble have published an important survey that highlights the vital need for better accessibility information. The survey revealed that 99% of disabled people want to know about accessibility before visiting a new place and 98% search for accessibility information in advance.  You can read more about it and check out the survey here https://www.accessable.co.uk/articles/new-survey-highlights-major-accessibility-gap-for-uk-s-20-million-disabled-people-and-carers
To check out the new service simply visit the website at www.AccessAble.co.uk or download the AccessAble App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. If you have any feedback you can contact AccessAble at  hello@AccessAble.co.uk, message them on social media or give AccessAble a call on 01438 842710.