Delegates with disabilities can now search for the most user-friendly venues in Glasgow.
Glasgow Convention Bureau has partnered with AccessAble and
the Royal College of Nursing to produce an online accessibility guide for disabled delegates
who are planning to travel to the city.
Glasgow’s
AccessAble gives delegates with access requirements
detailed information on more than 30 venues and services across the city,
including the Scottish Events Campus, hotels, the Glasgow Royal
Concert Hall, visitor attractions and the Universities of Glasgow, and
Strathclyde.
The venue audit will allow delegates to
search the facilities and services available at each site; such as whether
hearing loops are available, the standard light levels, counter heights, ramps
and clarity of written information available on signs and menus.
The guide comes after new research from disabled access
charity Euan’s Guide showed that 72 per cent of disabled people have found
accessibility information on a venue’s website to be misleading, confusing or
inaccurate. When responding to the 2022 Euan’s Guide Access Survey, 74 per cent
of participants reported having experienced a disappointing trip or having had
to change plans due to poor accessibility.
The latest ICCA (International Conference &
Convention Association) research published in spring 2023, saw international
associations asking for Diversity, Inclusion and Equity to be included in the
requirements of a conference host city.
The Glasgow Convention Bureau worked with Emma Muldoon, an
accessible travel and disability writer highlighted the importance of resources
such as the AccessAble guides to be made available to delegates and conference
organisers.
“AccessAble’s surveyors visit all venues in person and are trained
on a methodology of data collection that has been designed in constant
consultation with disabled people. It’s not about saying if somewhere is ‘fully
accessible’ because that doesn’t exist. As disabled people, we all have
different needs. It’s about providing factual data so we can make an informed
choice – our choice. It’s about autonomy. This means conference organisers can
now confidently offer detailed, accurate accessibility information to disabled
delegates using AccessAble’s Access Guides.”
Aileen Crawford, head of tourism and conventions said that Glasgow
had listened to the needs of its clients by working with AccessAble and the
Royal College of Nursing to offer 'accurate and robust access information on
our venues and hotels'.
Steven Jenkinson, events and venue services Manager at the
Royal College of Nursing said the college wanted to get involved with the
project because it represent around half a million nurses around the UK from
diverse backgrounds.
He added: “We want to ensure that that diversity is
represented at our Congress and as such, accessible venues and accommodation
are key to making our delegates feel welcome and included at our event.
Conducting an accessibility audit ahead of the event allows us to plan and
means we can meet the needs of our delegates or make adjustments to ensure
their visit is as easy and enjoyable as possible.”
The Glasgow Convention Bureau AccessAble guide is available here.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
