These are all the things I’ve thought of but I expect there are more.
Outside
- Plenty of Blue Badge parking bays with hatching on both sides
- Forget dropped kerbs, have smooth transitions between surfaces with as few bumps as possible
- Automatically opening doors where appropriate
- If possible, a covered drop-off area outside main doors
Reception area
- Low reception desk or at least a lowered portion (and not tucked around the side where it can’t be seen)
- Seating (normal height and with arms, such as tub chairs)
- Clear signage
- Accessible toilet
Rooms
- Wide doorway (if there is a spy hole, there needs to be one at a lower level too)
- Wide access to both sides of bed
- Any chairs should be normal height and with arms, such as tub chairs
- If there are alarm buttons or cords, they should be on both sides of the bed (it should not be assumed which side of the bed the disabled person will be on or it may be that the room is occupied by two disabled people)
- Facilities such as kettles, hairdryers etc should all be within easy reach for a wheelchair user
- Bathrooms should follow industry guidelines and rooms with both right-hand and left-hand transfer toilets available
- Toilets should not be the highest possible, but seat raisers should be available to borrow if necessary
- Roll-in shower area
- Fold-down shower seats and grab rails in shower area
- Lower-level mirrors
- Consider having lowered or lowerable basins
Restaurants
- Tables should be designed so that a wheelchair user can pull right up to them without having to transfer to a dining chair
- Plenty of space between tables
- Chairs with arms available if required
General
- Staff should have disabled awareness training
- Wherever possible, doorways should not have a lip to get over
Other accessibility issues
- Menus should be available in large print
- If there is piped music, consider having a quiet area in the restaurant or sitting area
- Contrasting colours on walls and doors and edges of steps
- Equipment such as chair or bed raisers, vibrating alarms etc should be available
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