More Doors Opening for Disabled People in Belfast
More doors are opening for disabled people in Belfast with the launch of a new
DisabledGo on-line access guide that covers around 700 premises including libraries,
restaurants and other leisure venues.
Belfast has become one of the first five cities in the United Kingdom to get
the on-line guide created in partnership by Belfast City Council and the UK-wide
DisabledGo group and with the support of Marks and Spencer.
Founded by Dr Gregory Burke- a wheelchair user – DisabledGo guides are
designed to answer the everyday questions of disabled people, their friends,
families and carers. Older people and families with pushchairs will also find
the information invaluable.
The guides are designed to make life much easier for anyone with hearing, vision
or mobility related access concerns. It is also likely to boost the local economy
with disabled people –one in six of the population - estimated to spend
£80 billion a year in Britain.
Trevor Salmon, the chair of Belfast City Council Disability Access Group said:
“Belfast is now part of DisabledGo’s national accessibility strategy
which already has guides to 39 areas, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. The guide
to Belfast covers venues from restaurants to libraries and museums to retailers.
“Belfast is also one of the first five cities to be launched in DisabledGo’s
new website format. The new features include high contrast and larger text options,
a listen to this website feature and an improved design for speech browser capability
developed in consultation with disabled people.
“DisabledGo and Belfast City Council share the same values; we both want
to empower disabled people to enjoy and contribute to their community and recognised
the glaring need for accurate access information.
“When we decided to produce an access guide to Belfast a crucial factor
for us was that the information about the city was detailed, useful and accurate.
These are the values that DisabledGo clearly shares, sending a researcher to
every venue included.”
Dr. Gregory Burke concluded: “Disabled people are no small minority. One
in six of the British population is disabled and disabled people have an annual
spend of £80 billion. Those are numbers that any business or service provider
should take seriously.
“I’m immensely grateful to Marks & Spencer and Belfast City
Council for the support they have given us, and I hope that this guide will
open up all that Belfast City has to offer to everyone.”
The on-line guide was launched during the Council’s annual disability
event which also aims to highlight the accessibility of its own website www.belfastcity.gov.uk.
Web address for Belfast: http://www.disabledgo.info/Town.asp?TownID=66&ClassificationID=0&ClassificationName=