Destination Access Guides
& Disability Inclusion Training
VisitWindsor has lead the way forward in the provision of Destination Access Guides, Disability Training and the formation of the Award winning festival of Inclusivity, Parallel Windsor.
Destination Access Guides for Windsor and Eton, developed in a partnership between the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and AccessAble, are now available; Maidenhead and Ascot are being developed.
What is a Destination Access Guide? VisitWindsor has worked with AccessAble, the UK’s leading provider of detailed disabled access information, to produce the guides which help residents and visitors with access requirements to plan their journeys to and around both towns. The guides feature local businesses and tourist attractions and make it easier for disabled people and carers to access services and facilities, and have a good experience while they are visiting a business or destination. The guides include hotels, restaurants, shops, theatres and train stations.
How it works: AccessAble’s surveying team collect detailed information, data photographs, to ensure the guides cover everything from parking facilities and hearing loops, to walking distances and accessible toilets. The team consider mobility, sensory, learning difficulty and mental health requirements, and, while the main focus is on assisting disabled people and carers, the guides are also relevant for older people and those with anxiety. Visit AccessAble's website or download the AccessAble App.
Interested? If you would like to discuss having an Access Guide for your organisation, please get in touch with David Waterman at AccessAble on David.Waterman@accessable.co.uk.
FREE Disability Essentials online training
In addition to the access guides, AccessAble are offering their FREE Disability Essentials online training. The course is designed to ensure people are confident and skilled in their engagement with disabled people. It is written by AccessAble’s founder who is both a practicing employment & discrimination barrister and a disabled person - the course uniquely combines his legal expertise and the lived experience of disabled people. The course is separated into 5 individual modules which take around 10-15mins each to complete.
Email: Julia.White@rbwm.gov.uk to book a place.
Bridging The Gap: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion at Work
Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident is a unique opportunity to lead the way in your community, and you might just discover someone your business cannot do without.
It was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives to make it rigorous but easily accessible, particularly for smaller businesses.
Join us for a one-day event ‘Bridging The Gap: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion at Work’ for local businesses to come together, hear about the opportunities that recruiting from this talent pool can offer and meet local organisations who can support you through the process or that are already successfully supporting disabled people into meaningful employment. This special event takes place on Tuesday 22 October, at Ascot Racecourse.
Hosted by TV broadcaster and one of the most influential people in the UK with a disability*, Andy Stevenson, you’ll hear from organisations such as LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Heathrow Airport, Amazon MGM Studios, British Association for Supported Employment, The Crown Estate, Goss Consultancy Ltd, AXS Passport, VisitEngland, Braywick Plant Nurseries and more.
If you’re committed to disability inclusion in the workplace this event will:
Help employers understand how they can tap into this pool of talent.
Identify changes that may be needed in the workplace and in training.
Reduce staff shortages and increase staff productivity.
AccessAble Guide Webinar 8 March 2023
AccessAble Guide Webinar:
Watch our webinar featuring presentations on AccessAble and Parallel Windsor.
For more information on either, please email business@rbwm.gov.uk.
Click here to view a simple summary of what AccessAble can do.
Parallel Windsor - the Award Winning Flagship Event
Parallel is a disability lifestyle brand with purpose & an attitude of no limits living. One of the biggest social problems in the world is disability inclusion. As a social enterprise, Parallel’s aim is simple; to support disabled people to be free to live life to the full in mainstream society. To help achieve this purpose, Parallel Windsor was created, and after the success of it’s summer festivals in 2023 and 2024 in Windsor Great Park, this award-winning, flagship event, will be back in 2025. Save the date Sunday 6th July 2025 now!
Want to get involved in next years event? There are loads of opportunities for local businesses and charities to be a part of Parallel 2025!
Email: andrew@parallellifestyle.com to find out more.
International Day of Persons With Disabilities (IDPD) takes place annually on 03 December
The day was created by the UN in 1992; with the aims to promote the rights & well-being of disabled people across society & raise awareness of disability in every aspect of political, social, economic & cultural life.
To mark & celebrate this day, Parallel encourage a simple aim; to engage the nation with one, effortless, single act of united solidarity - to buy & wear a pair of our purple socks. By doing this, you will help raise positive awareness of disability inclusion; whilst also helping to create a new Parallel Fund to provide grants & professional support to kick-start disability owned businesses & help disabled entrepreneurs.
BAM SOCKS - Purple Sock Day socks are made by the wonderful folks at BAM, who are pioneers in natural activewear. Soft, sustainable, & ethically sourced bamboo clothing run by people who care passionately about our environment. BAM also create clothing that inspire people to be the best versions of themselves, regardless of age or ability.
Did you know that purple is the colour most commonly associated with disability?