Tag: Accessibility

Emma’s Adventures in Llandudno.

“If we took a holiday… took some time to celebrate..”🎵 🎵🎵

Well, we took Madonna’s advice and have just come back from a break in lovely Llandudno.

We stayed in a wonderful accessible hotel, which was fully equipped with hoists, electric beds and a Changing Places toilet. The staff at the hotel were helpful and the service was brilliant. I fully recommend The Esplanade Hotel and would definitely go back again. (Disclaimer: I am not being paid to promote the hotel, I just really loved it!)

Now, back to the holiday… we took loads of walks on the pier and the pathway to The Great Orme. The Great Orme itself was inaccessible but, it was a gorgeously sunny day when we walked and it was nice to just sit for a while on a nearby bench and enjoy the sun.

We also made it our mission to find as many Alice in Wonderland statues as we could as they were hidden around Llandudno, we did really well, we got three or four.

Llandudno itself is very accessible and disabled- friendly there’s plenty of shops with ramps and no step entrances which meant having a browse in the shops was an absolute breeze! The promenade and pier were also easy to drive along. It did get busy with crowds at times but, I didn’t mind.

We just enjoyed having a chilled out break, doing things at our own pace, munching on donuts and trying a vegan sausage roll or two. And, of course, we took some time to watch The Women’s World Cup and cheer on our Lionesses! (The matches have been enthralling! Well done ladies! We’re proud of you!)

P.S. Megan Rapinoe and the USA team are an absolute force I know, I’m a Brit but I’ve loved watching the other teams just as much.

We found The Mad Hatter first.

As for our holiday, I loved it and we would definitely go back to Wales in the future.

For now, I’m enjoying being back home while wondering where our next adventure will be…

Emma.

Xxx

Accessibility is a Right but Always Feels Like a Fight.

I hear the stories every day, suitcases blocking the disabled toilet, no assistance at train platforms, a venue that’s classed as “accessible” that (shock horror!) is far from it. Disabled People have to deal with these scenarios over and over and we shouldn’t have to. It should be standard practice that we are consulted when buildings are being designed, it shouldn’t take someone to have the literal day from hell for someone to finally reach out over Twitter DM.

We have legislation but it is rarely enforced and so, we have to be the ones to constantly say: “I need this.” “Put this in place.” “Do you realise I can’t use the loo?” It is exhausting. Changing Places toilets have been a godsend and the announcement that there will be more funding to create more Changing Places across the UK is a huge step in the right direction.

Accessibility and Equality needs to be ingrained in every decision as the norm. It should be the first thing that’s considered, not the last, or as an after-thought. I know I won’t wake up tomorrow to find a perfectly accessible world but, I at least hope our voices will be listened to and changes will be implemented at the first time of asking rather than the millionth. Is it too much to ask? Will a day out ever just be straight-forward with no massive hiccups? I don’t know. But I know it should be. Accessibility is a right but for now, it always seems to be a fight.

A fight to be heard, to have our perspectives even considered. A never-ending fight. Maybe one day…

We’ll win.