Questions and Answers for Service Providers

• Have disabled parking bays
• Consider making staff spaces available by prior arrangement
• Ensure you can direct people to the nearest car park.

• Make the door a different colour to adjacent windows.
• Make the name and number of the premises clearly visible - signs which hang perpendicular to the building can be useful.

• Consider width for wheelchairs.
• If doorway cannot be widened, install a doorbell.
• Have glass panels in front door to see who is outside.

• Install a permanent or temporary ramp (alongside steps)
• Provide an alternative entrance accessible for all users.
• Speak to local council about the possibility of raising the street level.

• Put door handle at an accessible height for wheelchair users.
• Use an easy-grip handle in a distinguishable colour.
• Install a magnetic device which holds doors open.
• Consider a low-energy automatic door operator.

• Ensure doormats are flush with the floor and avoid bristle matting.
• Remove clutter, widen aisles, ensure floors are not slippery.
• Put handrails each side of stairs and consider use of a ramp or lift.

• Keep Simple,Short and Clear (24 point text for shelf bar Labels).
• Have good background contrast (eg. Black on white).
• Use visual or pictorial symbols in addition to words.

• Keep windows, lamps and blinds clean.
• Avoid glare by keeping highly reflective surfaces away from signs.
• Light up faces from the front rather than behind.
• Use extra lighting to highlight internal steps and safety hazards.

• Use matt paint in contrasting colours or different tones.

• Supplement audible alarms with visual alarms.
• Ensure staff know how to assist disabled people in an emergency?

• Allow more time.
• Talk directly to the disabled person, not a companion.
• Use notepads to exchange notes.
• Accompany a blind person round the shop.
• Consider disability awareness training for all staff.

• Try to provide all key facilities on the main floor.
• Place popular products on a mid-height shelf.
• Consider lowing the counter height for wheelchair users: provide a lap tray or clipboard if lower counter section is not available.

• Have somewhere people can sit down while they are waiting to pay.
• Use flexible seating, with and without armrests, and with space for a wheelchair user to pull up alongside a seated companion.

• Consider modifying the space to full wheelchair accessible standards, including getting to and from the toilet.
• If this is not possible, ensure you can tell people where the nearest accessible toilet is.

• Consider providing the service in an alternative accessible location either by appointment or perhaps on a regular basis.
• Provide an at-home service and make sure customers know about it.