In what have been unprecedented and without a doubt one of the most difficult times for businesses, you will be adapting and resetting plans, not just to attract customers, but operating differently to make it safe for them and your staff too.
How do you ensure that your social distancing measures continue to support disabled people?
How do you communicate the new measures?
A few hints and tips to help people with disabilities with new social measures
Temporary signage
Block capital can be difficult for people with learning difficulties and visual impairments.
A-Frames
With an increase in the use of A-frames to display information, be careful they do not cause obstructions – especially for those with a visual impairment.
Temporary Queuing systems
Consider if you are creating obstructions and hazards for people who may have learning disabilities or visual impairments.
Facemasks
Consider adjustments for people who lip read.
Wash Stations and Sanitisers
Make hand sanitiser and/or hand washing stations on a level accessible to wheelchair users.
Chairs
With the potential of longer queues or a limit on the number of customers you have at one time, consider supplying chairs at intervals for people who cannot stand for long periods of time.
Websites/ Social media
Many people with disabilities research before they visit a place or a business. They don’t just look to check out its accessibility (ramps, handrails, toilets etc.) but pictures of your business also help people with conditions such as autism to get acquainted with it and minimise anxiety. It is beneficial to highlight new structure and system changes on your website and social media.
Can I help?
Are staff confident to help a disabled person? If a member of staff sees someone with a disability, ask if they need help, for example offering a description of the lay out or new system, let a person know when a queue has moved on, which will help blind or visually impaired people and those with hidden disabilities, such as learning difficulties.
Our access champions will be more than happy to help you with any guidance, for free of course, and you can get in touch hello@disabilityfirst.org
Also, in collaboration with PNG digital, we have created a sticker for your business walls to help your customers consider others who may need consideration with social distancing.
All businesses who have had an access audit with Access Fylde Coast will receive one free of charge.
The community around us is important and especially at the moment, we need to support each other and work together.
Our way is to ensure awareness of all vulnerable people across the Fylde, to enable them to be recognised and cared for by their community around them.
This is why we, as a small, family printers, living and working in the Fylde Coast, felt it was important to work with Access to Fylde – Disability First, to help the community to help each other.
PNG
If you would like one for your business, you can get yours here