Access

Hi readers, Emily, Kerry and William, not talking about Not Lost, or Susie the cat!

As well as promoting our fab book, we’ve been doing lots of other things, including meeting up with Emma Scott from Dorchester Town Council, who oversees Dorchester’s Access Group.

I, Kerry, have been involved with this for some time, in my job at People First Dorset, and because I want Dorchester to be accessible for all.

People may see me, and others, in our wheelchairs, as ‘disabled’. But it’s society that disables us. Why do I say that?

How about not being able to join friends in a café because their lift (still) isn’t working? Or I can’t get on the bus, as it already has a wheelchair in it (they only take one wheelchair)? No fun if it’s raining, or the next bus is an hour away! Or navigating uneven or cobbled pavements? They look pretty but I don’t want to play ‘Total Wipeout’ each time I go out!

Today Emily and William are learning more about the Access Group.  A main aim of the Group (which also includes people with sight, sound, speech impairments etc), is to check for good access. When it’s bad, to work with businesses and help them improve. It’s a legal requirement to make reasonable adjustments for access, but we understand it can be difficult, such as listed buildings.

New builds and developments have no excuse to provide great access for all, especially public places like cafes, restaurants, hospitals etc. You would not believe how often it doesn’t happen though, or cheap options are chosen, like lifts which keep breaking. When repairs don’t happen for months, or lifts break yet again, it feels very disheartening and ‘excluding’, whatever reason we’re given for the latest breakdown.

Tune in for more next week.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff