Warm Hearts on a Wet Day!

Hi everyone! Emily isn't with us this week, but I'm here with friends and a nice story to share.

As I write, it is absolutely pouring with rain outside today! I’m with Paul, one of our members, who’s come from Sherborne to meet me and Laura (who helps us edit the column). Because of my big wheelchair, it was too tricky to meet in our usual spot, Finca.

We chose the Cornish Bakery as it’s near Finca, where Paul already was. Being a bit anxious about finding it, he asked one of the staff in Finca for directions. The lovely lady he asked walked with him to the Cornish Bakery, just to make sure he found it! What a thoughtful thing to do on a soggy day. A simple act of kindness which made a big difference to Paul, and made us all like Finca!

Sitting here now, all warm and dry, I probably need to slow down eating this tasty Cornish pasty. My friends say they’ll have to run over to the chemist soon to buy some indigestion tablets, as I’m wolfing it down! Paul’s enjoying a cup of tea, keeping an eye on his sugar levels, very smart of him.

We’re talking cafes. So, the Cornish Bakery is great because it’s got good wheelchair access. But it doesn’t accept cash, which can be really difficult for many of our members who don't have debit or credit cards. So, while accessible in one way, it’s not in another! Maybe something for businesses to think about, how inclusive they are? We also see it’s tricky for places like Finca to be more accessible – being in an old building, where making it accessible is difficult, and expensive. They do take cash, so next time we’ll meet there and I’ll bring my smaller wheelchair!

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