VISITING WITH CONFIDENCE

ummer brought with it the opportunity to get back out and about and visit our local cafes, parks, and other attractions, but this didn’t mean there weren’t still serious concerns about COVID for many. Socialising outside has allowed people to enjoy something of a social life again as the risk of infection feels less of a threat, making it feel a much safer way to be around people again. A post-lockdown, heavily vaccinated country has resulted in minimal restrictions in the UK which in turn has opened-up the summer to everyone as if there were never a pandemic in the first place. Of course, this isn’t the case, and disabled people are still being careful about initiating too much contact or putting themselves in a more vulnerable position by choosing a place to visit that doesn’t feel safe, particularly if it’s indoors. Researching any type of activity, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, is a major part of a disabled person’s first steps in going out, meaning that the tools and methods used to find out about a venue’s accessibility and its information on how it deals with COVID are incredibly valuable. One of those methods is searching EuansGuide.com, the disabled access review website where disabled people, their families, friends, and carers can find and share the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond. The website shares thousands of experiences and is the go-to tool for many disabled people who are researching places they might want to visit. There are thousands of people using the website every month. Just one review from someone with similar access requirements can give someone else enough confidence to visit somewhere new, from holiday homes and parks to bars and restaurants. Euan’s Guide is opening doors for disabled people to find great places to go – by breaking down barriers of exclusion, everyone has the freedom to explore. More and more, Euan’s Guide reviewers are also leaving their experiences in terms of COVID safety, in addition to the access information.

Which means the people who leave reviews are a number one priority for the charity: by sharing lived experiences, disabled people are helping to make the lives of other disabled people easier. Euan’s Guide believes in making the world more accessible one review at a time and it’s the people behind the reviews who really make the magic happen. The more people who feel they can contribute, the better.

Euan’s Guide hopes that more disabled people will help support them in their mission to provide access information on their website. If you’re someone who enjoys going out and about and you’d like to help make a positive difference to the lives of other disabled people, Euan’s Guide is a platform for you to share your thoughts on where you’ve been, because it’s those first-hand experiences that really count, whether you spend three minutes typing a review or three hours.

For example, in July, one reviewer who is a powerchair user left a 1400-word review of TRNSMT, an outdoor, heavily attended festival in Glasgow. Her review was incredibly detailed about her experience of arriving and parking at the festival site, the access to the festival, the crowds and atmosphere, the accessible viewing platform, toilets - including Pamiloo the mobile Changing Places toilet - and the staff. The general feeling from the review was one of feeling safe enough, but mainly because it was outdoors, and the staff were helpful. Likewise, another reviewer left their experience in under 70 words; theirs was of a coffee shop in Stirling called Unorthodox Roasters and the overall feeling was positive with four and a half stars being given. In the end, both the long and the short reviews are helpful because they provide people with a first-hand experience of somewhere new. As we find ourselves heading back towards autumn and the colder months, reviews and experiences will continue to make an impact on the lives of disabled people by letting them know what they can expect from a place they might want to visit, especially if it’s indoors. If you want to help by submitting your own review, all you need to do is register online with Euan’s Guide which creates a log-in, allowing the user to leave a review. In just a few clicks, you can submit a review that will allow other people to find out what you think about a place you’ve been, helping them to decide whether they give it a go too – just one review can give someone else the confidence to visit somewhere new.

Visit EuansGuide.com to find out more about reading and submitting reviews.