Over disability access week FANE will be promoting the launch of the North East Accessiblity Rating (NEAR) guide and awards. FANE will give an award to the venues with the best accessibility ratings to champion access across our region. The 2017 NEAR Award winners will be announced at the end of the year.
The NEAR guide is a pan-disability online map for people to find out about the social and physical accessibility of venues in the North East. The map allows people to read about, rate and review venues across the region for their accessibility and inclusiveness based on their own experiences.
Across the North East we have over four thousand venues with detailed accessibility information listed on our community map. Hundreds of venues have already been reviewed and rated by the public. By leaving a review we can all help build a picture of the best and most inclusive venues to visit around the North East.
We are contacting venues listed on our community map to tell them more about NEAR and the award they could receive. We want to promote and celebrate the venues that offer the best experience to all of their customers including those with additional needs. Our ‘Rate Us’ badges help people identify venues who care about access and being inclusive.
What venues need to do?
By placing a ‘Rate Us’ badge in your window, you will encourage your customers to rate your business on our community map. The venues who receive the best star ratings and reviews will be short listed for our annual North East Access Rating (NEAR) award. Talk to us about the many ways you can offer a more inclusive experience to your customers.
Why is access important to businesses?
* It is a market you can't ignore 10 million disabled people live in the UK with a combined annual spending power in excess of £212 billion.
* 75% of disabled people had 'walked away' from making a purchase, unable or unwilling to do so’
* A third of people in the UK are disabled or close to someone who is.
‘The Walk Away’
In 2006, Business Disability Forum and the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (now Disability Rights UK) undertook a survey into the opinions and shopping habits of disabled customers. What emerged was a picture of informed consumers who will reward good customer service and punish providers who don’t make any effort to meet their needs. 75% of disabled people had 'walked away' from making a purchase, unable or unwilling to do so. The most important factor was inaccessible premises. Other important factors that discouraged disabled consumers from spending were poorly designed products and staff that were not disability confident, rude or appeared prejudiced. Poor or inappropriate communications was another area that affected spending. Inaccessible websites, telephone systems and printed information were all cited by respondents as reasons they did not make a purchase. Over a third of disabled people said that good disability service was the primary reason for choosing a provider or product. Two thirds chose businesses where they have received good customer service related to their disability. Companies that tell disabled people about the accessibility of their products attracted those consumers.
- See more at: http://www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/customer-experience/the-eviden...
How people rate your venue on the Friends Action North East Community Map?
Most people use our website to find where your venue is and to find out more information about your venue including reading other customers/users ratings and reviews. The public rate your venue in 3 key areas they are:
Accessibility:
Service:
Experience:
Want to find out more? - Click on the links below
http://www.friendsaction.co.uk
Contact: Sally Evans, Project Manager, Friends Action North East
T: 0191 231 4327
E: sally.evans@friendsaction.co.uk