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We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Where do you like to go that's accessible?

Chloe_Alumni

It is finally summer time! School has finished, day trips have begun and the weather (still!) is looking fabulous! But where do you like to go out?

When you're disabled it can often be a little harder to just go out and enjoy yourself. We often have to research access arrangements or just struggle to find something suitable in the first place. As a result, this time of year could become isolating for some people. We would like to minimise this and ensure as many people of possible can enjoy their summer.

Have you gone on a family day trip and loved the facilities? Have you been exploring a local area by yourself and think others should know about it?

We would love to hear about accessible venues, museums, day trips and parks. Anything you can think of would be a great help to the community.

Please share your thoughts below!

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Government_needs_reform

@Chloe_Scope I haven't been out for over two months and don't plan on going anywhere any time soon, this heat is playing havoc with me and with to many people about and screaming children which I just can't cope with anymore, also suffering like hell in more ways than one and always in agony and drugged up on my medication, and my time I try and get out when it's lot cooler with my friend and in the early hours or very late at night.

I rather help all these lovely folks on here as I don't mix well Face to Face anymore and having serious trust issues don't help either.

Sorry to be a party popper.

thara

We’ve done some walks as a family early in the summer. We are currently on a family vacation but I and my partner leave the children with my mom and go for a short walk down to the shops each morning. I believe that you can find out about accessibility online. We are planning on taking the kids to a few galleries and museums this winter in between appointments.

Chloe_Alumni

Sorry to hear you're struggling @Governments_A_Joke! The heat can affect a lot of people and we certainly have had a lot of it this year! I hope you will be able to get out and about soon

Chloe_Alumni

That is great to hear @thara! I hope you are enjoying yourself

Which galleries were you thinking of?

thara

A few in London.

thespiceman

Hello @Chloe_Scope This is good to talk about this. Where to go.

Understand the inaccessibility of places that do not cater for all community.

I struggle to get out and when I was young it was so different.

Problem is how to find doing something that I can enjoy and being not gawped at or critical of my way that I am.

Asked recently I think for those like interested in Wildlife such as Bird Watching and going to the park . Is an option.

Big issues are where to go and how to be relaxed. Simple trips for me turn into a nightmare. Sorry to say that.

Why I am talking about Summer Memories because I have those and can not and do not recall anything happy now. Just have nothing to remember that I can say enjoyed that or liked that now.

Of course this helps and my friends on the forum. They are all special to me.

It is everytime I wish to go out and it because it ends up a episode of a Carry on film or some other disaster. Prone episode of One Foot In the Grave or some thing else.

Love to go out but stop being silly. Charged where ever I go and even sitting in a park with windows down trying watching every body. You get these PC people come up to you. Wanting your space or critical of you just sitting. Watching what is going on in the park. Think you some one weird. Had that recently. Scary doing nothing wrong.

Had a post on here last year all I was doing during a sunny day talking on a park bench. Have a park near to me. Having a go because two gents talking about health issues.

All I do now is dream about yesterday a time long a go. Where days and people were so different.

Richard_Scope

We are history nerds and are members of English Heritage (you don't need to be a member). Their sites are accessible and the website has great accessibility information.

Chloe_Alumni

Sorry to hear this @thespiceman, I hope you are able to organise some accessible day trips this summer that you can enjoy!

Ram

I am just starting three months of post-surgery no wheeling so am having an at home kind of summer, but have a few recommendations.

Indoors, I find galleries and museums are usually great for access (and often have air con, free carer tickets and good cafes). Tate Modern has a fabulous slope into the Turbine Hall (real speed opportunity for self-propellers). The Ashmolean is also good. Actually I have yet to find a museum or gallery that isn't good.

Outdoors is trickier, but WWT Slimbridge is fabulous. I can spend all day independently with no emergency pushing needed. A real feeling of being properly outdoors, lots of quiet corners for anyone stressed by crowds, cheap membership and otters (what more can you need?). Staff are great too. They have centres all over the country so the others may be equally as great.

Theatres also can be good but book early to get the rare wheelchair spaces. I just had great seats at The Noel Coward in the West End and lovely thoughtful staff.

The National Trust makes a lot of accessibility effort with lifts, golf carts, stair-climbers and ramps. Success varies a bit ,because of their buildings, but I always find them helpful and the cake is good.

The Forest of Dean has good cycle tracks and certainly used to hire out a Mountaintrike and a range of other adapted cycles.

My worst experiences are with a festival that I had to abandon because of inaccurate access information and Cornish beaches. They have an access website but I found it pretty inaccurate and had some wasted trips.

thespiceman

Hello every body thanks for kind suggestions some thing to consider. My big issues are on my own. Loneliness and coping to just go out.

Have days well plan trips in my head might do this or that. Thought go out Sunday but there again get the negativity the deep down feeling of maybe not. All because it is pointless trying to cope with these people out there our supposed to be caring society.

Thought go to discounts shops need a look around . Problems are too many people, too many cars and you can not and do things nice and slow.

Driving is one. Up your bum sorry to say that all the time. Pressure to go quicker and rushed . I hate being rushed.

Get some where with a café like single person I am and end up on a table. Then get the questioning and the pressures of children causing a scene. Parents who seem want to not control their children. Not be responsible not being there. To just for once . Try to be apparently invisible to all concerned. Went and where lately some where I can have a walk about with out some one being interfering.

Please do get me wrong great with children and when I was in a relationship . ,I had the lady who I loved and her son. Friends and great for me to understand and be responsible for little ones. . Unfortunately people drift apart and it is as we all of us have experienced this.

Done a post on line shopping. Reasons above. Might if I want to go some where I can be at last some solace and peace.

Been to and have done Museums and Art galleries. Seems OK and have not been for a while. Not much fun on your own. Asking once or twice for people to come. All a hassle and they do not want to know.

All I wish is why is this changed what is happening to our country and community.

Do not know what to do really. Like my shopping and doing simple stuff but turning into a frantic nightmare. See now know why more people are doing on line.

Understand the need for families and cater but what about singletons.

Chloe_Alumni

Thanks so much @Ram for this- very helpful indeed! I hope your surgery recovery is going well

Ram

So far so good (helped by box sets, new pyjamas and celebrity gossip magazines).

Banny

When I am up to it, I tend to go to places I know are accessible and flat ... for me it's the coast ....Lytham, Cleveleys and Southport. Having said that I haven't been there in ages due to my condition changing and not always stable.
I wanted to get away for a few days but unfortunately can't find a hotel with the equipment I need so having to look at buying it first as it's not something you can loan from anywhere.
@spiceman - i understand what you mean about going out alone not being much fun, it isn't and as you say sometimes asking family or friends to come with you puts pressure on them to make arrangements to have things covered... it's easier to stay home alone but then I am finding it's easier to say no to friends asking me to go out with them as I have started to feel safer at home then when out and about.

thespiceman

Hello @Banny Thanks for words of reassurance and support. What irks me is this using of people.

Have said this before get some one rings me. Wants to chat and have not seen you for ages. They do all the chatting. You listen tolerant and patiently why they rabbit.

Drop in what are you doing today? So I am on my own. Some day will go out he says. Have a laugh makes all false promises and the rest.

I am vulnerable and he does know it. Get the idea I am on my own. Understanding and keeps talking then I try to interrupt and then phone goes dead.

Last time that happened. We did go out a former friend went and did his shopping. Not a chat and lunch as I went mad at him in the shopping centre. Told him in no polite terms.

There is a taxi go and get one. He has his trolley over laden.

Now have a shield on my phone courtesy of the phone company costs me nothing. All calls that come are vetted by me. If the call comes they have to say who they are. Then I decide whether to accept or not.

Great and also lately why do people have the audacity to ring like them two people . Why am still mystified and horrified. One reason am lonely.

Going to places long time ago so different. This constantly harassing of me and my immediate thoughts of what is the point. Why every thing a major expense costing a fortune for simple things and eating.

Go to supermarkets cafes lot better but even so.

Understand also getting there as well. I know I sound pessimistic but it is not helping is it the amount of traffic and having the endless pressure of just driving.

My friend who is always there for me said to me lately just do not go out. Simply stated all the above.

Yesterday a godsend doing shopping on line do not understand the hassle and pressure. I get when shopping when just going out or anywhere really.

Why are you stressing me out when I go out. Every body out there who is not a member of our community.

Gavel

We live in north Norfolk and are blessed with lots of local places to scooter and cycle to. Blocking Park, Marriotts Way, Weavers Way to name but a few. Sue has a TGA Breeze which with my E bike means we can cycle up to 20 miles from home.

Gaina

Slimbridge WWT reserve and Monkey World in Dorset both have excellent access and facilities for disabled people and families.

If you like nature trails and cycling, check out the SUSTRANS website (https://www.sustrans.org.uk/) for local routes to download and print off or keep on your phone. ?

Chloe_Alumni

Thanks for these everyone!

LubieLoo17

Hi Guys,

I don't know if you have heard of AccessAble and there’s also a mobile App. AccessAble work with loads of hospitals, local authorities, private businesses and in the education sector with uni’s and colleges etc. and have tons of Detailed Access Guides for these places. it's all Free and has helped me become less anxious about going to new places!

check it out and see what you think!

Lucy

Chloe_Alumni

Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing this @LubieLoo17! I use the app a lot and find it very helpful.

LubieLoo17

Chloe_Scope said:

Welcome to the community and thank you for sharing this @LubieLoo17! I use the app a lot and find it very helpful.

Great to hear @Chloe_Scope so glad you find it useful

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