An interesting report from PFD Media – read at Cities Today March 2013 P.15 – 16. Accessibility is not just for wheelchair users but equally important is good information and communication, signage and innovation. Universal design really for sustainable growth in a city.
Posted in accessibility, inclusive design, travel
Connect Culture is very happy to have Big Lottery closed the Awards for All grant for this project. The website will continue and we will continue updating and listing on new accessible restaurants and eating places in the region. Please continue sending us suggestions!
Newest listings for Coventry are at http://assess4access.connectculture.co.uk/covrestaurants.php
Posted in accessibility, Connect Culture, Coventry
This is a bit late but better late than never! Good news about Kahawa Cafe in Coventry which is well accessible, great coffees and service. They also have gluten free products!
Bally Bhambra (owner), staff member Emily Sherriff, Barclays business manager Narinder Singh & staff Photo from Coventry Telegraph
Bally Bhambra, 28, has launched Kahawa, which means coffee in Swahili, in the old job centre building in New Union Street.
Mr Bhambra has worked in banking and recruitment since leaving university but always hoped to become self-employed, following in the footsteps of his father and uncles, who have all set up retail businesses in the city.
He said: “When I was in recruitment, I used a number of coffee shops as my ‘mobile office’ so grew to understand what facilities I would like to see.
“Here at Kahawa, I have tried to create an environment that is suitable for business people who need free Wi-Fi access, need space and a relaxed environment in which to work. In addition, the layout of the café is very user-friendly for parents with pushchairs.”
The cafe sells a range of sandwiches and cakes as well as specialist coffees and teas.
Mr Bhambra has been able to take on two full-time staff and hopes to recruit more as the business grows.
Kawaha has already impressed disabled community group Connect Culture, which promotes accessible and inclusive businesses to people across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Eleanor Lisney, from the group, said: “Kahawa offers an ideal space for wheelchair users and also for parents with pushchairs. The owner has obviously given the layout and the accessibility a great deal of thought which is great.”
Posted in Coventry, restaurants, Uncategorized
Tagged coventry cafe, gluten free, Kahawa
Lunch at the Blue Orchid
We set a date for the Connect Culture community group AGM and Christmas lunch for today – risking the whole end of the world possibility. This is a very busy time of the year for most people – with families, shopping, other Christmas work lunches etc but Sarah (and Debbie), Justina, Frieda and I made it to the Blue Orchid at the Butts. They were so kind to open the restaurant just for us at lunchtime! And we were so chuffed to see that our Top 10 most Accessible award plaque held pride of place near the entrance.
We had a brief AGM reporting on the Assess on Access Project and its success and discuss about future possible projects on how we can help with making places and life more accessible and inclusive.
Thank you everybody for coming and those who couldnt make it but left ideas and their good wishes!
Seasonal greetings to everybody!
Buses at Coventry
On Tuesday I was at an Access Development Group meeting at the Coventry Council House discussing transport for disabled people in Coventry – bus transport specifically. And there was the question about scooters on buses..
Today Ricability, national research charity dedicated to providing independent information of value to disabled and older consumers, has published a consumer report ‘Can I travel on my mobility scooter on the bus?’
You should be able to take your scooter on the bus if:
The permit scheme has been developed by the Confederation for Passenger Transport (CPT). If your bus company has signed up to the scheme, they will be issuing credit-card sized permits (see picture) which can be shown to the driver.
For list of buses – in Coventry and Warwickshire we have Stagecoach and National Express, De Courcey is not on the list but ‘if your local bus operator is not on the list, try asking them about the CPT scheme – they may be willing to accept a permit that’s been issued to you by another bus operator.’
Read more about the scheme at the Ricability website and also the Summary Table with the list of permitted scooters.
Posted in accessibility, travel
Tagged buses, disabled, Ricability, scooters, travel
Work on a website is never finished. And having a sojourn in hospital with a fractured knee does not help!
But Frieda and I continued doing some research and before that Connect Culture also went to a trade fair and had stalls to publicise the guide – even in
outside the Transport Museum
the pouring rain outside the Transport Museum in Coventry at a Paralympics event (with Karen)!
There are just a couple of things we want to verify and we will publicise the website in social networks.
We were asked a question – Do your top ten restaurants in Warwickshire &
Coventry welcome assistance dog users?
In our mystery shopping, we did have a potential mystery shopper who used an assistance dog but there were some miscommunication and we didnt manage it in the end. That would have been interesting if we had indeed been able to include that.
We rang and asked the restaurants in our guide – I think it was difficult to explain about assistance dogs. They could just about manage with the concept of guide dogs and most of the restaurants were happier to be able to discuss access needs case by case. For them it depended on how busy they were (lunch or dinner) and if they had any time to prepare for it. As for the pubs, they were more ready to accept assistance or guide dogs.
It would be interesting to have comments on this!! What are people’s experience on this? Good or bad? As usual we would welcome news of restaurants where you had good experience!
Also read Access to restaurants for Guidedog owners from Guide Dogs.org
Posted in accessibility, Coventry, restaurants, web
Tagged assistance dogs, guide dogs, pubs, restaurant, website
Connect Culture is having a stall at the Social Enterprise & Cooperatives Trade Fair in Coventry on this Friday 14 September, from 10:30am to 4pm at Broadgate Square, Coventry City Centre.
We will be handing out Our Top Ten Accessible Restaurants in Coventry and Warwickshire as well as showing off the accompanying website.
We will also be sharing the stall with a display of independent living aids as well as with Duncan from Trabasack and Andy from Advent Medical who will be giving advice on wheelchairs and seating etc.
Its very exciting and we re looking forward to it!!
Posted in Coventry, social entrepreneurship
Tagged Advent Medical, CDA, Coventry Trade Fair, trabasack
