Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Guides and Resources
Disability Awareness – A Brief Overview
This free guide helps businesses, organisations and their staff develop a better understanding of disability and create more inclusive and accessible environments.
It explores the medical and social models of disability, diversity and inclusion, inclusive language and etiquette, the Equality Act 2010, discrimination, unconscious bias, ableism and allyship.
The guide also offers practical suggestions for removing barriers, challenging assumptions and encouraging more respectful and inclusive interactions with disabled people.
Download: Disability Awareness Guide – A Brief Overview (PDF).
Alternative format: Disability Awareness Guide – A Brief Overview (Word document)
Is Your Business Missing Out on the Purple Pound?
This free guide explains the Purple Pound, which is the spending power of disabled people and their households, and why accessibility makes good business sense.
It explores how physical barriers, inaccessible websites and poor customer service can lead to missed opportunities and lost revenue. It also highlights the benefits of inclusion, from attracting more customers to improving customer loyalty and business reputation.
The guide offers practical, achievable steps businesses can take to improve accessibility, welcome more disabled customers and tap into the potential of the Purple Pound.
Download: Is Your Business Missing Out on the Purple Pound? (PDF guide)
Alternative format: Is Your Business Missing Out on the Purple Pound? (Word document)
Making Your Business More Accessible
This free, practical guide helps shops, businesses and organisations identify and remove barriers to accessibility for disabled customers.
It covers entrances, internal layouts, signage, sensory accessibility, customer service, toilets, parking and emergency procedures. It also explains businesses’ responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the importance of providing clear accessibility information.
With a quick checklist and practical recommendations, the guide offers improvements for businesses of all sizes and budgets, from simple, low-cost changes to more substantial adjustments.
Download: Making Your Business More Accessible (PDF guide)
Alternative format: Making Your Business More Accessible (Word document)
Resources
BBC Radio Interview – Simple Ways to Make Businesses More Accessible
In this BBC Radio interview, Dr Deborah Lawson discusses how businesses can become more accessible and inclusive following a widely reported incident involving a guide dog owner who was asked to leave a restaurant.
The interview explores the importance of inclusive customer service, disability awareness training and involving disabled people in decisions about accessibility.
Deborah also shares practical, low-cost suggestions, including accessible doorbells, large-print information, reducing background noise and offering assistance. She highlights the business benefits of inclusion and discusses Congleton’s Disability Welcome Scheme.
BBC Radio Interview: Making Businesses More Accessible (MP3 audio)
Transcript: Making Businesses More Accessible (Word document)
Disability Awareness and Customer Service Training: Useful Links for Businesses and Organisations
This free resource helps businesses and organisations find disability awareness and inclusive customer service training to develop their staff’s knowledge, skills and confidence.
It brings together links to organisations offering courses, workshops, webinars and other learning opportunities covering disability awareness, inclusive communication, accessibility and supporting disabled customers.
The resource also highlights free disability awareness materials and encourages businesses to explore further training to help create more welcoming and inclusive environments.
Alternative format: Disability Awareness and Customer Service Training – Useful Links for Businesses and Organisations (Word document)
Event Accessibility Guide – With Checklist
This free, practical guide helps event organisers, businesses and organisations plan and deliver more accessible and inclusive events for disabled attendees.
It covers venue layouts, entrances, seating, accessible toilets, parking, sensory accessibility, signage and communication. It also explores inclusive planning, staff and volunteer awareness, and accessibility considerations for meetings, conferences and outdoor events.
With detailed recommendations and a quick checklist, the guide helps organisers identify potential barriers, improve accessibility and create welcoming events where everyone can participate.
Download: Event Accessibility Guide – With Checklist (PDF guide)
Alternative format: Event Accessibility Guide – With Checklist (Word document)
Accessible and Inclusive Leadership Framework – For Universities and Leadership Education Providers
This free, evidence-informed framework helps universities and other organisations strengthen accessibility and inclusion in leadership education, supporting disabled students and staff to participate, progress and thrive.
It covers accessible teaching and learning, physical and digital environments, inclusive recruitment, reasonable adjustments, disability representation and the importance of involving disabled people in programme design and delivery.
With practical recommendations, minimum accessibility standards, checklists and an implementation roadmap, the framework helps organisations identify barriers, prioritise improvements and embed accessibility into everyday practice.
Download: Accessible and Inclusive Leadership Framework (PDF)
Alternative format: Accessible and Inclusive Leadership Framework (Word document)
Disability Statistics Infographic
This infographic highlights key statistics about disability in the UK and the inequalities disabled people experience in everyday life.
It covers poverty, health inequalities, accessible housing, employment barriers and the additional costs of living with a disability. It also highlights negative attitudes, energy costs and the greater risks disabled people can face during natural disasters.
The statistics help raise awareness of the barriers disabled people face and why improving accessibility, equality and inclusion is so important.
Download: Disability Statistics Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Disability Statistics Infographic (Word document)
Inclusive Language Infographic
This infographic provides examples of respectful and inclusive language when referring to disabled people, based on UK Government guidance.
It highlights terminology to use or avoid when discussing disability, including wheelchair users, people with sight loss, deaf and hard of hearing people, and people with mental health conditions.
The infographic aims to raise awareness of the importance of language, challenge outdated terminology and encourage more respectful communication with disabled people.
Download: Inclusive Language Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Inclusive Language Infographic (Word document)
Creating a Respectful Environment Infographic
This infographic offers practical guidance on treating disabled people with dignity, respect and consideration in everyday interactions.
It covers speaking directly to disabled people, respecting personal boundaries, avoiding assumptions and recognising the importance of personal choice and independence.
The infographic encourages greater disability awareness and highlights simple ways to make interactions more respectful, inclusive and welcoming.
Download: Creating a Respectful Environment Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Creating a Respectful Environment Infographic (Word document)
Medical vs Social Model of Disability Infographic
This infographic explains the differences between the medical and social models of disability. It explores how each model approaches disability and highlights the importance of removing barriers, challenging attitudes and creating a more inclusive society.
It also shows how the social model shifts the focus from a person’s impairment to the barriers within society that can prevent disabled people from participating equally.
Download: Medical vs Social Model of Disability Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Medical vs Social Model of Disability Infographic (Word document)
Mental Health Facts Infographic
This infographic highlights key statistics about mental health in England and Great Britain, including the prevalence of common mental health conditions, suicidal thoughts and loneliness.
It explores differences in mental health experiences between women and men, the relationship between deprivation and mental health, and the impact of suicide.
By highlighting these findings, the infographic aims to raise awareness of mental health inequalities, challenge stigma and encourage greater understanding and support.
Download: Mental Health Facts Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Mental Health Facts Infographic (Word document)
Strategies for Promoting Inclusivity and Accessibility Infographic
This infographic outlines six practical strategies to help businesses and organisations create more accessible and inclusive environments for disabled people.
It covers improving physical access, making technology and information accessible, providing reasonable adjustments, communicating respectfully and offering disability awareness training.
The infographic highlights practical changes that can help remove barriers, improve customer experiences and create more welcoming environments where disabled people can participate equally.
Download: Strategies for Promoting Inclusivity and Accessibility Infographic (PDF)
Alternative format: Strategies for Promoting Inclusivity and Accessibility Infographic (Word document)
Accessibility at Astbury Mere Country Park
This free accessibility guide provides detailed information to help disabled people and their families plan a visit to Astbury Mere Country Park in Congleton, Cheshire.
It covers parking, entrances, paths, seating, accessible toilets, the café and other facilities, with photographs and measurements to help visitors understand what is available.
The guide also highlights potential barriers, including uneven surfaces, slopes and narrow access points, helping visitors make informed decisions about which routes and facilities may be suitable for their individual needs.
Download: Accessibility at Astbury Mere Country Park (PDF guide)
Alternative format: Accessibility at Astbury Mere Country Park (Word document)
