True hospitality means creating an environment where everyone feels valued. Sue Harvey, Commercial Manager for the iconic Strawberry Field, shares her expert insights and practical steps your attraction can take to champion accessibility and inclusivity.
Tip 1 Listen and Adapt to Guest Needs The foundation of inclusivity is a commitment to listening. At Strawberry Field, they have constant engagement with guests to understand their needs, which led to the adaptation of their offer, resulting in the introduction of specific tools and facilities. A feedback-driven approach is essential for making meaningful improvements to the visitor experience for everyone.
Tip 2 Provide Resources for Visual Impairment To ensure guests with visual impairments have the same experience as others, consider investing in technology like an officially recognised paired tool. This technology assists visually impaired guests in navigating and engaging with the attraction equally and independently. You can also bring it back to basics and provide large print menus and information sheets.
Tip 3 Implement Support for Hearing Impairment Enhance your offering by partnering with local organisations, such as the Liverpool Deaf Society, to deliver solutions like a BSL (British Sign Language) tour. This proactive step translates exhibition information, making the entire narrative accessible to those with hearing issues.
Tip 4 Offer Specialist Facilities like Changing Places Go beyond standard accessible washrooms. Providing a dedicated space called a Changing Places facility, listed on the UK Changing Places website, which allows guests with complex needs to freshen up and use specialised equipment. This ensures they can spend their time comfortably at your venue. It also means you are listed on a national database.
Tip 5 Manage Overwhelm with Comfort Tools and Quiet Spaces Recognise that the visitor experience can be overwhelming for some guests. Strawberry Field have implemented fidget bags and ear defenders at the welcome desk for hire for free. The team is trained to offer these, along with directing guests to a quiet space, to help calm a situation and provide comfort until visitors feel more settled.
Sue Harvey and the team at Strawberry Field demonstrate that genuine accessibility is about more than just meeting legal requirements, it’s about adopting a culture of continuous listening and adaptation. Making these commitments not only aligns with our city region’s values but significantly enhances the quality of the visitor experience.
For more information about Strawberry Field click here.