Leeds Gets Behind First Disabled Access Day
A local teenager is urging public services in Leeds to get behind Disabled Access Day
A Leeds teenager who can't walk or talk is urging the city to get behind the first ever disabled access day.
It's is about encouraging disabled people to explore somewhere new, and urging public facilities to make sure they’re fully accessible.
Nathan Popple has been recognised nationally for his mission to make the city wheelchair-friendly via his website Accessible Leeds.
“I am so happy that we have the first national disabled access day so that people can look at how to make things more accessible for people like me,” he says.
Nathan goes into shops, restaurants and other public places in Leeds to do comprehensive reviews of whether they are fully accessible to disabled people.
But his carer Ben Walker told us there is still work to be done:
“It’s quite surprising what you take for granted as an able-bodied person. Since meeting Nathan I’ve really realise the challenges that are out there.
“It could just be basic things like getting through aisles of clothing, or things like the till heights.
“If you can’t go and change into a piece of clothing because the changing rooms aren’t big enough, then you have to either take that piece of clothing home with you and try it on there and bring it back, or you just don’t bother shopping there.
"It’s great that Nathan identifies these things that you just don’t realise.”
The aim of today is to call on more venues and facilities to be fully accessible.
With 11.6 million disabled people across the UK, Disabled Access Day encourages them to visit somewhere new.
The initiative is supported by over 200 companies and organisations, including the English, Scottish and Welsh national tourism agencies, Buckingham Palace and the European Network for Accessible Tourism.
Local MP Greg Mulholland has raised the issue in Parliament.
“Disabled Access Day is a great initiative to draw attention to the important issue of accessibility and to encourage people with disabilities to visit places they haven’t been before,” he says.
“It’s really important that venues and facilities open to the public make themselves as accessible as possible, and I’m sure other MPs will want to support this motion too.”
A range of activities is listed on the official website, www.disabledaccessday.com, with further information available via the Twitter account @Access_Day and hashtag #AccessDay.