Section 5: Accessible features and facilities

Ready for use

Accessible toilets, in the same way as facilities for non-disabled users, should always be ready for use. However short of space you may be, it is vital to ensure that accessible toilets are never used as a storage area.

Think about your signage

It is useful (and inclusive in nature) to state that accessible toilets are not just for use by those with visible impairments, such as wheelchair users. Stating that ‘not all health conditions or impairments are visible’ or similar on your accessible toilet door is a way of showcasing your awareness of those who may require use of the facility just as much, for example, someone with Crohn’s disease or someone with a stoma. 

Red cord importance

You may have seen the Euan’s Guide campaign to ensure that red alarm cords within accessible toilets hang freely to ensure that those who require them can pull them from numerous positions, especially if they have fallen onto the floor in an emergency scenario.

Good practice hints and tips from Euan’s Guide also include:

• Emergency cords should be easily identifiable and usually red in colour.
• Each cord should have two red bangles attached to aid the person easily pulling the alarm cord.
• One of the bangles should be reachable from the floor and close to the WC.
• Visual and audible indicators should alert people that the alarm has been triggered.
• A means of resetting the alarm should be within the accessible toilet and easily reachable.
• The alarm signal to warn staff that someone needs help should be located in a suitable location and staff trained in how to respond.

It is important that staff, including cleaning staff, are trained to not tie cords up out of reach from the floor.

• It’s crucial that hearing aid wearers know that a loop system is installed and where it is. In the case of a reception area, for example, a sign should be positioned where the loop is effective. 
• Train your staff about the need for, and the function and use of, induction loops.
• Check loops regularly to ensure they’re working properly. RNID recommend they are checked weekly, along with your fire alarm.

• Encourage guests to make you aware of their accessibility requirements so you can discuss and agree the necessary evacuation arrangements.  
• Ensure you have vibrating pager systems or flashing beacons to alert D/deaf guests to a fire alarm or other emergency scenario. Door beacons can also alert guests if room service or housekeeping is at the door.
• Similarly, guests with mobility impairments may appreciate being placed in a room on the ground floor, or knowing that an evacuation chair is available for use by well-trained staff if stairs are present on the way to the exit. 
• Ensure your Fire Risk Assessment addresses the evacuation needs of all D/deaf and disabled guests.

• Provide good signage throughout. Consider large print, contrasting and tactile signs and ensure accessible features such as parking and toilets are well-signed.
• Make sure interpretation displays can be viewed by all, including those of shorter stature and wheelchair users.
• Provide interpretation in different formats.
• Consider large print and tactile interpretation.
• Fast track those unable to stand in a queue for long periods of time.
• Provide a quiet space for neurodivergent users.
• Start to curate a collection of sensory tools and toys for customers, such as ear defenders, blankets and fidget spinners.  The Life Science Centre provide a handy guide to making a sensory bag.
• Install seating, especially on steep inclines, long routes or near to children’s play areas so that parents or grandparents can supervise easily.
• BIAZA has also published advice relating to the admittance of assistance dogs to zoos and aquariums.

• When advertising your event, ensure any printed or online content provides good colour contrast (light text on a dark background, or vice versa). Online images should have alt text, and multimedia content should be captioned. More information on this in Marketing your Accessibility.
• When answering Frequently Asked Questions and similar, provide as much detail as you can. Don’t just say the event venue is accessible: describe the exact accessibility features and facilities it has. 
• Ensure the venue you choose for your event provides step-free access throughout, and has accessible toilet facilities. 
• Aim to provide seating with backrests as a minimum; stools are inaccessible for lots of event-goers. Armrests will benefit some users, so aim to offer several seats with these, if possible.
• A well, evenly-lit venue will be important for those who need to lip read, in particular. Similarly, good colour contrast between walls, doors and floors, at minimum, will help partially sighted participants to navigate the space with greater ease and confidence.
• Ask if your event venue has a hearing loop that is in good working order. If this is not the case, consider purchasing a portable one to be used at this event and future ones.
• Provide signage with large, contrasting text in an accessible sans serif font. Consider placement height for seated and standing users. Ensure evacuation routes are also accessible and clearly signed.
• Ensure that microphones and lecterns are height-adjustable for seated and standing speakers.
• Plan breaks into your event schedule, and give participants time to go to the toilet, take some quiet time for themselves or even have an ‘eye break’ if they have been lipreading.
• Think about ‘the little extras’ you might be able to provide. Arrange for a water bowl to be available for an assistance dog at your in-person event, or for live captioning to appear on your digital meeting as standard.
• Meetings and Events Australia provides a comprehensive guide on accessible events, from planning and venue finding, to ticketing, staffing and event promotion. 
• Oddity Events and Marketing has released an Inclusive Event Design Playbook offering best practice hints and tips for events held in both physical and virtual spaces.
• The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) hosts an online Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Hub with recommended, pooled resources for those in the events sector.
• Hirespace also has a useful article on top 8 tips for planning inclusive events.

• AccessAble audits businesses to provide accessibility guides to disabled customers.
• Access and Inclusion UK provides access auditing, consultancy and training for businesses.
• Accessible UK specialises in accessibility within the tourism sector.
• Direct Access provides international access consultancy to a range of businesses and sectors.
• Mima is an inclusive, human-centred design agency that provides access consultancy focusing on the end-to-end customer and colleague experience.
• Motionspot creates inclusive spaces and designs accessible products.
• The Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) provides consultancy and training relating to building design and management.

• Approved Document M provides practical guidance to help meet Part M of the Building Regulations, including useful diagrams on how to show compliance with the regulations.  
• The Live Events Access Charter is an industry standard developed by Attitude is Everything to support venues, grassroots organisations, festivals and outdoor events in building disability equality into all they do.
• BS 8300:2018, Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment, Parts 1 and 2 provides guidance on good practice in the design of buildings and their external approaches so that they are convenient to use by disabled people. The guidance is complementary to that contained in Approved Document M but contains additional material. The documents are available to purchase from the British Standards Institution (BSI).
• The Changing Places Campaign provides all the information you need to install a Changing Places facility for people with higher level accessibility needs.
• The Department for Transport provides guidance on Inclusive Mobility processes and the use of tactile paving surfaces.
• Historic England’s Easy Access to Historic Buildings and Easy Access to Historic Landscapes guides provide advice to those who own, manage or occupy historic buildings in England.
• The Institute of Sound, Communications & Visual Engineers (ISCVE) provides a list of competent assessors who can test and assess hearing loops for correct operation and performance. 
• The National Register of Access Consultants is an online database of reputable, accredited access auditors and access consultants for those seeking advice on how to make improvements to the built environment for the benefit of customers and employees with accessibility requirements.
• Paths for All and the Sensory Trust released Outdoor Accessibility Guidance in April 2023, designed to make outdoor spaces more accessible, and experiences – including children’s play - more inclusive for all.
• PAS 6463:2022 offers free to download guidance for designing neuro-friendly spaces.
• The RIBA Plan of Work – Inclusive Design Overlay provides recommendations to businesses, project managers and design, construction and operations teams wanting to ensure that their designs and processes are accessible and inclusive to all. It focuses on the full project lifecycle, from preparation and concept design through to detailed design, construction and when in-use.
• The Sign Design Society promotes excellence in signing and wayfinding.
• The Website Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and specifically the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the definitive and internationally accepted guidelines for creating accessible websites.

Did you know? 

There are a number of innovations aimed at making access to the built environment both easier, and a little bit more interesting! These include Sesame Access, who create beautiful lift structures hidden within staircases – perfect for historic environments where space is limited and a large amount of change cannot be made. You can see an example at the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel. In addition, the RoomMate provides bespoke audio description of accessible toilet facilities to blind and partially sighted users, making it easier to get one’s bearings in less familiar environments.