This is the time of year when everyone looks back to see what they’ve achieved/or not and decides what they want from the coming year. We at BBS are no different but we will only look at the ‘positives’!
Press: The Mail on Sunday highlighted what we already know i.e. Luxury Hotels aren’t always the bastions of ‘accessibility’ that people expect them to be. We got a mention as we helped them to ask the ‘right’ questions, like when is a “Disabled Toilet not a Disabled Toilet??” – When it has no grab rails.
We also got an article in the Good Food Guide – ‘Mission Accessible‘, as well as some ongoing press with them – look out for more in 2014. They wanted to know how difficult it could be to go out and enjoy a good meal. We got articles in some of the major hospitality press as well as a mention alongside Lady GaGa when she showed off her golden wheelchair. Take a look at our press section for all that happened in 2013.
Laughs: We had a great response to our articles on Ridiculous Ramps and Ludicrous Loos. Unfortunately all too true but you have to laugh at the tree in the middle of a wheelchair ramp. Take a look at some more here.
Throughout the latter part of 2013 & in the spirit of Private Eye we also produced a series of BBS Spoofs including the Halloween article that some took seriously!? There will be more in 2014 as they give me a laugh if nothing else.
Research: We set up the BBS Research Panel and our first piece of research on Disability Equipment will be published in 2014. Amongst other things you told us that a ‘try before you buy’ service would help when buying equipment. Also not surprisingly most people are ‘disappointed with the lack of stylish equipment’ and at least one purchase a year was not fit for purpose! Hopefully manufacturers will pick up on this and ask for our advice. We approached Conran & Partners regarding style & disabled equipment and hopefully we will have some good news on this in 2014.
We also highlighted the New Age of Disability known as NADs (by BBS) where Robots and prosthetics have become so advanced that we can see a light on the near horizon regarding life as a disabled person. Take a look at some of our articles here & here as well as in our Latest Gadgets & Design & Disability sections.
So more of the same & better, we hope, for 2014. We will also resume our popular Sports Blog as the Sochi Winter Paralympics get near.
One thing we need to promote are our Pictorial Access Descriptions – PADs. They describe, in a “customer friendly” way, a disabled person’s journey through a venue, highlighting facilities &/or obstacles for multiple disabilities. The revenue from these make BBS possible, it’s how we pay our way! So if you’ve got a good or favourite place to go then tell them to sign up for a PAD (they’re not very expensive and they open up a new market of people with disabilities & a potential spend of £2Bn/year on hospitality).
So have a great time wherever you see the New Year in & Happy 2014. Me, I’m staying in with a few friends and watching the fireworks on TV, boring maybe, overrated never.
