Access Rating app image

Described as a cross between Trustpilot and TripAdvisor, Access Rating is a new app that enables disabled people to review how accessible venues are across the UK.

Believed to be the first app of its kind, Access Rating features 240,000 bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels and is designed to help disabled people determine how accessible venues are before they visit, using a review/rating system.

Users can score venues out of five for accessibility and they can also write more detailed reviews and submit photos of the venues, if they wish.

The app was launched by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) alumnus Mark Esho and his business partners Rich Copson, the founder and director of Access Rating, and Jignesh Vaidya, a professional disability access auditor, with all three being wheelchair users.

Mark hopes Access Rating will help eliminate the access anxiety that disabled people face.

“Whenever I am invited to a bar or restaurant that I’ve not been to before, the first thing I ask is whether it is accessible for me,” he explained. “I know a lot of people who are embarrassed to ask that question and just avoid going altogether.

“We want to make disabled peoples’ lives a lot easier by giving them a voice. We want to save them the time and embarrassment and ultimately, reduce their access anxiety.

“We have first-hand experience of what it is like to go to a venue that is not suitable for people in wheelchairs, so we know what a difference this will make.”

The app will also offer advice, guidance and recommendations for venues to improve their accessibility.

Mark continued: “Having an audit can cost thousands of pounds and smaller businesses often can’t afford it. By offering this service, we hope to make as many venues across the country more access friendly.”

Review-style apps for disabled people are becoming more popular, helping them plan their trips accordingly and reducing access anxiety.

For instance, the Cleen app enables customers to rate the washrooms in any type of venue from restaurants and shopping centres to sports stadia and airports. The reviews submitted on the app can be viewed by other Cleen users so that they can see which venues have good – and poor – washroom facilities and make a choice to visit accordingly.

Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Sheffield City Region also launched an Interactive Map in October 2019, enabling users to make comments on issues including safety and accessibility by rating different locations in South Yorkshire on a scale of very negative to very positive.

Access Rating is available to download for free now on iOS and Android. For more information, visit www.accessrating.com

THIIS ROUND-UP
Join the 3,750+ mobility professionals who stay informed with THIIS' twice-weekly industry updates.
We respect your privacy
https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Access-Rating.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Access-Rating-150x150.jpgSarah SarsbyRetailer NewsSupplier NewsTrade NewsAccess Rating,accessibility app,accessible app,accessible venues,Cleen app,De Montfort University,disabled people,DMU,mobility needs,wheelchair access,wheelchair userDescribed as a cross between Trustpilot and TripAdvisor, Access Rating is a new app that enables disabled people to review how accessible venues are across the UK. Believed to be the first app of its kind, Access Rating features 240,000 bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels and is designed to help...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals