“There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK” – Mencap

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Learning Disabilities Week is a week in which people come together to raise awareness around different learning disabilities and offer advice & support to others.

“A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example, household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

“People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people. “

~ Mencap

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Learning Disabilities & The Access Card

Here at The Access Card, we support many cardholders to help them discreetly communicate the barriers they might face when out and about or visiting shows, events or tourist destinations and have provided some more information about some of the typical access requirements we have processed.

Everyone is different and experiences their needs in different ways, but here are some examples based on our experience.

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Standing & Queuing

Whether you have difficulty with physically being in a queue for a significant period of time, difficulty with the concept of queuing, or have difficulty with being in a queue/ crowded spaces, the ‘Standing & Queuing’ symbol can be added to your Access Card to help communicate this access requirement. 

Different providers have their own ways of accommodating this access requirement. 

For example. Chessington World of Adventures Resort accepts Access Cards with the ‘Standing & Queuing’ symbol as proof for a Ride Access Pass.

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What is a Ride Access Pass?

“A Ride Access Pass is a virtual queuing system designed to make reasonable adjustments to assist guests who do not understand the concept of queuing, have a physical disability that prevents them standing for extended periods of time or permanently non-ambulant guests.”

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Essential Companions

For those that require a substantial amount of support from another person (e.g. needing supervision to keep them safe, or understanding visual or audible information), we have the ‘+1’ symbol, which indicates to providers that you require a substantial amount of support from another person in order to access a venue’s facilities. 

Different providers have their own ways of accommodating this access requirement. 

For example, Cadbury World accepts Access Cards with the ‘+1’ symbol as proof for a free essential companion ticket.

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Accessing Visual Information

If you have difficulty with accessing/understanding visual information, for example, written information or signage, the Access Card has a symbol to help communicate this access requirement.

Different providers have different systems in place to facilitate this access requirement.

For example, Edinburgh Dungeon offers free dedicated touch tours with a full sensory guided experience for blind or visually impaired visitors.

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Accessing Audible Information

If you have difficulty with accessing/understanding audible information, the Access Card has a symbol to help communicate this access requirement.

Different providers have different systems in place to facilitate this access requirement.

For example, AO Arena has a number of induction loops installed within its venue, and both BSL-interpreted and captioned performances are available. For more information, please visit the arena’s website.

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Face Mask Exemptions

More recently, throughout COVID, we have had a number of people whose needs mean that they are either unable to put on, wear or remove a face covering, or that they can feel distressed when wearing a face covering and as a response to feedback from our members we now have an additional face mask symbol for those that need it.

There are a number of face mask exemption cards and certificates available in the UK, but we are the only face mask exemption card that offers verification of your exemption.

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Thinking of applying for a Card?

If you think the above would be useful for you and would like to apply for your Access Card you can do so quickly and easily by completing our short online application form and uploading some supporting information confirming your needs.

All applications received from people with a learning disability during Learning Disabilities Week 2021 (21st – 27th June 2021) can use the discount code ‘LDWeek21’ to get £5 off a three-year Access Card.

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Further Sources of Information, Advice and Support

Check out our full directory for how these symbols apply at over 1,000 venues in the UK and beyond.

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Mencap

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“Mencap is the leading voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.

“Our vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included.”

Mencap

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Tel: 0808 808 1111

Web: www.mencap.org.uk

Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk

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Hft

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“We provide support that means people with learning disabilities can experience life to the full – from enjoyment, satisfaction and improved health to finding meaningful relationships or paid employment. Our commitment goes beyond being just a high quality support provider.”

Hft

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Tel: 0117 906 1700

Web: www.hft.org.uk

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