This year’s theme: Kidney Health for All – Bridge the gap to better kidney care (www.worldkidneyday.org/)
World Kidney Day is a day in which people come together to raise awareness around kidney health and the symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
“Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where the kidneys don’t work as well as they should.” – The National Health Service (NHS)
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) & 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.
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 different systems in place to facilitate this access requirement.
For example, Legoland Windsor Resort accepts Access Cards with the ‘Standing & Queuing’ symbol as proof for a Ride Access Pass.
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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Urgent Access to Toilets
If you require urgent access to the toilet because of your health condition, e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or incontinence, we have the ‘WC’ symbol. This symbol discreetly communicates this access requirement with different providers.
Urgent access to the toilet is a different access requirement to a general need to use an accessible toilet and therefore the ‘WC’ symbol cannot be awarded for the latter. If you would like more information about this, please speak to a member of our team.
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Distances
For people who would perhaps have difficulty with walking/ self-propelling a wheelchair for longer distances, we have the ‘distances’ symbol to communicate this access requirement with different providers.
Different providers have their own ways of accommodating this access requirement.
For example, the Great British Food Festival, Hardwick Hall, offers a buggy service that runs from the Visitor Centre to the hall and gardens throughout the day.
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Essential Companions
For those that require a substantial amount of support from another person when out & about, we have the ‘+1’ symbol which indicates to providers that you would need a substantial amount of support to be able to access their facilities.
Different providers have different systems in place to facilitate this access requirement.
For example, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience accepts Access Cards with the ‘+1’ symbol as proof for a free essential companion ticket.
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Additional Access Requirements
The ‘Additional Access Requirements’ symbol is used to indicate that you have additional access requirements that haven’t already been covered by the other symbols & you can communicate these access requirements with different venues & attractions.
A lot of venues & attractions will include additional information about their events/services on their website. This may include information about the use of strobe lighting & smoke machines during performances. Please refer to each venue’s website for this information.
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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.
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.
Kidney Care UK
“We are the leading kidney patient support charity providing advice, support and financial assistance to thousands every year.”
Kidney Care UK
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Tel: 01420 541 424
Web: https://www.kidneycareuk.org/
Email: info@kidneycareuk.org
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National Kidney Federation
“The National Kidney Federation is unique because, although there are a large number of kidney charities, the NKF is the national kidney charity actually run by kidney patients for kidney patients.”
National Kidney Federation
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Tel: 01909 544999
Helpline: 0800 169 09 36
Web: https://www.kidney.org.uk/
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Kidney Research UK
“As the leading kidney research charity in the UK, nothing is going to stop us in our urgent mission to end kidney disease. We’re here to be heard, to make a difference, to change the future. This is a disease that ruins and destroys lives. It must be stopped.”
Kidney Research UK
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Tel: 0300 303 1100
Web: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/
Email: enquiries@kidneyresearchuk.org
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📷: https://www.worldkidneyday.org/resource-library/wkd-logo-with-date/
