Things are starting to sound good for people with hearing loss
Award-winning deafened entrepreneurs, Angie Aspinall and Julie Leggett chose Saturday 17th January 2015, Disabled Access Day, to launch their Sounds Good Charter guidance booklets for the hospitality industry.
The dynamic duo are directors of Access Solutions, a company which supports the hospitality industry to become more accessible to the one in six people in the UK who have hearing loss.
“It’s estimated that around ten million people in the UK have some degree of hearing loss and that this figure is set to rise. This means that good communication, access and safety features for people with hearing loss are now more important than ever in the hospitality industry. And, we’re here to provide support through audits, training and the supply of specialist equipment,” explains Angie Aspinall, who started to develop hearing loss at the age of thirty.
Organisers of Disabled Access Day urged supporters to ‘visit one new place that you've never been to before’. Julie says, “We supported Disabled Access Day because we’d like people with hearing loss to be able to go out whenever and wherever they like and not to feel intimidated or embarrassed about asking for their access needs to be met. All too often, Hearing Loops are not switched on or staff haven’t had the training to know how to use them – and that’s where we at Access Solutions can help. We install hearing loops from world leaders, Ampetronic and we also provide staff training.”
The Sounds Good Charter Mark requires a range of attributes which make hotels, guest houses, self-catering accommodation and spas more accessible to people with acquired hearing loss. Assessors look at everything from how people search for accommodation which meets their access needs, from the booking process and check-in through to enjoying the facilities and, speaking with Angie and Julie, it quickly becomes apparent that each part of this process can be fraught with difficulties if you have hearing loss.
From online booking forms which require telephone numbers in order to proceed, reception areas without working hearing loops, hotel rooms without subtitle-enabled televisions and restaurants and bars with noisy background music, there can be obstacles in the way to clear communication and a relaxing break.
“The biggest worry I have when away from home is not being able to hear the fire alarm when I’m sleeping. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Fireco, the manufacturers of the DeafGard, a flashing alarm with a vibrating pad which slips under a pillow. It’s shocking the number of accommodation providers who are not aware of their legal obligations in this regard so, we’re spreading the word about Fire Safety legislation and the need for all accommodation providers to make provision for deaf guests and their safe evacuation in the event of a fire or bomb alert. This inexpensive equipment saves lives and helps deaf people to get a worry-free night’s sleep,” says Angie.
The Sounds Good Charter Mark provides quality assurance to people seeking hearing loss friendly accommodation. Once an establishment has achieved the Sounds Good Charter Mark, they are invited to feature on the Hearing Loss Friendly website. Hearing Loss Friendly is a membership network and website which caters for the needs of people with hearing loss seeking safe, accessible holiday accommodation. As the site develops, people with hearing loss will have a resource which is a one-stop shop for finding accommodation which has flashing/vibrating fire alarms, no traffic noise, quiet appliances and staff trained in excellence in customer care for people with hearing loss.
Accommodation providers wishing to become more accessible to people with hearing loss should visit www.accesssolutions.info or email info@accesssolutions.info for more information.
People seeking information on accessible accommodation should visit www.hearinglossfriendly.com and sign up to receive the latest information and special offers.
