Accessibility

Visit Isle of Wight is always working to improve awareness of accessibility:

  • for businesses to review their own accessibility offer

Why is accessibility important to your business?

Did you know:

  • Approximately 16 million people in the UK have a disability.

Known as the ‘Purple Pound‘, the spending power of disabled households (a household where at least one member has a disability) has a big impact on tourism – and that could translate to a big impact on your business!

In 2024, the Purple Pound accounted for 21% of all domestic overnight trip spending in England (source: VisitBritain)

Of course, it isn’t always possible to provide a fully accessible place to stay or visit – but this shouldn’t mean it is the end of your journey into exploring the accessibility market.

What could your business do?

For customers with mobility impairments:

  • Areas that do and do not have step-free level access;
  • The availability of wheelchair accessible routes and inclusive dwell spaces;
  • The number and location of accessible toilets;
  • The nearest Changing Places facility (if not on site, provide the location of the closest one to you);
  • Other relevant features e.g. wheelchair accessible viewing platforms for events;
  • Mobility equipment including wheelchair, scooter or tramper availability, and related charging points.

For customers who are blind or partially sighted:

  • Any audio information that is available on-site, including audio tours or guides;
  • Large print and Braille documentation, as well as tactile maps and signage;
  • ‘Touch Tours’ or the tactile objects that may be available;
  • Facilities for assistance dogs, including water and relief areas.

For customers who are deaf or have hearing loss:

  • Hearing loop availability, including locations and types of loop used;
  • The provision of captions on videos and TV screens;
  • The availability of flashing, visual fire alarms or pagers in case of an emergency;
  • The availability of BSL tours.

For autistic and neurodivergent customers:

  • The availability of ‘fast track’ queue opportunities;
  • The availability of quiet spaces and/or sensory rooms;
  • The quieter times to visit, if applicable;
  • The availability of sensory stories and maps;
  • The availability of sensory equipment such as ear defenders, fidget spinners and weighted blankets;
  • Familiarisation visits and the booking process for these, if applicable.

For customers with dementia:

  • The availability of dementia friendly sessions, if applicable;
  • Dementia friendly facilities such as inclusive signage, accessible toilets and products such as ‘easy hold’ cutlery, for example;
  • The specific awareness training your staff have received relating to dementia.

VisitBritain has produced a helpful toolkit to guide your business to removing barriers to provide a positive experience for all.

A group of people are in the background, waving at the camera. There is a banner that says Ryde Boardwalk and Beach Accessibility. In the foreground are 3 women, on is in a beach friendly wheelchair. The wheelchair is on a accessible wooden boardwalk.

Help to create an accessibility guide

Visit Isle of Wight is working with AccessAble – an online accessibility guide, curated to provide fact-checked information about businesses to a varied audience who need to know what is (or isn’t) available to them when they visit.

Visit Isle of Wight hosted a webinar with AccessAble in December 2025 to discuss their Detailed Access Guides.
 
View the recording of the AccessAble webinar.
 
Below are two case studies discussed in the webinar. These are businesses who have been through the process of obtaining a Detailed Access Guide.

VisitEngland is currently offering discounts for these Detailed Access Guides from AccessAble. Click on the following link if you would like to get a quote for an online assessment or on site assessment – https://youraccessibilityguide.co.uk/AboutDAG