News

Accessing all areas

07 August 2007

Website reviews for disabled

An  innovative  new  website  has been set up to provide new opportunities for disabled people.  

Finding  Ways, based in North Shields, provides online information about businesses within the tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail sectors so that people with disabilities, as well as parents of young children and the elderly, can find the most accessible venues to suit their needs.

As well as businesses providing their own information, people visiting the venues are also encouraged to write their own reviews.

And, if businesses sign up to the service through the  Sunshine  Fund, the Chronicle’s charity will receive 50% of the £99 fee.

Steve Wilkinson, 54, managing director of the company, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, is the man behind the new business and, together with business partner Nancy Haughey, is hoping it will catch on.

He said: “The  website  is trying to provide information for disabled people, not just people in wheelchairs.

“We have launched it worldwide straight away and we hope it will grow and grow as there is potentially a huge market out there from disabled people. I see  Finding  Ways as the ideal way to encourage businesses to benefit from investing in making themselves accessible.

“At some time in our lives, everyone will encounter access issues, either directly or indirectly. By sharing each others’ experiences of the most suitable places to go throughout the World, everyone should have a better quality of life.”

Steve added: “It will cost £99 per year to be on the database and we will give £25 every year to a charity of a business’s choice. But if they sign up through the  Sunshine  Fund it will be £50 to the  Sunshine  Fund, which is brilliant.”
Jo Harris, manager of the  Sunshine  Fund, said: “Hopefully lots of businesses will register with the company and it will provide a great directory for people with disabilities.”

Log on to www.findingways.com

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