Inclusive facilities

Overview

What to know

• Inclusive facilities are venues designed or adapted so disabled and non-disabled people can use them together.
• Accessibility spans the whole visit — travel, parking, entrances, moving around, changing rooms and the activity.
• Access is physical and social: ramps and hoists matter, and so do welcoming staff and inclusive sessions.
• Features vary enormously between venues, so checking ahead is always worthwhile.
• Examples include accessible pools, sports halls, gyms and courts.

In practice

• Many mainstream leisure centres run inclusive or disability-specific sessions alongside general opening hours.
• Calling ahead to ask about specific features — such as accessible changing or a pool hoist — saves surprises on the day.
• Accessible design benefits many people, not only wheelchair users, including older adults and families with young children.
• For whether a specific venue suits an individual's needs, ask the facility operator, and a qualified professional where a health condition is involved.