Released: 22 February, 2007 Telephone service calls upon accessible information
The Nationwide Access Register, www.directenquiries.com is working in conjunction with Arthritis Care to highlight accessible facilities.
www.directenquires.com, the Nationwide Access Register provides an extensive online information service for people with a disability or those requiring specific access requirements. The search allows users to locate facilities within their local area and highlights the access available to them.
As well as allowing users to search for information related to facilities and access for disabled people, users can also locate RADAR toilets and the service has recently expended to include information for parents on locations that provide baby changing facilities and have good pushchair access.
www.directenquiries.com is now operating an information telephone service. This telephone service has been created for members of Arthritis Care who wish to make use of the access information but who can not get online.
The phone service is open between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday, helpline number 0870 162 0162.
Speaking of the service, Jo O'Boyle, Director of Marketing and Fundraising said: "Arthritis is the biggest cause of physical disability in the UK affecting around nine million people. Individuals access needs will vary and our members have welcomed this online and telephone service to help them find companies and services which meet their own particular needs and make their lives easier".
For more information on the Nationwide Access Register please visit www.directenquiries.com
Alternatively if you are a business and would like to register and promote your access and facilities on the website, which receives over 1.5 million hits from users a month, please contact Kerry Cyfert on: customerservices@directenquiries.com
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Notes to Editors
Direct Enquiries
directenquiries.com, was developed as the Nationwide Disabled Access Register in 2002 in partnership with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and The Employers' Forum on Disability. During the past 12 months the information available has grown to include access for parents with pushchairs as well as the general public. This allowed directenquiries.com to rebrand as The Nationwide Access Register in January 2006.
Directenquiries.com is the only Nationwide Access Register specifically designed for companies to showcase their disabled access and other facilities. On average, directenquiries.com receives over 1.3 million hits each month from people looking for businesses, organisations and services with the disabled access they require. Registration is only £35 per year, per location, for which companies receive the following:
• Nationwide registration on directenquiries.com detailing company name, address and other contact details, including links to their website, should they have one
• Access to the Action Plan
• A “More Information” section, equivalent to five pages of A4, updateable on a daily basis. This allows businesses to include information on forthcoming additions or changes to their disabled access as well as useful information about their business in general
• Feedback facility providing customer comments and opinion
For users, directenquiries.com provides a full directory service for UK companies detailing the access and facilities available at those registered with directenquiries.com. The register currently includes disabled access information on leading high street names such as Boots, LloydsTSB, Argos, Gap, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Costa Coffee, Pizza Express, PC World and Waterstone’s as well as thousands of small and independent businesses. The disabled access information encompasses everything from parking, entrances, lifts, toilets, counter heights, wheelchair and pushchair access to staff assistance and auxiliary aids such as Braille, large print and induction loops.
For further information, images and interviews please contact us on 01344 360101 or e-mail press@directenquiries.com
www.directenquiries.com
Arthritis Care
Arthritis Care is the UK’s largest organisation working with and for all people who have arthritis. They are a user led organisation which means people with arthritis are at the heart of their work – forming their membership, involved in all of their activities and directing what they do.
Arthritis Care, 18 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD Registered Charity No. 206563
www.arthritiscare.org.uk
24-hour information line: 0845 600 6868