What we're doing to improve access

We would be grateful for other suggestions but currently we are working on:
*Changes to the design of the bookfair programme where possible to make it more accessible
*Providing Sign Language interpreting and communication support for Deaf comrades
*Providing induction loops and speech to text support for hard of hearing comrades
*Providing audio support and guides for blind and low vision comrades
*Changing the way we use the building for comrades with limited mobility- reducing the use of rooms that are not on the ground floor; improving signage to reduce unnecessary walking ; printing a floor-plan in the programme to show lifts and stairs ; providing a rest area in the Octogan again and in additional areas if possible
*Changing the way meetings are planned to make them more accessible- reserving accessible seating and changing the timetabling of meetings, to allow comrades with limited mobility to get to them on time, and for support to be set up for other comrades.

If you're Deaf or hard of hearing and need any support in meetings, please get in contact as soon as possible to let us know which meetings you'd like to attend so we can co-ordinate , as we won't be able to cover all meetings- please check what's going to be on at the bookfair on the website: http://www.anarchistbookfair.org/index.html
Once agreed , information about which meetings will have BSL interpreters and speech to text support will be clearly printed in the final bookfair programme.

If you have any access needs

In an ideal world the bookfair would be wholly accessible so that Deaf and disabled comrades would not have to contact us in advance to access the bookfair. Unfortunately at the moment this isn't possible - the bookfair makes a loss of £1,000 a year so we are relying on loans of equipment and on volunteers from within the movement. So if you have any particular access needs please get in touch with us as soon as possible to let us know what you need- the more time we have, the better chance there will be of sorting it out.

For example:
*If you are blind or low vision and would like a copy of the bookfair programme read out on audio-tape,
or want a guide on the day.
*If you use a wheelchair and will require lift-access to other floors- you will need to pick up a lift card-key from us
*If you are Deaf and will need BSL/English interpreting in meetings and/or communications support at the stalls
*If you are deaf/hard of hearing and need an induction loop and/or speech to text manual
or electronic note-taking in meetings
*If you have any other access requirements.

If you need to meet up before the bookfair to talk about what you need we can do this- please get in touch to sort a time to meet.

Please note, while dogs are not allowed in the building, working guide dogs for blind people and hearing dogs for deaf people are of course welcome- please let us know if you will be bringing a guide dog and we will try and organise some provisions for them.

Updates

Keep an eye on updates to this page as we will be adding further information such as:
*The building floor-plan
*Which meetings will have BSL interpreters
*How to make bookfair meetings accessible
*Working with Sign Language Interpreters
*Volunteering with access support on the day

Contact info

Please contact the access group as soon as possible to let us know if you have any access requirement, and/or if you can volunteer with access support on the day, if you are organising meetings and want more information about how to make your meeting accessible, or if you have any questions, or feedback and ideas to help us with this.

You can get in touch by :
Mobile (phone or text): 07807 795428
Email:access@anarchistbookfair.org.
Post: anarchist bookfair access,
c/o Freedom Bookshop,
84b Whitechapel High Street,
London E1.

Please note that the mobile number and email address above are contacts for access matters ONLY- If you need to contact the bookfair about anything else please email:
mail@anarchistbookfair.org instead