{"id":4073,"date":"2022-02-20T12:48:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T12:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/?p=4073"},"modified":"2025-04-09T14:28:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T14:28:27","slug":"how-can-we-make-hospitals-more-accessible-for-disabled-people-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/how-can-we-make-hospitals-more-accessible-for-disabled-people-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How can we make hospitals more accessible for disabled people?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4073\" class=\"elementor elementor-4073\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb4f78c elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fb4f78c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf8a0bc\" data-id=\"cf8a0bc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d31169c elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d31169c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How can we make hospitals<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7df946c elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7df946c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">more accessible?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26c6a31\" data-id=\"26c6a31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-714ee7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"714ee7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-94ef759\" data-id=\"94ef759\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01b39e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"01b39e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b36c1ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"b36c1ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5b4e2a4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/2022\/02\/20\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>February 20, 2022<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90b9a44 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90b9a44\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-19ad44a\" data-id=\"19ad44a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e48ef0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1e48ef0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Hospital.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1478\" alt=\"Health\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Hospital.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Hospital-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Hospital-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70163c5\" data-id=\"70163c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3f1fde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3f1fde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For many of us, visiting hospitals can be a nerve-wracking experience even on the best of occasions. Although we tend to try and avoid hospital visits generally, there remains a considerable chance that most people will need to visit a hospital at least once every few years. So how can we make this experience accessible to all?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In England alone, over fifty thousand patients visit major hospitals A and E departments every single day. And many of them are disabled people with permanent or temporary injuries. Some of them may have hereditary conditions, and others are congenital.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because hospitals are not sites that people tend to visit frequently, navigating hospitals can often be quite a task. If someone also happens to have a disability, however, this can be made even more challenging if the site layout is confusing, pre- and post-visit information is unclear, or if the car park and approach routes are inaccessible. Particularly for cognitively disabled people.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our team often notices that issues with accessibility can sometimes (and often do) appear before we even get to the site itself. Speaking of car parks, it is vitally important to lay out clear paths between these areas and the hospital itself. Considerations should be made whether paths are visible, or if they are there to begin with, as an unmarked path could lead to an accident before a disabled visitor has even reached the front door. Tactile paving is also a must for visually impaired cane users.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd56615 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd56615\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ffec78\" data-id=\"1ffec78\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e9e6cb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e9e6cb4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b7b458\" data-id=\"2b7b458\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-834b18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"834b18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); color: #000000;\">Signage is a key element that acts as the guide for new visitors, so it\u2019s important this is provided in a range of accessible formats. Signs themselves need to be provided in the car parking area that explains that this is a bay reserved for blue badge holders. A common mistake we find is that terminology for people with disabilities is unflattering and incorrect. Terms like \u201cwheelchair user parking\u201d or \u201cdisabled parking\u201d are outdated and discriminatory and should now be referred to as \u201cblue badge parking\u201d. Also, consider the location of these bays. In addition to the public car parks, are there any in the staff areas? Is there a bay by the front entrance\/drop-off zones for people with mobility disabilities? If there are bollards along the path, are they colour contrasted so that people with low vision can see them?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When visitors finally arrive at the hospital site, consider whether accessible seating such as benches is installed for people with chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, and other disabilities, as the journey from the car park can exhaust some more than others. Ensure, as well, that benches have armrests fitted for proper ergonomic support.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Utilising technology can increase a hospital site\u2019s accessibility beyond the furnishings and fixtures. LED displays on doors can help to accommodate people with hearing impairments.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Within the hospital buildings themselves, ways to ensure best practice accessibility are not dissimilar to a majority of public-facing facilities, though accessibility within healthcare facilities is especially important as access to health is an integral and intrinsic human right.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc1fab0\" data-id=\"fc1fab0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156f7c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"156f7c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3390\" alt=\"A close up of a directions sign board at the entrance of a hospital in central London.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AdobeStock_136335860-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-385adde elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"385adde\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d247e9e\" data-id=\"d247e9e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a91d8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a91d8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Subtle changes can often make a world of difference, and most hospitals are not required to break down walls and build new rooms to meet appropriate standards for the most part. For instance, in waiting rooms, are chairs with armrests provided, and is the television pre-set to show subtitles for people with hearing impairments? Conversely, is the television broadcasting at too high a volume to cause discomfort for those with sensitive hearing and neurodivergence, such as autism? This simple problem (with an even simpler solution) can even make it difficult for hearing aid users to communicate with staff when needed.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"color: #000000; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">Do reception desks also provide counter loops to accommodate hearing-impaired visitors (and staff)? Accessibility may often be rooted in small changes to the physical environment, but by doing this you can also change the social environment, thereby allowing disabled people opportunities to work at hospitals.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wayfinding is a key element in helping a neurotypical person navigate the labyrinthian corridors of a hospital, but it is even more important in preventing disorientation among people with shorter-term memory and cognitive disabilities. Providing appropriate amounts of signage (not too much, but also not too little) is essential. Even subtle changes to the text, such as providing sans serif font types and minimising capitalisation, can make navigation of the environment so much easier for people with dyslexia, low vision, or other visual impairments.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ensuring that pathways to the various units are suitable for people with a variety of disabilities is important too. Colour coordination can be helpful in deciphering a visitor\u2019s location within a hospital, but equally, it is important to not rely on colour and provide pictorial information to remind visitors where they are.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Provision of equal lighting levels is also massively important. In one hospital visit, our auditors noted the use of wall-mounted lighting, which causes uneven lighting effects and could therefore make stairwells potentially hazardous to people with visual impairments.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Within restaurants, cafes, and internal convenience shops, consider subtle changes like making refrigeration units provide drinks horizontally, ensuring that wheelchair users are able to access any drink on the shelf. Consider providing split-height tables, also for wheelchair users. These would also provide convenient areas to eat for people of short stature. If other facilities such as kitchens in maternity wards are at too high a height, you must ensure that an alternative is presented.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If payment counters on-site still provide COVID screens post-pandemic (that is more than likely within medical environments), it\u2019s important to think about whether these reflective surfaces hinder a dead person\u2019s ability to lip read.\u00a0 Countertops and payment areas should also have induction loops due to the prominence of loud background noise within most cafeterias. All the condiments and cutlery within the restaurant areas should also be positioned on a counter at a low height. This applies too to other elements of the hospital, such as coat pegs, intercom and LED displays, bells, light switches, mirrors, and cord alarms within accessible WC toilet facilities.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A comprehensive egress plan and suitable evacuation equipment is also a vital element to hospitals, which are often expansive and built with several stories and wards. Evacuation plans, as well as suitable evacuation chairs, are vital within these environments, which more than any other type of facility is likely to be accommodating vulnerable people with mobility impairments, pregnant mothers, and the elderly.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Direct Access has developed our own evacuation chair range suitable for all, engineered by our own internal team and ready for use in medical environments.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Does your site currently require a review to meet best practice accessibility and inclusion standards? Get in touch with Direct Access today. Our Consultancy team will ensure that you take the steps to not only do the right thing within your budget but also open the door to the social and financial benefits that come only because of creating an accessible and inclusive environment for disabled people.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea8707a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea8707a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5b3935\" data-id=\"b5b3935\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e53612 elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"0e53612\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/glasgow-report-highlights-disability-discrimination-2\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Glasgow report highlights disability discrimination<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/our-guide-to-adaptive-game-controllers\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Our guide to adaptive game controllers<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e728e73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e728e73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88c3afb\" data-id=\"88c3afb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How can we make hospitals more accessible? For many of us, visiting hospitals can be a nerve-wracking experience even on the best of occasions. Although we tend to try and avoid hospital visits generally, there remains a considerable chance that most people will need to visit a hospital at least once every few years. So [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-4073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-accessibility-guidance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How can we make hospitals more accessible for disabled people? - Direct Access<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For the vast majority of us, visiting hospitals can be a nerve-wracking experience on the best of occasions. 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