Site Design
This website was designed by Luke Donoghue then a Year 10 student as part of his work experience week in June 2008. Macromedia Dreamweaver was used to constuct the site.
Internet Browsers
This website is regularly tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 using the following internet browsers. Each browser represents the web pages slightly differently.
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 8
To change the web text size - click the Page button, click Text Size, and then click the size you want.
To zoom a webpage - on the bottom right of the Internet Explorer screen, click the arrow to the right of the Change Zoom Level button.
Do one of the following:
to go to a predefined zoom level, click the percentage of enlargement or reduction you want. or to specify a custom level, click Custom. In the Percentage zoom box, type a zoom value, and then click OK.
Google Crome version 5
To change the web text size
- Click the Page
menu. - Select Zoom.
- Select Larger or Smaller as necessary. To see the webpage in its original layout, select Normal.
menu.Apple Safari version 4
To change the web text size - choose Page menu > Zoom Text Only. (The Page menu is near the upper-right corner of the Safari window, and looks like a page with a corner turned down.)
To a webpage - choose Page menu > Zoom In.
In June 2010 I was made aware of a problem which may affect some Apple Safari users obtaining the most current version of a website. It does not appear to affect 'dynamic' sites but sites such as this where the pages are 'static', that is where the contents of a page do not change while you are viewing them. Enter the search request 'clear the cache in safari' in your browser and follow the advice provided.
Using Text to Speech Software
There are a number of free-to-use text to speech software tools and browser bar add-ons which can be downloaded and installed to convert the written word into audio output. A number of these products can record output as MP3 files to be transfered to portable devices.
I am currently using NaturalReader from www.naturalreaders.com/. It appears to function well, the floating bar is very handy. I have no expertise in this area so please explore all the possibilities, including those with a price, before selecting the product most appropriate for your needs.
Website Update Frequency
This website is updated between 8 and 10 times a year.
Links to Other Websites
I have included a list of websites that I have found to be of particular value to me. It is an entirely personal list and exclusion from it does not means that a site is inappropriate or unvaluable. It is purely that I am unaware of it, or have used it and not made a mental note of it.
The comments are mine, and not the opinion of Mudlarks. As time goes on things change, often for the better, and so it is always advisable to check items such as accessibiity for yourself.
Mike Donoghue.
Horticultural Links
| www.rhs.org.uk | The Royal Horticultural Society is a premier organisation offering information and other services to its members and the public. |
| www.soilassociation.org | The Soil Association is the UK's leading charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and champioing human health. |
| www.allotments4all.co.uk | Allotments 4 all is a forum community offering infromation and advice to members. It is one of many forums available on the internet. |
| www.nsalg.org.uk | National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Limited provides a voice for allotment holders. |
| www.gardenersclub.co.uk | Gardeners Club is a free to join club which offers advice, useful information, discounts and exclusive offers. |
| www.thrive.org.uk | Thrive is a very impressive organisation, their website is certainly worth a visit. |
| www.farmgarden.org.uk/ | The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens |
| www.cat.org.uk | First visited over 20 years ago the Centre for Alternative Technology has been the most inspiration place for me concerning organic gardening, sustainable energy and what we used to call ecology. There is a termendous amount to see, now with lots of interactive displays suitable for children of all ages. (Mike) |
| Allotments - A Plot Holders Guide | Published by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2001, this document is an excellent introduction for allotment plot holders. There are references to associated legislation towards the end of the document. The DTLGR was disbanded in 2002. Local government is now part of the new Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), as is regeneration, housing and planning. |
| Thrive - Carry On Gardening | Provides 'practical information to make garden jobs easier, advice on taking care, useful hints and tips and details of the equipment and tools which will be particularly helpful.' |
National Organisations and Charities
| Formed in 1977 as the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, RADAR is a national organisation run by and working for disabled people, with a membership of about 600 disability organisations and individuals. | |
| www.benefitsnow.co.uk/ | This site enables you to assess yourself for Disability Living Allowance , Attendance Allowance or Carers' Allowance before you apply. It also stocks a large range of specialised products and equipment. |
| www.muscular-dystrophy.org/ | The Muscular Dystrophy Campain lead the fight against muscle disease.
Their work has four main focuses:
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| www.actionduchenne.org/ | Action Duchenne is the only national Charity that exclusively funds research for a cure and promotes campaigns for better medical care for Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy. |
| www.efds.co.uk/default.asp ?section=2§ion Title=Home |
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is responsible for the promotion and development of sporting opportunities for all disabled people in England. |
| www.disabledgo.com/ | 'DisabledGo provides online access guides in a great deal of detail to a huge range of venues. We cover any venue you would access as a member of the public – cinemas, hotels, hospitals, colleges, sports grounds, restaurants, council offices, parks, historic land marks, tourist attractions – the list goes on and on.' |
| www.mind.org.uk | Mind is a national charity concerned with mental wellbeing. Enter Green Therapy in the Search to read their views on this topic. |
| www.scope.org.uk | Scope is a national charity concerned with achieving equal rights for disabled people. |
| www.ableize.com/ | 'The UK and Ireland's largest and most viewed resource of disability mobility and special needs. Find disabled products, services, sports and holidays also the largest collection of disabled clubs, groups and charities in the UK. All this plus children's and child care, education, wheelchairs and vehicles plus mobility, walking, daily living and bathing aids. Ableize is owned and run by disabled people and has disability covered.' |
| www.equalityhumanrights.com | Mudlarks will comply with the guidelines of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Note that this commission has absorbed the responsibilities of the former Disabilities Rights Commission. |
Local and Central Government Links
| UK Government Disability home page | |
www.direct.gov.uk/en/ |
The Blue Badge scheme. National information and Hertfordshire County Council. Ensure that you reapply before your badge expires, Hertfordshire do not issue reminders. |
| Hertfordshire County Council. Register on the HAND database if your child is under 19. This will enable services to be delivered more easily. | |
| www.stalbans.gov.uk/health -and-social-care/disabilities/ |
St Albans Borough Council |
| www.hertford.gov.uk/ Disability-Access-6501 .asp?page=6501 |
Hertford Town Council |
| www.hertford.gov.uk | On entering the Hertford Town Council site select Our Services and then Allotments to read the statement. |
| www.equalityhumanrights.com | Mudlarks will comply with the guidelines of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Note that this commission has absorbed the responsibilities of the former Disabilities Rights Commission. |
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Hertfordshire Organisations
| www.hertspass.com/ | The Personal Assistance Support Scheme [PASS] is based in Welwyn Garden City. It can provide advice and assistance to disabled people, including young people, on employing their own personal carers at home. |
| Hertford - A Fairtrade Town | Hertford now has its own website created by a group of local people with the common goal of promoting the awareness of Fairtrade products in and around Hertford. They are currently going the process of meeting the five goals required by the Fairtrade Foundation in order to make Hertford a Fairtrade town. Ann Woodward. |
| www.carersinherts.org.uk | Carers in Hertfordshire is an independent carer led charity established in 1995, which aims to ensure that all carers within Hertfordshire are recognised and valued; informed and supported in their caring role; have the opportunity for a life outside caring and can excercise a collective voice in the county. They produce a very useful newsletter which is a gold mine of information and courses. The Autumn 2010 edition includes lists of local contact numbers. |
Holidays With Wheelchair Access and Facilities
The access and facilities required depends upon the nature and degree of mobility. It is almost impossible to achieve a standard of equipment suitable for everyone. Also be aware that there are a number of organisations which deliver and collect items, such as wheelchairs and electric beds, obviously at an additional cost. Do not discount the opportunity of home swopping and cruising as well as disabled access rooms at hotels and guesthouses.
| www.ableize.com/Holiday-Accommodation/ | Ableize holiday page. |
| www.ableize.com/access-and-travel/ | Ablieze access and travel page. |
| www.goodaccessguide.co.uk/holidays-and-travel/index.php | The Good Access Guide. |
| www.homefield.me.uk/ | A very well adapted bungalow in the Welsh village of Grosmont. Very friendly village, small but lovely community owned pub. Visit in 2010. |
| www.accessatlast.com/ | A good source of holiday accommodation. |
Places To Go With Wheelchair Access - Hertfordshire
| www.alban-arena.co.uk | St Albans Arena is accessible on the ground floor. They are able to remove seats in row G to accommodate wheelchairs. There is a disabled toilet opposite the bar (radar key). Make sure you book as soon as a performance is advertised, as spaces are limited. You will need to provide evidence of your disability at the booking office. Once registered the 'carer goes free' system is honoured via phone bookings. Wheelchair space booking not currently available on the internet. The phone line can be busy but when you get through the staff are very helpful. You will need to leave either from the side exit or the front. The exit to the left of stage has a step and although there is a portable ramp nobody thinks to put it in place - presumably there for fire evaculation purposes only. |
| www.dacorum.gov.uk/arts/ | Hemel Hempstead Old Town Hall. Same comments as for St Albans Arena. A much smaller venue with the added complication that the theatre is on the first floor via a lift. Worth phoning on the day to see if it is in working order. The wheelchair spaces are on the front row. The venue is intimate, to say the least. The Cellar Club is not accessible. |
| Search for 'Vue + Watford' | Vue Watford has extensive parking. Take the first left, then left again to reach the Disabled parking bays. Take care when using the crossing as it is not obvious to car drivers when entering the site. It looks possible to book in advance, but there are only two or so bays per screen. The site is all on ground level. |
| Search for 'Empire + Hemel' | Empire Hemel Hempstead is also all on ground level and is part of the Leisure World complex. There is a large car park surrounding three sides of the building. It looks possible to book in advance, but there are only two or so bays per screen. |
| Search for 'Odeon + Hatfield' | Odeon Hatfield is part of the massive Galaria shopping centre and unlike the Watford or Hemel venues the general parking is not free. Need to take your Blue Badge, that is if you can find a space. The other problem is that the cinema only has one lift, there may be another access but I will need to investigate further. The web site for disabled and carer booking does looks a lot easier than the two above. Once in, the staff are very helpful. The ramp is to the left of the foyer. |
Places To Go With Wheelchair Access - UK
| www.edenproject.com | The Eden Project has twenty plus disabled parking bays near the building entrance. The site is accessible, although some of the ramps are fairly long and steep. The domes get very crowded and not very pleasant for a wheelchair user. Not impressed by the food, take a picnic. |
| www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens | RHS Rosemoor. Now we are talking, a proper garden. A lot of the site is accessible, although some of the slopes are fairly long and steep, steeper than at Eden, and the ground is gravel and uneven in places. No quibble concessions given, lovely food in 2008. |
| www.nationaltrust.org.uk | You will need to check out each location very carefully but their web site is very helpful, and so far proved to be very accurate. |
| www.english-heritage.org.uk | English Heritage is not just about ruined old castles. Some locations are partly accessible and concessions readily offered. As with The National Trust, check the website first, and if in doubt phone them. |
| www.cadw.wales.gov.uk | The Welsh equivalent of English Hertitage. Many of the castle grounds are wheelchair friendly, well grass anyway, as are a places like Tintern Abbey which is in a fantastic location. (Do not be tempted to park in the pub car park by the entrance, they will charge you. The Cadw car park is free). Concessions available. English Hertitage membership gives you free access to Cadw, and vice versa. A very informative web site. |
| www.deanheritagemuseum .com/ |
The Dean Heritage Centre, Gloustershire, is mostly accessible by wheelchair. The staff will advise you of the route to take, and supply a returnable plan. The second floor is not accessible, The first floor has a lift, and ramped entry. The cafe is accessible from the first floor. The cottage ground floor has a narrow corridor which some chairs will be able to get into, but need to reverse out from. There is disabled parking and concessions. |
| www.visitcardiff.com/site/ about-cardiff/cardiff-bay |
There are a number of attractions suitable for wheelchair users. The tour boat only had a pair of portable ramps which is fine if your front and back wheels align. The river taxis take wheelchairs but do check before planning a trip. Park in the car park near the nature reserve, which has a very good path leading to a wooden pier. Use the cycle route as the path next to the bay front has steps. |
| www.assemblywales.org/gethome/get-visits/ get_involved-visiting- assembly-estate.htm | When visiting Cardiff Bay make time to visit the Assembly Building. There is a ramp to the left, zig-zag up to the entrance on the right. You will need to pass through security but there was no quibble with an electric chair. A lift takes you to the first floor. An architectural masterpiece, in my opinion. |
| www.brecknockaccess .org.uk/ofa/index.htm |
The 'Open for All' guide for towns in Brecknock (Sir Frycheiniog) is a really useful site giving access information for towns in the county. The Breacon Beacons lie with the county. |
| www.pembrokeshire -access.org.uk/index.htm |
The Pembrokeshire Access Group is another good source of information. There is the ability to hire a beach wheelchair and I can recommend 'A Guide to Facilities in Pembrokeshire' which can be downloaded from http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp? nav=107,1175&parent_directory_id=646 |
| www.accessibleguide.co.uk/ | The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain produced in association with Mobility has over 180 ideas for days out. A downloadable audio version is also available. |
| www.goodaccessguide.co.uk /leisure/index.php |
Good Acces Guide leisure page. |
Updated 31 August 2010