Saturday 16th March is Disabled Access Day. A day where many shops, venues and organisations celebrate diversity and their disabled customers, and make sure that what they offer is accessible to all.

We want to take the opportunity to celebrate the organisations, businesses and venues that do this all year round, making sure that they are accessible and welcoming to everyone so that people with learning difficulties, physical impairments and/or autism can belong to their part of society.

Members of bemix have been thinking about where they feel included, and what makes those places so accessible. 

• "Natural You Hair Salon makes me and my disability welcome. It is very accessible [I use a walking frame] and the people are friendly" - Leigh
• "Discos at the Snooker Club in Sittingbourne are very inclusive and accessible and create a good social environment for all" - Hannah
• "Being at the John Graham Centre cheers up my day. It's really welcoming and I can be myself" - Leigh
• "It helps when people treat me politely. The Lego store in Bluewater are always polite and supportive" - student, Supported Internships
• "On a Saturday, we have a quiet hour. No bell ringing, no toy demos and no music. We also do this every day throughout the half term" - Maria, Manager at The Entertainer Toy store, Chatham

We want to know where you feel welcome and why - join the conversation by commenting below or on our Facebook and Twitter Or use Euan's Guide to review how accessible businesses and services are.

Here are some of our tips for making sure that people with learning difficulties and/or autism can be seen, be heard and belong through accessibility.

"It is very important to have a good entrance to a building. If there is a slope, a good entrance really helps when I am trying to manoeuvre my walking frame" - Leigh

At Eco Shed we welcome everyone into our little workshop and treat everyone equally. Access to the building is always thought about and we all feel comfortable being here.

At our Music and Media groups, we are accepting, welcoming and honest about how we would like to be treated. We try to be accepting and learn about each other's needs and all work together.

The Be Seen, Be Heard group goes to schools to talk to the children about how people with learning difficulties and/or autism wanted to be treated inside and outside the school. We help them to understand that we are all equal. 

If you want to make your organisation, business, venue or opportunity more accessible but don't know where to start.... ask for ideas from people you want to make it accessible for. It really can be that easy.