In order for all individuals to have choice and control over their lives, society needs to be fully accessible in terms of infrastructure, information available, services, and so on. Our Access Champions can help you to ensure that your workplace, services and/or premises are accessible. We are a group of individuals with a range of impairments, health conditions, and backgrounds. We are, through our lived experience, experts on accessibility. 

 

If you would like to arrange a meeting, please contact our Policy and Campaigns Manager, Pippa Maslin: 

Email pippa@mertoncil.org.uk 

Telephone/text/WhatsApp 07884 232391 

 

A few key issues to consider before meeting with us: 

  • Please share with us any presentations/drawings at least one week in advance of the meeting. This will allow us to review the content and get back to you with any queries and requests before the day of the meeting. Please do not include anything after this, as it may exclude some people from being able to participate fully. 
  • Please make sure that any presentation content is worded clearly and large enough to read. Also, please try to: not clutter the slides; ensure that there is a high level of contrast; and avoid using italics, underscore, and words in capital letters. 
  • On the day of the meeting, please start by introducing yourself, your project, and your reason(s) for asking to meet with us. 
  • Please do not assume prior knowledge of anything that you present to us, and please avoid using acronyms and other industry/project jargon. 
  • Please speak clearly and at a steady pace. Also, please do not cover your mouth, and please try to look at your audience at all times. 
  • Please talk us through everything on your slides and describe any visuals verbally. 
  • If the meeting is going to be longer than an hour, please include a comfort break of 5-10 minutes. This is applicable to both online meetings and in-person meetings. 

 

The feedback of Deaf and Disabled people is extremely valuable. Therefore, we welcome donations or financial contributions for our time. 

 

Following your time with us, we would appreciate it if you could provide us with an update on the changes that you made after meeting with us.