Accessible toilets

Before you venture out you may want to know where to find disabled toilets. Circa have drafted a good list of these (or see below) and also where to buy or borrow the radar keys which allow access to those toilets that are locked, see below:

RADAR KEYS

(Keys allowing access to Disabled Toilets, both on island & also the uk)

Keys can be purchasedfrom the following locations:-

CIRCA, Level 2, Chester Street Car Park, Douglas

Douglas Library, 10-12 Victoria Street, Douglas

Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal Building, Douglas.

Onchan District Commissioners, Main Road, Onchan

Peel Commissioners, Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel

Ramsey Town Commissioners, Town Hall, Parliament Square, Ramsey

Short term loan of keys during opening hours from:

OnchanDistrict Commissioners. Their keys can also be picked up from Onchan Park and Onchan Library

Access Office, Masham Court, Douglas

Disabled toilets are situated at the following locations:-

The island’s first accessible Changing Place toilet is now open at the Manx Museum, offering safe and clean toilet facilities for people with multiple and complex disabilities.

The new facility provides

• A sizable changing room for disabled people and carers
• Height adjustable changing bench
• Overhead powered track hoist (users bring their own sling)
• Adjustable washbasin
• Centrally placed toilet with room to move either side
• Separate quiet space available

Andreas Ayre United Playing Field (NR)

Ballasalla Silverdale Glen

Bride Village Car Park (NR)

Castletown Civic Centre, Town Centre Square

Douglas Sea Terminal Building (NR)

Loch Promenade Gardens

Opposite Jubilee Clock, Loch Promenade

Marks & Spencer Car Park

National Sports Centre (NSC), Douglas plus accessible changing facilities

Noa (Market Hall) – step free access from the rear, opposite Spill The Beans

Nobles ParkPavillion

York Road, off Broadway

Colours, Central Promenade

Port Jack, Douglas Promenade cont

Naadu, Wellington Street

Shaws Brow Car Park, Barrack Street

Terminus Tavern, Douglas Promenade (outside)

Kirk Michael Glen Wyllin Camp Site (SO)

Laxey The Harbour (NR) open 7am-5pm

M.E.R Station – seasonal opening

Onchan Park (2 facilities)

Peel Shore Road/Victoria Road

Market Place

Peel Camp Site (SO)

Port Erin Station Road Car Park

Shore Road

Port St Mary Golf Pavilion (NR)

Gellings Avenue

Harbour

Ramsey Market Place

Mooragh Park, Lakeside Pavilion (NR)

Coronation Park, by bus station

West Quay (NR) open 7am – 5pm

Ramsey Town Hall – office hours

Bowring Road, Ramsey, close to Shoprite

St Johns Main Road

SulbyCladdaghs (SO)

NR = no radar key needed

SO = seasonal only

General Information

Ring 686325 for a parking badge for disabled people (commonly called  a blue badge)

AccessAble has a website giving detailed information on accessibility in private and public premises located on the Isle of Man and in the UK. All locations have been assessed by trained personnel. Be aware that not all the properties listed are accessible.

To find an accessible taxi on the Isle of Man, check out https://www.gov.im/media/1352509/wheelchairaccessiblevehicleslist.pdf

Some holiday accommodation on the Isle of Man has been graded under the National Accessibility Scheme (NAS). Should a staycation suit your needs best, find these properties under www.visitisleofman.com on the Where to Stay menu on the home page.

Access Page on the Isle of Man Government website. This gives details on available support for disabled people using computers and other useful links.

The Highways Division of the Isle of Man Government can be contacted on tel:686600, or email to find out how to apply for a permit to access disabled parking spaces.

Crossroad Care houses the Access Office at Masham Court, Victoria Road, Douglas, IM2 4AW. Tel: 628926 for more information regarding access to Manx locations.

Access to cafes and restaurants is included in Leisure/eating out and on the DisabledGo website.

If you are registered disabled and no-one at your abode in the Douglas area is physically able to put out the rubbish wheelie bin, ring Douglas Borough Council and ask for a form for the Red Bin Scheme. A red lid on your bin will warn the rubbish collectors that they will need to move it to the wagon. Terms and conditions apply. Tel: 696300. This also applies for temporary disablement.

Disability Access Consultancy Service

For businesses wanting advice on accessibility with the Equality Act coming into place  contact Crossroads Care who run the Tiered Award Scheme. How accessible is your business? Being disability confident is a big opportunity whether your business is small or large.  Taking part in the free Award Scheme showing your disability awareness will help you to meet some of the requirements of the Act. tas@crossroadsiom.org. Tel: 673103

Manx National Heritage – at www.manxnationalheritage.im go to Visit, click on Historic Attractions, and select a site. At the bottom of the page under Related Documents find the Access Guide as a document of a PDF to decide if a visit would be suitable for your needs.

Travel

Off-island

Flying – www.airport.im – under airport information there is a drop-down menu on customer services that includes a section for passengers with reduced mobility, should you decide to travel off-island.

Sailing – The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company may be able to make special arrangements to help you, should you require assistance in any way to travel. Check out www.steam-packet.com/AboutUs/SpecialAssistance

Thinking of travelling and wondering where to stay? Check out http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/18/travel/accomable-airbnb-disability-travel/index.html for accommodation here and abroad. For peer reviews by carers and/or the disabled person see www.eaunsguide.com .Also check out Enable Holidays at www.enableholidays.com. For holidays in New Zealand view https://www.makingtrax.co.nz/

On-Island

The Highways Division of the Isle of Man Government can be contacted on tel:686600, email enquiries@highways.gov.im to find out how to obtain a reserved parking space, and permits for disabled people to access a disabled parking space.

Bus Vannin run a fully accessible Island-wide bus service. See www.iombusandrail.info for more information or tel:662525.

Steam Train -please mention in advance that you have limited mobility and the staff will do their best to accommodate your needs. They can use a ramp on some trains to take the wheelchair on board. Wheelchairs can be placed in the guards van while on board. Contact tel: 662525 and the staff will discuss your requirements.

Electric Tram – These vintage vehicles have steep often curling steps to board and the central aisle is narrow. Should you wish to take a ride please tel: 662525 in advance to discuss how the staff can help make this possible.

The Lady Chaffeurs taxi service

The Lady Chauffeurs are a team of 4 kind considerate caring female drivers all police checked, all able to drive taxis so clients are fully insured. They will do what ever is needed including calling family to say clients are home and well. Please see the Fb and trip advisor sites for clients feedback. They can stay with the client and help them return to the car. They will consider all reasonable requests. The journey prices are all Gov metered prices and charge 20per hr waiting/accomained time (as of July 2016). The long wheel base cars give 2 ft of space in the rear before touching the front seat and the large doors and perfect seat heights enables easy access. The car boots will fit a folded wheel chair in . They chauffeur female and male clients it just means you will only ever get a female driver. We supply a loyalty card and offer all clients a half price journey on the tenth journey. Tel: 235577.

DSC Disability Concession Passes

Disability Concession Passes are authorised by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 3rd floor Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas, IM1 2RZ. Telephone +44 1624 686325. The Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal, Douglas issue the pass on production of a letter of entitlement from the DHSC. A passport size photograph is required.

The pass entitles the holder to:

• Free travel on bus services on public holidays, bank holidays and weekends
• Half fare travel on bus services before 9am Mondays to Fridays.
• Free travel on bus services after 9am on weekdays.
• Full fare on the Night Owl /Hullad Oie services.
• Free travel after 9am on scheduled services of the IoM Steam Railway.
• Free travel after 9am on scheduled services of the Manx Electric Railway.
• Free travel after 9am on scheduled services on the Snaefell Mountain Railway.

Ask to see if there is a concessionary rate for a carer too.

Manx Blind Welfare

Concessionary passes issued to residents with visual impairment by Sight Matters entitle the holder to travel free at all times with the exception of the Manx Express Services. Guide dogs travel free. For details please contact Sight Matters, Corrin Court, Heywood Avenue, Onchan, IM3 3AP. Telephone +44 1624 674727.

The pass entitles the holder to travel free at all times with the exception of the Manx Express. Guide dogs travel free.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Concessionary travel passes for Senior Citizens, DHSC Disability concession passes and Sight Matters passes cannot be used for travel on Manx Express services that are timed to arrive in Douglas before 9am and for Manx Express services that depart Douglas between 5pm and 6pm.An admin charge of 10.00 will be applied for the reissue of all lost passes.

Sailing for the Disabled offers adults and children with conditions that affects their day to day life, whether it is physical mental or emotional the opportunity of sailing on our own boat Pride of Mann III. You do not need any previous experience of sailing – some have never been in a yacht before. It is a sport that may be tried at any age and with virtually any disability, including people in wheelchairs and those with visual and hearing impairment. www.sftd-iom.com or tel:471666  email membership@sftd-iom.com

Access to Churches

Diocese of Sodor and Man Churches Disability Access

Parish/Benefice	Access	Toilet	Loop	Hall	Access	Toilet	Loop
Andreas	Y	Y		N/A
Jurby
Lezayre
St Judes	Y
Castletown
Dalby	Y (via hall)	Y	N		Y	Y	N
Ballaugh
Michael	Y	N	Y		via fire exit	N	N
Braddan	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y
Bride
St Olave, North Ramsey	via North door	N	front 50%		Y	Y	N
German	Y	friendly	Y		with help	friendly	N
Lonan	Y	Y	N	n/a
Laxey	Y	Y	N	Y
Malew	Y	Y	N	n/a
Abbey Church Ballasalla	Y	in hall	Y		friendly	Y	N
St Marks	Y	in hall	N		friendly	friendly	N
Kirk Santon	Y	in hall	N		friendly	friendly	N
Marown	Y	Y	Y
Maughold
Onchan
Patrick	N	N	N		N	N	N
St Adamnan	narrow	n/a	N	n/a
St Paul, Foxdale	N	N	N	n/a
St John’s	N	N	sometimes		narrow	N	N
Rushen Kirk Christ	Y	Y	Y	n/a
St Catherine, Port Erin	Y	N	Y		Y	N	N
St Mary, Port St Mary	Y	N	Y		Y	N	N
St Peter, Cregneash	Y	Y	Y	n/a
St George, Douglas	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	N
St Lukes Baldwin	N	N	N	n/a
St Paul, South Ramsey
St Matthew, Douglas
St Ninian, Douglas	Y	Y	N		Y	Y	N
St Thomas, Douglas	Y	N	Y	n/a

Access to Glens

Access Information for the Manx National Glens.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) is presently responsible for our lovely Manx National Glens and is keen to make them more accessible. Improvement works are in progress though some glens will never be fully accessible due to their terrain. As part of that initiative, access information has been included in this book. We hope this will help you decide which glen may be suitable for you. Note that everyone’s needs are unique according to their limitations and also the equipment at their disposal and any information given is merely a rough guide. However we hope the access information contained will encourage residents and tourists alike to venture out and enjoy these beautiful spaces.

 Team work has given us the information included. Shirley Huyton and Beth Martin, volunteers from Disability Networks, reviewed the more accessible glens with a wheelchair. Husband and wife team Ian and Kerry Sharp  (MLC) have kindly done on-site research for access including information for the visually impaired in the remainder of the glens. Author Susan Jellis and husband Graham   also walked the glens with access in mind for the book. Access icons are included in the book but more detailed information is available online at www.disabilitynetworks.info, giving further insight for suitability.

Remember that this feedback related to one visit one day and circumstances can change, such as path slippage or path improvements by DEFA, cafes opening and closing etc.  Our reviewers have tried to take into consideration all of the concerns and questions you may have but a quick call ahead to check on current conditions for any facilities is always a good idea. Many cafes are seasonal.  If there is no cafe onsite, we have suggested the nearest facility.

Some glens have only one path but others have options. Our reviewers have tried to give you some idea of walking distance but it is only an approximate figure. All the glens welcome dog walkers including assistance dogs. Seats are available in most of the glens. These can be basic but provide a perching point designed to rest your legs and lungs. Others are very comfortable. Many have a good view from them. We hope that you are inspired to get out and start exploring our glens.

Ballaglass Glen Access Review

Car parking – Yes

Assisted wheelchair access – No

Non-assisted wheelchair access – No

Facilities for the mobility impaired (walking stick, frame) – No, lot of tree roots

Rest seats for the mobility impaired – Yes

Accessible car parking – No

Accessible toilets – No, Maughold village public toilets are the nearest

Toilets – No, same as above

Playground – No

Facilities for blind and visually impaired people – No

Assistance dogs allowed – Yes

Comments on inclines – Top part of glen from the car park is fairly flat with a wide pathway. This is a great location to enjoy being among the trees. We don’t think it would be suitable for wheelchair access as there’s an incline from the entrance gate up to the path. The rest of the glen is very steep with narrow path and definitely not accessible although accessible for the adventurous person with limited sight.

Cafe/refreshments on site – No

Restaurant on site – No

Large print menu – No

Nearest cafe if none on site – Dhoon cafe, Ramsey

Ballure Glen Access Review

Car parking – No

Assisted wheelchair access – No

Non-assisted wheelchair access – No

Facilities for the mobility impaired (walking stick, frame) – No

Rest seats for the mobility impaired – No

Accessible car parking – No

Accessible toilets – No

Toilets – No

Playground – No but there is a recreational area to the south of the top of the glen with space to kick a football round, benches and views

Facilities for blind and visually impaired people – No

Assistance dogs allowed – Yes

Comments on inclines – Fairly steep climb. Not accessible for wheelchairs. Fine for adventurous partially-sighted people with guide.

Cafe/refreshments on site – No

Restaurant on site – No

Nearest cafe if none on site – Plenty in Ramsey

Distance – approx 400 metres return

Bishopscourt Glen Access Review

Car Park – Layby gives a wide space for two vehicles on the busy main road. Another layby further on gives more

Accessible Parking – No

Assisted wheelchair access – Yes

Unassisted wheelchair access – beware of tree roots and stones

Facilities for the mobility impaired (walking stick, frame) – Yes

Rest seats for the mobility impaired – Yes

Toilets – No

Accessible toilets – No

Assistance dogs allowed – Yes

General Comments – Stick to the left hand path. This path is reasonably even, just the odd tree root and stone. However the camber can be a little challenging at times for a wheelchair. The assister needs to be reasonably fit or rest regularly to tackle the slight incline. However just before the pond (our target destination), the incline increases considerably and the camber twists the chair to the right). It took one at the front of the chair to correct the steering and pull, plus one behind the chair to push. Once we got up the short slope it was a pleasure to sit and watch the ducks together, watch the light dance on the arching tree leaves above and small fish jump in the pond.

The nearest cafe is The Dovecote Tea Rooms in Kirk Michael. Ring 878534 to inquire about accessibility. A large print menu is available on request.

The right hand path has a flight of steps and is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Distance approximately 1.5 miles return