2.5
Good exhibition content, poor disability access
Three of us went to see the 'Can the Seas Survive us' exhibition. One of us has physical disabilities and uses a walking support/equipment also for sitting on/being pushed by others. Two have sight disabilities. Also one of us has a hearing disability.
The first problem was the loos. As a previous review says the doors are very heavy and difficult to manage.
We went up to the mezzanine floor in the lift. The 2 sets of lift doors are not automatic - you have to physically open and close them. They are quite heavy/difficult. A (very apologetic) member of staff came to assist and did all the doors opening/closing for us. Think impossible to do on your own/without assistance if in a wheelchair.
We went down to the lower floor. As in stated in a previous review this lift is awkward to use. Unfortunately for us it then did not work when we tried to get back up to the ground floor. Three (very apologetic) members of staff were trying to help. After 10 minutes trying they said it would need a 'reset' and then one of the staff members guided us (and another wheelchair user) all the way back through the exhibition and then out onto a long ramp which brings you to the outside of the building. We asked about the lifts - the staff who helped us with each of the lifts, and the staff at reception, all told us (honestly) that they were very old - installed in 1978 - and that there were frequent incidents of them not working properly/problems for users with disabilities.
On the actual exhibition the theme, issues and exhibits were very interesting. However, as a previous review states in place the lighting was dim and it was hard to read some of the signage/descriptions.
Overall the impression is that the Sainsbury Centre can 'talk the talk' on disability access (they have policy statements about what they aim to do), but do not 'walk the walk'. One idea would be to ask the UEA Students Union to put a call out for student disability activists on campus to do a proper accessibility audit for them from the perspective of people with the lived experience of trying to navigate the spaces.
Three of us went to see the 'Can the Seas Survive us' exhibition. One of us has physical disabilities and uses a walking support/equipment also for sitting on/being pushed by others. Two have sight disabilities. Also one of us has a hearing disability.
The first problem was the loos. As a previous review says the doors are very heavy and difficult to manage.
We went up to the mezzanine floor in the lift. The 2 sets of lift doors are not automatic - you have to physically open and close them. They are quite heavy/difficult. A (very apologetic) member of staff came to assist and did all the doors opening/closing for us. Think impossible to do on your own/without assistance if in a wheelchair.
We went down to the lower floor. As in stated in a previous review this lift is awkward to use. Unfortunately for us it then did not work when we tried to get back up to the ground floor. Three (very apologetic) members of staff were trying to help. After 10 minutes trying they said it would need a 'reset' and then one of the staff members guided us (and another wheelchair user) all the way back through the exhibition and then out onto a long ramp which brings you to the outside of the building. We asked about the lifts - the staff who helped us with each of the lifts, and the staff at reception, all told us (honestly) that they were very old - installed in 1978 - and that there were frequent incidents of them not working properly/problems for users with disabilities.
On the actual exhibition the theme, issues and exhibits were very interesting. However, as a previous review states in place the lighting was dim and it was hard to read some of the signage/descriptions.
Overall the impression is that the Sainsbury Centre can 'talk the talk' on disability access (they have policy statements about what they aim to do), but do not 'walk the walk'. One idea would be to ask the UEA Students Union to put a call out for student disability activists on campus to do a proper accessibility audit for them from the perspective of people with the lived experience of trying to navigate the spaces.
For additional detailed accessibility information, please contact: scva@uea.ac.uk
