Excellent accessibility and staff for helping.
5
5
Date of visit: January 2016
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around and understanding.
Overall Rating
Excellent
Hello, I visited with my severely disabled son in a wheelchair (he has the developmental age of a baby) and also my severely autistic 9 year old. I also have 2 other children. I contacted via Twitter in advance and received very helpful information which encouraged me to visit. Carers are free. Easy to get enough space even on a busy rainy Sunday.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Disabled access to atbristol itself is brilliant, wide doors lots of space between exhibits. The planetarium shows (you book and pay a small amount extra for these in advance) are accessible but only for a couple of chairs so you need to let them know, great view from the back row though. The reason for 4 stars is the cafe which is small and busy and too many tables and chairs to get wheelchairs round and very bad sensory environment for my autistic son, oh and a 20 minute wait for food. Shame. There are 2 lifts to the 2nd floor that aren't huge but are OK.
Parking & Transport
Good
This was more difficult our disabled adapted vehicle is too high for the underground multi story. I did ask a security man who said I could park in the coach bay. Atbristol did offer to help.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Within the centre great. In the cafe couldn't get to it for chairs and queues and tables.
Staff
Excellent
Within the centre excellent, and upon entry really helpful advising on shows etc, the lady in Twitter in advance was great too. Staff in the cafe not so good.
Additional Information
In terms of visiting with special needs children I would say that my autistic son loved it, for my severely disabled son I would say that atbristol could add some more more sensory friendly areas as although accessibility was great there wasn't a huge amount for him to look at, btw my 6 year old and 2 year old loved it!
