National Aquatic Centre Accessibility:

“Our goal is to provide a holistic and inclusive environment for everybody”

We recently upgraded our gymnasium. At ToneZone we are now the proud owners of Pulse Fitness equipment. We chose Pulse Fitness for their massive range of IFI accredited equipment. Pulse Fitness work closely with IFI (the Inclusive Fitness Initiative). Pulse were one of the first companies to introduce a wheel chair access range of strength equipment with the assistance of Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson (Paralympic multi Gold medallist). This range has been further developed with the help of the IFI and incorporated into our new equipment range.

The IFI has been in operation since 2001 and operates around key principles:

• Provision of Inclusive fitness equipment and accessible facilities

• Staff with appropriate training and skills

• The development of alternative inclusive sporting opportunities

• The combination of these elements ensures that the IFI creates inclusive environments.

We boast 15 types of IFI accredited equipment from the Pulse Fitness range.

Classes can be adapted to those with special needs. We assess all customers no differently to those who have a disability. We have accessible equipment that can be used either in classes or on the main gym floor.

We have clear walk ways to aid accessibility:

• We have installed in the family changing area larger cubicles with a wet bed that is height adjustable which also includes a shower.

• A new disability changing room with multi access hoist and wet bed and shower in the team change area.

• All male urinals have been lowered and installed with hand rails. All toilets have at least one cubical with hand rails installed. Cubicles are extended to 450mm width

• We have a shower in each changing room installed with a seat and lowered shower with rails.

• We have a new car park space directly out side the entrance.

• We have a new bus parking spot out side the building.

• We have strategically placed seating and rest spots external to the building

• We have a new mobile pool hoist which is used in both the International Competition Pool and also in AquaZone

We have two members of staff directed to attend to disability and accessibility awareness and to maintain and improve the standard and development of the centre. We have also allocated two more of our staff to follow through on further plans of training and the development of our staff and their knowledge. As we have specific equipment designed for use for disabled users. We have incorporated this in to the able bodied user’s programmes. Our web site includes an accessibility section.

We have researched the best practice of award winning clubs to compare our club and attain equal standard and find area to improve.

Literature:
We have a handbook available at reception containing the information of the building regarding the accessibility of the facilities. We have brail documents in place for the visually impaired for their information. Our leaflets have been updated with more images of customers with disabilities to encourage more usage.

Signage:
We have designated lockers in lower tiers in all areas to promote user friendliness for wheel chair users.

We have an induction loop in place at main reception and gym reception.

Those staff who have attended the disability awareness with ILAM (ILAM is the Irish Leisure Industry Body for all Sports, Fitness, Aquatic, Health Spas and Associated Facilities). Our staff then convey the information attained at the conference to all staff in future training courses so that all staff are aware of changes and findings.

We have on-going disability awareness training based upon the above modules

We have a new staff induction programme for disability awareness included in our health and safety inductions.

We have external training on usage on all new equipment purchased and we train in house. All training is logged and recorded

If you’d like to contact us specifically about accessibility then please contact us at the following e-mail address: customercare@nationalsportscampus.ie