Latest news with #disabilityaccess
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey accessible hotel granted wedding venue licence
An accessible hotel in Jersey has been granted a licence allowing it to host des Landes in St Ouen's has 23 rooms for people with disabilities and their manager Steve Martin said the hotel would be open to anyone looking for a wedding venue and bookings could begin from September. Suzanne Day, support service manager at disability charity Enable Jersey, said the move would make a "positive difference" for people planning their weddings. "Whether living with a disability themselves or trying to find a venue that provides facilities for friends and family members, couples now have not just an accessible option, but a beautiful location for their wedding day," said Mrs Day. "We know that not all wedding venues in Jersey offer accessible facilities therefore this is such a step forward, not just for our Jersey community but those who may wish to come to Jersey to get married." Mr Martin said the hotel applied for the wedding venue license following encouragement from guests."People started to ask, 'wouldn't it be a great wedding venue, have you thought about doing weddings? Have you thought about opening up to the public for other things?'," he said. "So we've applied for a wedding licence and luckily we've been granted it by the Registrar and the Constable." Mr Martin said the plan was for people to be able to hire the whole hotel. "Obviously we can't really do weddings May to September when it's very busy and the hotel's very active," he said. "The plan is to maybe start doing weddings the other six months of the year and see how it goes from there."The hotel said it was working with an events company to organise the ceremonies while it provided the venue.
Forbes
11-08-2025
- Health
- Forbes
From Birth To Adulthood: Advancing Disability Access
In a world in which systems often exclude people with disabilities, Texas Southern University (TSU), the University of Guyana, and the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) are stepping forward to address this population and its corresponding challenges and triumphs. This October, the three institutions will co-host a virtual conference that looks at disability access across the life span, from birth through adulthood, and from schooling to employment. The event is titled 'Exploring the Impact of Disability Access Across the Spectrum: Birth to Employment. For TSU, the conference reflects more than academic interests. It builds on a broader institutional commitment to educational justice. According to Carl B. Goodman, provost at TSU, 'We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities to work with the community and connect students with faculty to address real-world issues. The conference directly supports the mission of our College of Education's special education program.' As a Historically Black University (HBCU) located in Houston, Texas, TSU has historically served students from marginalized communities. Goodman shared that the university sees inclusion as an active responsibility: 'We want to help manufacture more inclusive and seamless pathways from early childhood through adulthood. We're here to learn from the lived experiences shared at the conference and shape more inclusive practices.' The conference's global focus is also purposeful. According to Stephan Smith, CEO of AHEAD and a co-sponsor, 'While our area of focus is on higher education, of course, we recognize the importance of disability access at all levels. The experience of disability unites people across geographic bounds.' The partnership with the University of Guyana brings a critical Caribbean perspective to the conversation. According to Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor and one of the conference organizers, 'In Guyana, as in many parts of the world, there is a welcome movement to reframe disabilities in the context of human dignity. Part of what we do at the University of Guyana is to try to give agency to the invisible.' University of Guyana President Liddon Lashley also emphasized the complexities of supporting individuals with disabilities in the Caribbean. He stated, "Guyana is a post-colonial global South country with a significant proportion of the population being persons with disabilities, emergent and evolving diversities, additional needs, as well as various forms of neurodivergence. It is to form a catalyst of change in thinking so that all can belong, all can be accommodated, and all can achieve together.' For disability practitioners like Glennis Daniels-Bacchus, who consults on disability support services, is a member of AHEAD, and is originally from Guyana, the issues are deeply personal. She shared, "I am excited to be a part of this conference and to share my professional and personal experience. Disability access must be seen through a continuum lens. We must think about how we prepare individuals for each phase of life—with schools, cultural groups, families, and employers all playing a part.' Ultimately, the conference is focused on sparking more conversation. The organizers seek to influence policy, teaching, and public understanding of the topic. Scheduled for October, the virtual event will bring together educators, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from the U.S., the Caribbean, and other global regions. The goal overall will be to rethink how systems can be built not around barriers, but around access, dignity, and full participation.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey's colleges request new facilities as old ones 'outdated'
Jerseys only further and higher education college has written a letter to the States of Jersey to request new facilities. The letter from Jo Terry-Marchant, principal at Highlands College and University College Jersey, said the current college estate was "outdated, inflexible, and no longer fit for purpose in many areas."It added due to limited capacity in workshop areas it wasn't able to meet the demands of 14 to 16-year-olds from local schools. It said a "new, modern campus is a strategic necessity". The letter added the existing site presented additional barriers as the facilities were not fully compliant in relation to disability access. This affected learners who needed opportunities from Life Skills (students with complex needs) and inclusion programmes. The letter stated in order to support the development of the workforce it must move beyond "reactive repairs" and "incremental fixes."It said: "A new, modern campus is a strategic necessity, being central to the education eco-system, delivering a sustainable, future-ready education system that can support industry needs, social mobility, and the Island's long-term economic resilience." It understood that the maintenance requirements would wipe out most of the Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) maintenance budget for it's wider portfolio and the pressure on the public purse. It said unless a study into a partial rebuild, "focusing on modern workshops is conducted, we will be constrained in our ability to meet government aspirations without capital investment."
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It's ridiculous – we've nothing here': Co Kildare village to lose its last shop
'Older people and people with disabilities are so shocked, there was no forewarning really,' Johnstown resident David Stynes said as news filtered through the village that the only shop in the locality, Jordan's Centra, is due to close this week. 'It's ridiculous, we've nothing in the town,' the 65-year-old said. Located just off the N7, between Naas and Kill in Co Kildare , Johnstown, like 11 other Johnstowns in the east of the country, owes its name to the order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, said local historian Brian McCabe. 'The original church is up the way. Since the 1300s, there has been a village here,' he said. From Naas originally, Mr Stynes has lived in Johnstown for the last three years and is a wheelchair user. He was candid about how the shop closure will affect him. READ MORE 'As you can see I'm not very mobile. I'm lucky I have an electric wheelchair, but if you're sitting at home and you realise eight, nine, 10 o'clock you have run out of bread, where are you supposed to go now?' He has already experienced some of the hardship that the shop closure will bring. 'I have to rely on the buses to get to Kill or Naas. But last week I was going up the ramp and the wheelchair toppled over and I ended up in hospital, so I can't really trust getting on the buses now,' he said. Mr Stynes, like many others, is critical of the lack of communal infrastructure in the village. 'What's the town going to be left with, a Chinese restaurant?' he said. 'For older and disabled people, it's going to be a nightmare.' Amenities in the area have not kept pace with significant population growth of recent times, say villagers. Photograph: Stephen Farrell The owner of the shop, Alan Jordan, who lives locally and whose children have worked in the store, said closing had been a difficult decision that was not taken lightly. 'The business has been growing and expanding, but unfortunately the premises is no longer fit for purpose,' he said. 'It has been outgrown by the size of the community, it can't provide the range of products that the community deserves. On three occasions over the last 12 years we have tried unsuccessfully to secure alternative sites in the village.' [ Irish post office network requires annual funding of €15m to avoid 'rapid closures' Opens in new window ] One of these sites, located across the road from the shop, remains vacant. 'We would have built a 4,000 sq ft store there with 44 car-parking spaces ... But that didn't come to pass; a group of local people weren't in favour.' The Jordan Centra group is the largest Centra chain in Ireland, with stores in eight other locations in Kildare and Dublin. The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation , whose administrative offices are located above the Centra store in Johnstown, has agreed to purchase the shop, pending the owner getting planning approval for its change of use, said Deirdre Walsh, chief executive of the charity. However, some locally have queried the need for increased storage space at the shop. Katelyn Dunne (19), who lives in Johnstown and works in the local Chinese restaurant, said: 'They were saying that you can't store everything in the shop, but you don't need everything in it, just the essentials: food and bread.' For many, the impending closure of the shop is further evidence of the hollowing out of a village and its environs, which has more than 1,300 inhabitants who already have no school or post office of their own. The local community centre has been closed since 2000 as the local council did not take it over, said Johnstown resident and Fine Gael councillor, Fintan Brett. There are hopes for the reopening of the Johnstown Inn pub this year. Photograph: Stephen Farrell However, one bright spot on the horizon is that the Johnstown Inn at the top of the village, which closed four or five years ago, has new owners and may open again at the end of the year, say locals. Another possible positive development for the village may involve the vacant site across from the Centra store, Mr McCabe said. 'We have plans for the site of the old Johnstown Garden Centre, we're in consultation with the council about developing that as a community area,' he said. In response to queries, Kildare County Council said it was 'actively pursuing' the provision of a community development facility for Johnstown, but due to commercial sensitivities was unable to disclose further details. While Johnstown may be something of a quiet village, the lack of services is frustrating for its residents especially as the area has seen significant population growth in recent times. The 2022 Census said the Johnstown area had a population of 1,320, with the largest age cohort being in the 15 to 19-years-old category. Ms Dunne is fully aware of the effect the shop closure will have on her peers. 'So many people around here have jobs there and lots of lads around here do work experience there and they won't be able to do that either,' she said. Johnstown has been bypassed several times – by the Naas dual carriageway in the 1960s and more recently by the N7. Locals are now wondering whether the village will remain permanently bypassed in terms of amenities. 'For the population, it's kind of ridiculous,' resident Alan Browne (43) said.
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It's ridiculous – we've nothing here': Co Kildare village to lose its last store
'Older people and people with disabilities are so shocked, there was no forewarning really,' Johnstown resident David Stynes said as news filtered through the village that the only shop in the locality, Jordan's Centra, is due to close this week. 'It's ridiculous, we've nothing in the town,' the 65-year-old said. Located just off the N7, between Naas and Kill in Co Kildare , Johnstown, like 11 other Johnstowns in the east of the country, owes its name to the order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, said local historian Brian McCabe. 'The original church is up the way. Since the 1300s, there has been a village here,' he said. From Naas originally, Mr Stynes has lived in Johnstown for the last three years and is a wheelchair user. He was candid about how the shop closure will affect him. READ MORE 'As you can see I'm not very mobile. I'm lucky I have an electric wheelchair, but if you're sitting at home and you realise eight, nine, 10 o'clock you have run out of bread, where are you supposed to go now?' He has already experienced some of the hardship that the shop closure will bring. 'I have to rely on the buses to get to Kill or Naas. But last week I was going up the ramp and the wheelchair toppled over and I ended up in hospital, so I can't really trust getting on the buses now,' he said. Mr Stynes, like many others, is critical of the lack of communal infrastructure in the village. 'What's the town going to be left with, a Chinese restaurant?' he said. 'For older and disabled people, it's going to be a nightmare.' Amenities in the area have not kept pace with significant population growth of recent times, say villagers. Photograph: Stephen Farrell The owner of the shop, Alan Jordan, who lives locally and whose children have worked in the store, said closing had been a difficult decision that was not taken lightly. 'The business has been growing and expanding, but unfortunately the premises is no longer fit for purpose,' he said. 'It has been outgrown by the size of the community, it can't provide the range of products that the community deserves. On three occasions over the last 12 years we have tried unsuccessfully to secure alternative sites in the village.' [ Irish post office network requires annual funding of €15m to avoid 'rapid closures' Opens in new window ] One of these sites, located across the road from the shop, remains vacant. 'We would have built a 4,000 sq ft store there with 44 car-parking spaces ... But that didn't come to pass; a group of local people weren't in favour.' The Jordan Centra group is the largest Centra chain in Ireland, with stores in eight other locations in Kildare and Dublin. The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation , whose administrative offices are located above the Centra store in Johnstown, has agreed to purchase the shop, pending the owner getting planning approval for its change of use, said Deirdre Walsh, chief executive of the charity. However, some locally have queried the need for increased storage space at the shop. Katelyn Dunne (19), who lives in Johnstown and works in the local Chinese restaurant, said: 'They were saying that you can't store everything in the shop, but you don't need everything in it, just the essentials: food and bread.' For many, the impending closure of the shop is further evidence of the hollowing out of a village and its environs, which has more than 1,300 inhabitants who already have no school or post office of their own. The local community centre has been closed since 2000 as the local council did not take it over, said Johnstown resident and Fine Gael councillor, Fintan Brett. There are hopes for the reopening of the Johnstown Inn pub this year. Photograph: Stephen Farrell However, one bright spot on the horizon is that the Johnstown Inn at the top of the village, which closed four or five years ago, has new owners and may open again at the end of the year, say locals. Another possible positive development for the village may involve the vacant site across from the Centra store, Mr McCabe said. 'We have plans for the site of the old Johnstown Garden Centre, we're in consultation with the council about developing that as a community area,' he said. In response to queries, Kildare County Council said it was 'actively pursuing' the provision of a community development facility for Johnstown, but due to commercial sensitivities was unable to disclose further details. While Johnstown may be something of a quiet village, the lack of services is frustrating for its residents especially as the area has seen significant population growth in recent times. The 2022 Census said the Johnstown area had a population of 1,320, with the largest age cohort being in the 15 to 19-years-old category. Ms Dunne is fully aware of the effect the shop closure will have on her peers. 'So many people around here have jobs there and lots of lads around here do work experience there and they won't be able to do that either,' she said. Johnstown has been bypassed several times – by the Naas dual carriageway in the 1960s and more recently by the N7. Locals are now wondering whether the village will remain permanently bypassed in terms of amenities. 'For the population, it's kind of ridiculous,' resident Alan Browne (43) said.
