Month: November 2025

Categories
News

World Class Access: Expo City, Dubai

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of a sweeping view of Expo City in Dubai, dominated by a circular architectural structure. The intricate lattice-like design forms a dramatic canopy overhead, casting patterned shadows across the open plaza below. Palm trees line the space, where people casually stroll or gather.

Inclusion by design…

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of a sweeping view of Expo City in Dubai, dominated by a circular architectural structure. The intricate lattice-like design forms a dramatic canopy overhead, casting patterned shadows across the open plaza below. Palm trees line the space, where people casually stroll or gather.

This week in World Class Access, we’re featuring Expo City in Dubai, capital of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai has a universal design code whereby the built environment and transportation systems in the city are designed, constructed and managed to ensure equal access for all, including People of Determination – the term used within the country to describe those with disabilities. 

Nowhere is the strength and value of universal design more apparent than in Expo City, a fully accessible public realm built from the ground up, featuring homes, businesses, event venues, amenities, green spaces, and smart transportation options. Features include ramps, tactile guide paths, clear and Braille signage, hearing induction loops,  sensory rating cards, wheelchair-accessible buggies, and power wheelchair charging stations.

The city is at the forefront of Dubai’s plan for future growth and sustainability, as they envision becoming a model for urban excellence, encouraging healthy living by design, and aim to be a driving force of growing business, building on the legacy of “Expo 2020 Dubai”, where new accessibility benchmarks were set.

What would make World Class Access for you? 

Have you seen something or somewhere that you think is an excellent example of inclusion or accessibility?

Categories
News

World Class Access: The British Library

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of: The British Library, based in London. Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: Read All About It: Accessibility at The British Library. The bottom of the image features a white banner with pink text inside that reads: “Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities”
|On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of: The British Library, based in London.Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: Read All About It: Accessibility at The British Library. The bottom of the image features a white banner with pink text inside that reads: “Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities”.

We all love to relax with a good book… 

In this week’s World Class Access, we’re focusing on The British Library. Based in London, the British Library is the national library of the UK, housing a collection of over 170 million items from all over the world, including books, newspapers, maps, stamps, patents and even sound recordings.

With spaces to read, meet friends, and find support in starting and running your business, as well as a wealth of galleries and exhibits to inspire, accessibility is paramount.

All floors have step-free access, including event spaces, Reading Rooms, exhibitions and learning centres. Doors to the Reading Rooms and Knowledge Centre operate with button-assisted opening, and the Reading Rooms offer a range of assistive technologies, including height-adjustable tables, lower service desks, alternative keyboards, and other equipment for individuals with visual or hearing impairments.

Hearing induction loops are available at numerous points, and guide and assistance dogs are welcome. Concessions are available for disabled visitors to ticketed events, as well as a free ticket for personal assistants that can be booked in advance.

The library has a second site in Yorkshire, and in March of this year, unveiled plans for a  1.1 billion renovation project, aiming to expand the library’s public spaces as well as the commercial and retail areas.

What would make World Class Access for you? 

Have you seen something or somewhere that you think is an excellent example of inclusion or accessibility?  Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to feature it.

Categories
News

World Class Access: The National Gallery, Singapore

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of The National Gallery, Singapore. Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: The "Art" of Accessibility: The National Gallery, Singapore, and at the bottom of the image is a white banner with the words: "Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities" inside in pink font.
On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of The National Gallery, Singapore. Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: The "Art" of Accessibility: The National Gallery, Singapore, and at the bottom of the image a white banner with the words: "Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities" inside in pink font.

Anyone for art? 

For this week’s #World Class Access, we’re celebrating the National Gallery in Singapore. The Gallery oversees the most extensive public collection of Singaporean and regional art in the Eastern world, with over 9,000 pieces.  As a result, it’s widely considered one of the most visited art museums in the world, with over two million annual visitors!

They’ve got accessibility down to a fine art here, with facilities that include:

  • Calm Rooms: Specifically designed for guests who feel overwhelmed or overstimulated by the environment and want to decompress.
  • Comprehensive staff training for a variety of access needs, including dementia
  • Access Guides with floor plans, directions and information on key policies and features in the gallery.

All exhibition spaces and floors are wheelchair accessible. Their “HOLD” (Hands-On Learning & Development) Collection is curated as a series of tactile, multi-sensory adaptations of artworks, encouraging inclusive learning through touch, sound and interaction.

The Gallery strives to provide an understanding of and appreciation for Singapore’s heritage and culture through various mediums, as well as its relationship with other Asian and global cultures. The building comprises the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, as well as two national monuments, resulting in a combined floor area of 690,000 square feet.

What would make World Class Access for you? 

Have you seen something or somewhere that you think is an excellent example of inclusion or accessibility? 

Let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to feature it.

Categories
News

World Class Access: Sela Sound Shirts

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of a Newcastle United Home Football Shirt marked with blue lights at various points on the chest and sleeves, indicating placement of technology. Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: Feeling "The Beautiful Game".The bottom of the image features a white banner with pink text inside that reads: “Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities"

The new football season has kicked off. 

Next in World Class Access, we celebrate a novel way to feel and experience “The Beautiful Game”!

On a hot pink background in white font is the title: World Class Access, accompanied by the Accessibility Partners logo on the right (two clasped hands, one pink and the other purple forming a heart shape. Underneath the title is an image of a Newcastle United Home Football Shirt marked with blue lights at various points on the chest and sleeves, indicating placement of technology. Underneath that image, also in white font are the words: Feeling "The Beautiful Game".The bottom of the image features a white banner with pink text inside that reads: “Accessibility Partners Discover Your Possibilities"

Research from the charity Level Playing Field in 2024 says that 33% of fans cite physical access to venues and stadiums as their most significant barrier to attending live sports events. Many clubs are making positive strides towards better inclusion, one such being Newcastle United and their principal partner, Sela.

As part of their 2024 “Unsilence the Crowd” campaign, Sela debuted new shirts for the club, featuring innovative technology designed to make match day more inclusive for deaf or hard-of-hearing fans. The Sela Sound shirts are made from conductive textiles and fitted with haptic technology.

Haptic technology works by converting sounds from the pitch via specialist software into touch data, which is then transmitted wirelessly to the shirt, allowing fans to feel all the elements of a live game. The technology debuted during Newcastle’s game with Tottenham Hotspur, which saw the home team win 4 – 0.

The club has committed to making the shirts a permanent fixture at St James’ Park as part of their expanding accessibility provision.

Away from the football pitch, haptic technology is helping to make other industries more inclusive, including aviation and space exploration, as well as everyday use, such as smartphones and gaming. Although the shirts by Sela are marketed explicitly toward and for deaf fans, haptic technology can also benefit those with visual impairments, as it can be used to substitute for both visual and audio data. As technology continues to develop and grow, so too can the many ways it enriches and supports inclusivity.

What would make World Class Access for you? 

Have you seen something or somewhere that you think is an excellent example of inclusion or accessibility?