Reducing barriers in venues

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How we worked with the virtual tour company Ocean 3D to integrate stammer-friendly information into its services.

Summary

We raised awareness with Ocean 3D, who create virtual maps for organisations, about the barriers faced by people who stammer. Keen to increase inclusivity, they'll share our guide with its clients and promote stammer-friendly measures with them.

Outcome: People who stammer based in the southwest of England will have a better experience when using services run by Ocean 3D's clients. A significant number, considering this includes NHS Cornwall.

Background

People who stammer can face a host of challenges when visiting different venues, from shops and concert halls to offices and hospitals. 

For instance, there’s having to speak under pressure when registering at reception, going through security, asking for directions, ordering or asking for products, having to speak into an intercom or use a voice-recognition system.

These things just weren’t designed with people who stammer in mind. As a result, they create barriers which can cause real anxiety which might make people avoid using certain services or visiting venues altogether.

Ocean 3D

When the company Ocean 3D phoned us for a sales call, they had no idea about the challenges people who stammer can face. When we mentioned the subject to them, they were really interested to hear more.

Ocean 3D is a West Country-based company that creates virtual and interactive maps of buildings that help its clients, made up of property developers and other venue-based organisations, plan layouts and physical journeys for their service users. Some of the organisations Ocean 3D has worked with includes City of Bristol College, NHS Cornwall, Churchill Retirement Living and Spaceport Cornwall. See the Ocean 3D website to read more about them and what they do. 

Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who stammer, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and welcomed. (Ocean 3D)

As Ocean 3D endeavour to build in accessibility into its products, they were keen to learn more from us. We arranged a meeting with Chris Wood and Ros Osborne. Chris is experienced in legislative compliance, and has personal knowledge of complex PTSD and hidden disabilities from a background in the military. Ros is nationally recognised in the fields of accessibility and SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) provision.

Changes

We explained to Chris and Ros that for some people, asking for directions from strangers can be difficult and they recognised the stress of not knowing what to expect in a new and strange place.

After our meeting, they responded enthusiastically and quickly. Firstly they sent out STAMMA's guides to all their clients to raise awareness of stammering. They then offered them the opportunity to add free markers to their tours to show where verbal communication is expected. Clicking on a marker can tell the user what type of communicating they’d need to do, eg face-to-face or intercom, and what support is available.

As well as that, they published a blog post titled 'Ocean 3D's commitment to stammer-friendly experiences', and in it say:

"We recognise that visiting new places can be daunting, especially for individuals who stammer. To ease this, we're encouraging all our clients to include specific information in their tours…This proactive approach empowers both the staff and visitors, ensuring a welcoming environment for everyone... Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who stammer, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and welcomed."

Encouraging

Jack, a STAMMA volunteer who works in our Employment Service and Training Service, said, "It's easy to feel that technology and organisational processes are against people who stammer, so it was refreshing and encouraging to meet technologists who put accessibility first and who were keen to understand the challenges that having a stammer can present".

Here at STAMMA we'll endeavour to help more companies see the importance of improving accessibility for service users with communication needs. 

If you run or work in an organisation that wants to become more inclusive, email us at training@stamma.org or see our Training Services page.

You can also Affiliate With STAMMA to benefit from stammering training and employment support.