The Druid Network is committed to providing access to events and information for all of its members as well as for the general public.
In this spirit we are happy to make reasonable adjustments to overcome the barriers that some disabled people may face when attending our events, accessing our resources and working as a volunteer.
We are aware of the Disability Discrimination Act and try to work closely within it’s guidelines. For matters concerning the DDA, we are not a private members organisation and we are happy to embrace our responsibilities and work towards an equal future.
We classify a ‘disability’ as a permanent physical impairment that would prevent a person from accessing an event or resource without assistance.
This may include:
- People in a wheelchair.
- Blind people.
- People with a visual impairment.
- People with cerebral palsy or impaired movement.
- People with hearing impairments.
We recognise that culturally Deaf people do not consider themselves to be disabled but that they may require communications support such as a BSL/English interpreter.
Access
As a small voluntary organisation we cannot afford to pay expenses for interpreters, lip speakers, wheelchair lifts or publications in brail. However, we are happy to work in partnership with people who can provide these services for free and we welcome disabled or deaf people who wish to bring their own service provider or specialised equipment to an event.
Services and Equipment may include:
- A portable loop system.
- BSL communicator or interpreter.
- Ramps or lifts.
- Working dogs.
- Walking frames.
We cannot always guarantee that our venues will be disability accessible. Sometimes we perform ceremonies or work shops in muddy fields, in the rain or in the dark – this will be difficult for people to access in wheelchairs, hazardous for electrical equipment such as a portable loop and very hard to see a BSL interpreter. Unfortunately it is sometimes necessary for us to use these venues but if you contact us in advance we will try to do everything in our power to sort something out.
If a disabled or Deaf person wishes to bring their own assistant or communicator to an event for which tickets must be purchased through the Druid Network, the disabled or Deaf person must buy a ticket but their assistant will be allowed entry for free as we recognise them to be a service and not a consumer.
Please notify us in advance if you are planning to do this and if we need to make any special arrangements to accommodate the assistant.
The Druid Network operates a strict equal opportunity policy and we do not discriminate when deciding applications for those who wish to be actively involved in the organisation. If at any stage a person feels that they have been discriminated against, please contact us to discuss the matter.
Should a Deaf or disabled person become actively involved in the Network we will make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate their needs.
This may include:
- E-mailing, texting or using Typetalk for people who cannot use the telephone.
- Corresponding in 14p font or above for people with visual impairment.
- Voice messaging for the blind.
Printed Matter
If you require information in 14p font or larger, please let us know when ordering any information from The Druid Network. We can also provide information in BSL and we hope to find someone who can volunteer a brail machine in the future.
If you would like further information on our Disability Access policy, please contact the Office.