By Iain Tait
A journalism degree student has begun a campaign to make Leicester more accessible to the disabled.
Glenfield resident Simon Sansome started the Facebook page Ability Access, which currently has over 10,000 hits and nearly 400 likes, two weeks ago.
Mr Sansome became disabled 18 months ago after suffering spinal damage and now relies on a wheelchair and a walking stick to get around.
He believes Leicester is not at all disabled friendly.
The idea for the page came when Mr Sansome saw that there was no service available in the UK for disabled people to report or to find disabled friendly or unfriendly businesses.
The Facebook page is meant to serve as a source of information for the disabled regarding businesses that are disabled friendly and accessible, as well as news or developments in all things related to disability.
The page will not be limited to those who are confined to wheelchairs or crutches. Rather it will aim to cater to people with all kinds of disability.
The page has also attracted the interest of entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor Sarah Willingham, who now follows the page on Twitter.
Mr Sansome is arranging for various sponsors to give the organisation more ability and funding.
He said: “The long term goal is to give the information people need to live a more independent life.”
The page already has information about a few disabled friendly restaurants and attractions in Leicester, including the Curve Theatre.
Although the Curve is not perfect, Mr Sansome said he was able to move around the theatre with little difficulty, although he had to sit near the corner during the performance.
More information is available on Facebook or at #abilityaccess1 on Twitter.
