Paul is a noteworthy inclusiveness initiator who came up with the wonderful idea of “Disabled access day” to promote accessibility for people with disabilities. The idea was born out of his curiosity to try out a new wheelchair and a chance visit to a local bus company demonstration. The idea of trying out new accessibility options grew momentum and has resulted in a biannual event known as “Disabled access day” where hundreds of organizations support, and thousands of people attend across the United Kingdom. Paul also is the director of his consulting firm, Paul Ralph Consulting & Development, and specializes in accessibility as well as inclusive services.

What inspired you to found Disabled Access Day?P: Disabled Access Day was founded out of an experience trying a bus. I’d got a new powerchair and wasn’t sure if it would go on the local bus. How did tickets work, what was the ramp like, where did I sit? So many questions and not something you want to try in the rush hour of a weekday morning.
Luckily, I managed to go to an open day at the local bus depot. I explained what I wanted to try out and to my amazement they wheeled a bus out of the depot and said there you go, try it out and see what you think. Trying out that bus changed so much for me as I discovered I could use a bus and in turn it opened up so many new opportunities for me.
I was left thinking about the idea of ‘what if we had a day where lots of these opportunities to try something new were set up for disabled people’ … From that acorn of an idea came what is now Disabled Access Day.

Can you tell us about your efforts to promote inclusiveness?P: Promoting inclusiveness for me comes mainly through Disabled Access Day when every two years there is a day focusing on trying something new. We ask places and spaces to put on an event or do something they may not normally do to welcome disabled visitors. The last Disabled Access Day was in March this year (2019) and around 150 places took part and over 11,000 disabled people and their friends and families went out to #TrySomethingNew When I am not focusing on Disabled Access Day, you’ll find me working with Euan’s Guide - think Trip Advisor for Disabled People and you are along the right lines. It’s a disabled access review website - www.EuansGuide.com - where people share their experiences of visiting places. That way other folk following in their footsteps can get information about what the place was like and how it might work for them. I’m sure we have all had those experiences where a website says there is wheelchair access and an accessible loo and when you rock up it isn’t quite as described!

In your view, what has been the single most impactful change for accessibility and what are some of the other accessibility challenges you would like to see addressed next?P: I guess the most impactful change for accessibility has been the way people have been creative in using the power of the internet. Websites like Euan’s Guide, social media where people gather, chat and share experiences, and of course the accessibility that digital brings in that my friends and I can access this ‘stuff’ in so many different ways - using screen readers, voice control, switches, magnification and so much more has made being part of your community easier.

How do you face obstacles in life? What keeps you moving forward?P: Obstacles in life and those things that when you first meet them you can’t see how to work around them can be a challenge. Some, you simply have to acknowledge you can’t change and you have to let go of those. The majority may be approached a bit like a quiz, a maze, or an escape game where you explore different ways at arriving at the same outcome. It’s a bit like breakfast in that I don’t mind who makes the porridge, if it is made in a saucepan, on a stove, or zapped in a microwave, or rehydrated with boiling water from a kettle - as long as I get the porridge I win!

What are your other hobbies?P: I am a lover of the great outdoors and like nothing more than wheeling off and seeing as much as I can of Scotland’s coasts, waters and forests. If I find an accessible walkway then that’s me set up for exploring. If I’m not doing that you probably find me visiting castles and gardens - you’d be surprised how accessible some of Scotland’s castles can be!

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?P: It may come as no surprise if I say it is Fort George near Inverness. It was built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden (1746) to provide a base for King George II’s army.
I love it because it was built to house massive canons and canons have wheels. I get around on wheels too and so here is a place where I can move around, go up on to the ramparts, look out to sea, roll down to the barracks, enjoy the views and cross the drawbridges just like everyone else. Not to mention the amazing tea and cakes in the tea room!

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?P: Empower your children by taking a can-do approach to life. I know the steps are never going to melt and access be incredibly easy but encouraging people to seek out, explore and engage with their environment, their communities and their dreams and aspirations will go a long way toward enjoying life.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to overcome challenges?P: When I want to try something new or can’t work out how to do something I turn to the internet of knowledge and look for videos, user groups, blogs and people’s stories from people I identify with. Reading what another powerchair user has done or how they tackled a problem can save hours of wonderment or frustration.

Any special message for our community?P: Believe in yourself and remember it is not your impairment or disability that stops you doing many things - it’s often the built environment, folk’s attitudes or lack of knowledge that get in the way. Just be you!