Report on the problems disabled people face with regard to access in Milton Keynes, exploring how we can act to reduce those problems

“Cineworld” in the Xscape has much more access for Wheelchair users than “Easycinema” in center MK

I am going to compare to building to see if cineworld in the Xscape has better access for wheelchair users than easycinema in the point. I will be looking at Cineworld first I will check the upper level and the lower level to see if the accessible for wheel chair users. I want to find out if it has change from the past. There are two models of disability. There is the medical model and the social model. In the medical model and the social model. In the medical model the person with a disability is seen as the problem. In this definition of disability the body is “sick” and needs curing. A successful “cure” or rehabilitation will make the person “normal”. For example, it is seen as better or more normal for a person to stand and walking, even if slowly and with difficultly and pain, than to get around more quickly and comfortably in a wheelchair.

People with disabilities who cannot be made normal are viewed as tragic; they are pitied and are in need of expert help from kind individuals and from charities.

In the social model the medical condition of a person is seen to be only part of the problem. This model emphasizes the fact that society is organized to only fully meet the needs of non-disabled people. Disabled people suffer from a badly designed environment, public transport that they cannot use and information systems, which they cannot understand. Disabled people have to put up with attitudes that bar them from many aspects of life. These barriers of attitude and access stop disabled people from getting a good education and job, from earning an adequate income and from enjoying a full ...

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I am going to Xscape (Cineworld) and the point (Easycinema) in Milton Keynes to do my research. I will do an access audit on both cinemas. I will write it out like a table with YES or NO questions looking at popular places in the building because they will be easy to audit. These are some of the question I might ask:

Is there parking available near the cinema?
Are there spaces reserved for disability badge holders?
Are there ramps?
Are the doors wide enough?
Do the doors open both ways?
Are the doors automatic?
Is there an elevator
Are the toilets wide enough
Are doors easy to open
Is ordering food or tickets at an appropriate height to order for anyone?
Are any telephones located at an appropriate height?
Can wheelchair users reach the ticket office?
Is the floor easy to move across (wheel)?
Is the pavement outside look after?
Do they have a second floor?
Are doors (include toilets) open inwards and outwards?
In the toilets can you turn around in a circle?
Are there disable toilets?
Are the soap dispenses and other things within reach?
Are there any alarm cords?

People with disabilities are not different from people with out a disability so they should be treated with the same respect as everybody else. Back in 1995 when Disabilities Discrimination was about They put people with a disability institutions where they were experimented on most of them did survive the experiments.

I have taken picture from the net of both cinemas in certain place each picture will have a number next to it show you which picture I am talking about.

Picture 1 is a picture of easycinema counter where they sell tickets to people but it is to high for wheelchair users 94cm

Picture 2 is a picture of cineworld popcorn stall where they serve popcorn and drinks and other stuff. And the height of it is 80cm.

Picture 3 is a picture of easycinema side entrance you can’t get through the front entrance because there are stairs going all the way down towards the ticket office. So they have to go down this slope it not steep but when you turn the corner towards the doors of the side entrance it gets steeper and the double doors only go one way.

Picture 4 is the front of the Xscape the are over 15 disability badge holder spaces as well as the doors are automatic.

Picture 5 is the seats of the Xscape there are 90 seats at the front and 243 seats at the back that a total of 333 seats in one screen. Wheelchair users can only use the front seats because they can’t get up the stairs at the back

Picture 6 is the seats easycinema there are 99 seats in 1 screen but there legroom is very little there is no space for people who have a wheelchair.

Picture 7 is the front entrance of popcorn stall and the double doors where you enter. The floor has carpet in the middle and tiles near the counter.

Picture 8 is the front entrance of cinema there are double entering into the screens.

Cineworld – Good points

There are a lot of spaces reserved for disability badge holders
The doors are wide enough for anyone
The doors open inwards and outwards
The outside doors are automatic
They are easy to open
They is an elevator
Telephones are at a appropriate height
The ticket office is above the wheelchair height
The floor is easy to move across
They have a second level
The soap dispenses and others are within reach

Cineworld – Bad points

Parking is not available near the cinema
There are no ramps
There are no alarm cord
You can make a 360 turn in a toilet
There are no disable toilets

Easy Cinema – Good points

There is parking available near cinema
There are some spaces reserved for disability badge holders
There are ramps
The doors are wide enough
The floor is easy to move across
The pavement is outside is even
The telephones are at appropriate height
The soap dispenses and other are within reach

Easy Cinema – Bad points

There are no automatic doors
The doors are not easy to open
There are no elevator
Doors don’t open inwards and outwards
You cannot do a 360 turn in a toilet
There are no disable toilet
There are no alarm cord
Food and ticket office are not at an appropriate height for anyone
Telephones are not at appropriate height

Looking a the information I have gather I have found out that Cineworld has better access for wheelchair users then easycinema. I have got more good points then bad points on cineworld but to my conclusion I think that a place without a disable toilet is not right. My hypothesis has been accepted.

Google.com look for:

Cineworld.com