Accessibility Information

Location

Swansea MAD is located at 216, High Street, Swansea SA1 1PE. 

Access is via our own door, marked with a clear sign on the main door.

How to Find us

  • Swansea MAD is accessible for pedestrians and cyclists via High Street.
  • The footpath on High Street is flat and quite well-surfaced for its entire length.
  • Cycles can be parked at public cycle parking at Swansea train station

For bus and rail users:

  • The closest train station is Swansea, which is a 2 minute walk away.
  • The Centre is accessible via the 10, 36, 8, X13 bus services within Swansea, and is opposite the nearest stop on High Street.
  • Private car and motorcycle users can park in nearby car parks, and on-street. On-street parking is limited during business due to the busy area, but spaces are usually available for up to an hour.
  • Parking for Blue Badge holders is available on High Street. The closest marked bay is 15m from the front door and is accessible step-free. These bays are marked with the icon.

Venue accessibility information

  • We try to make our events as accessible as possible for as many people to attend as possible. Please see below for specific information regarding certain accessibility factors for this venue. If you have questions, please get in touch with geraint@madswansea.com.

General information

  • We have an inclusive toilet available. It is single-stall, wheelchair accessible, and has a sanitary bin. There is a box in the bathroom with free period products and toiletries.
  • Our accessible toilet is not to Changing Places standards. The nearest Changing Places toilet is located at Swansea train station, located 2 minutes away. A list of Changing Places toilets available in Swansea can be found here: Changing Places Toilets (changing-places.org)
  • Carers are welcome at all of our events.
  • Assistance animals are welcome, and drinking water is available.
  • Our building is well heated. If you have arrived just as the building is opened, it may take 10-15 minutes to heat up. We have air conditioning for hot summer days.
  • The size and open plan layout of our venue unfortunately means that we do not currently have a prayer room available. There is a prayer room available at City Church Swansea on Dyfatty Street (5 minutes away) and Swansea Mosque and Islamic Community Centre at 159a St Helens Road (10 minutes away).

  • The front door is not power assisted and is heavy. This can be of particular difficulty for wheelchair users, and those with limited upper body strength. Assistance is available if required at the front doors. Please ring the doorbell for assistance.
  • An accessible bathroom is located at the back of the office on ground level.
  • The venue’s floor is flat and is suitable for most wheelchairs and other mobility aids. The venue is step-free throughout, and all areas are accessible to wheelchair users. All doors are standard office doors, wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • Comfortable sofas and chairs are available throughout. Blankets and pillows are available for people who need to rest due to fatigue or disability reasons.

Information for D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and sound-sensitive people

  • We have a portable Induction Loop hearing system compatible with any hearing aid users with a T (telecoil) setting.
  • Our Induction Loop system is also suitable for some deaf and hard-of-hearing people without an induction-compatible hearing aid through use of a handheld receiver.
  • Assistance animals are welcome, and drinking water is available.
  • Sign language interpreters are available at all our events on request.
  • Where at all possible, Closed Captioning (subtitles) will be used on all video presentations used.
  • The venue can sometimes be loud, and we have breakout rooms which anyone is welcome to use.
  • We have a number of LCD Writing tablets available, which are a useful form of alternative communication.
  • We have a small number of ear defenders for people who need hearing protection in social situations due to sound sensitivity.

Information for blind, partially-sighted people, and photosensitive people

  • Assistance animals are welcome, and drinking water is available.
  • Large print versions of resources are generally available.
  • Audio CD, DAISY CD, MP3 audio, Braille and tactile diagram versions of resources are generally not available, but can be made available upon request.
  • Our venue has LED and fluorescent lighting. If this affects your health, we will use natural or alternative lighting if at all possible.

Information for Autistic, anxious and Neurodivergent people

  • Assistance animals are welcome, and drinking water is available.
  • We welcome anxious or nervous people to come along to all of our events early if they want to talk to an individual contact person before coming along into a group. Please get in touch if you would like to meet someone one-to-one in advance, or turn up early by up to 30 minutes for an easier entry to events.
  • We have a collection of sensory / stim toys for people to use and play with. These are regularly cleaned for hygiene reasons.

Information for people with severe allergies or who are immunocompromised

  • We have a roof-mounted air-conditioning system and use electric radiators. If this affects your health (allergens, dust content, risk of infection etc), we will use natural or alternative heating/cooling if at all possible.
  • We welcome the use of safety / particulate masks for those that wish/need to use them.

First Aid information

  • A First Aid kit is available in our offices, prominently displayed on the wall in a green fabric bag.
  • We carry emergency naloxone for lifesaving use in the case of an opiate overdose.
  • In a health emergency, you should call 999 from the office phone or from a mobile phone. The address is 216 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1PE

Food and dietary information

  • Food and drinks are generally available at the venue.
  • The venue provides free tea, coffee, fresh water, soft drinks and snacks.
  • Vegan and gluten-, soy-, nut- and dairy-free snacks are generally available and can be bought elsewhere and brought along.
  • We use standard cow’s milk, oat milk and soya milk for tea and coffee.
  • We will require our staff, volunteers and visitors to not open or eat food containing allergens (nuts etc.) if they will affect your health. Please let us know and we’ll ensure this is put in place for you.
  • You are welcome to bring your own hot or cold food and drink.
  • You are welcome to bring your own prescription medication.

If you have worries or concerns about attending, or about someone you know attending, please get in touch with the team at Swansea MAD.

Thank you to the Belfast Trans Resource Centre for providing this template. If you would like to use this access information as a template for your own venue or organisation, please feel free to do so; it’s licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA v4.0 licence.