The award for most accessible building goes to — LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT (LHR)! Seriously though, this airport is the closest thing you would get to accessibility utopia. London Heathrow or Heathrow Airport (both can be used interchangeably) covers the four major aspects of accessibility: visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive.
Visual(Braille)
Braille is a tactile reading and writing system for blind persons where the raised dots represent letters of the alphabet. LHR has these systems nearly every where that can be physically touched. The airport also supports businesses that are accessible-friendly. Boots, a major pharmacy chain and health retailer, uses the braille system on most of its paper-packaged products at the store.
Hearing (Sign Live)
Sign Live is a technology for the deaf that converts sign language to English (similar to Google translate). While there are several other sign language interpreters, Sign Live has an exclusive partnership with Heathrow Airport with the aim of spreading its efforts throughout United Kingdom. The technology is a software that can be installed on an ipad, laptop or on the computer. With this video interpreting service, deaf users can communicate with an online interpreter via sign language, and the interpreter translates the communication to the hearing user in the language selected (e.g. English).
There is a Special Assistance center in each terminal where all of these technologies and guides can be accessed. While individuals need to come to these centers for aid, there are airport staff always willing and ready to assist.
Motor (Wheelchair)
While wheelchairs are the basic necessities of an accessible building, LHR takes this a step further by including other services. At LHR, there is a personal wheelchair service where staff takes individuals from check-in to departure gate. Services are not limited to within the airport building and also include from the arrival gate to the car park, bus or train station, baggage claim, and hotel shuttles.
LHR helps those with mobility limitations by offering priority seatings, ramps, automatic doors, and large elevators that can fit up to eight wheelchairs! Accessible signs are clearly written and drawn on every part of the airport as well.
Cognitive (Heathrow Travel Care)
Heathrow Travel Care is what sets LHR’s accessibility efforts apart from others. They offer social work service to those in need at the airport including, but not limited to:
– Mental Health
– Deportees
– Exploitation
– Children & families
– Homelessness
– Safeguarding
– Victims of crime
LHR also works with British Embassies around the world to support distressed British Nationals returning to the Heathrow on arrival. There is a travel care room located in Room 00142 of the North Wing of Terminal 3 Arrivals. To make a referral, one can either visit in person or book an appointment via:
Telephone: 020 8745 7495
Email: Heathrow_Travel_Care@heathrow.com
Website: www.heathrowtravelcare.co.uk
Other Highlights of LHR’s Accessibility Efforts
Sunflower lanyards. These lanyards are offered to those who need extra assistance. They are very subtle and helps with identification. Sometimes, people do not like to ask for help so this is great because you can still watch out for them just in case.
Public transportation. Braille systems are not only used for reading and writing but also for movements. The raised dots on the train platforms alert individuals to be mindful not to go further. London’s underground transit also offers priority seating to those in need.
Accessible Toilets. Many buildings have an wheelchair-friendly stall in each of the gender bathrooms, but LHR has separate toilet rooms that aids the four major types of accessibility.
In summary, I believe we can give London Heathrow Airport an accessibility pacesetter badge for its continuous efforts to offer assistance in all aspects of accessibility. Have any comments or questions, share them below! #ConnectWritingChallenge
Cheers,
Chinonso Onukwugha
