WelcoMe

The world of #retail changed a little last night as Currys plc received the Retail Technology Innovation Hub Award for “Inclusive Innovation in Retail”. We have no doubt at all that our retail guru contacts and our friends in disability advocacy will be over the moon that we are connecting improvements in service delivery to societal and commercial sustainability. Thank you all for your support. WelcoMe. #PurpleTuesday #RethinkRetail #Tech4Good #Access4All #Inclusion #DisabilityConfident. https://lnkd.in/dBMp2SHK

Imagine a world where just booking to go somewhere triggers training on how to best meet your needs when you arrive? It seems pretty simple really. Restaurants, doctors surgeries, job interviews, leisure centres, cinemas, theatres, events, dental surgeries, retailers, vet practices, airports, ferry terminals, banking and even meeting your Member of Parliament or voting could all be improved dramatically if staff knew who was about to arrive and how best to help them. ..and we don't even mean because it's the "right thing to do". We mean, because it makes you more effective and efficient and safer and welcoming and improves customer retention and heaven forbid, staff moral, and yes, where you are making money from each visitor, even more profitable. Imagine being able to do this NOW! Imagine that you could actively engage with a solution that could deliver this tomorrow! How awesome would that be? Check out this example of what's possible at Currys plc and imagine it ANYWHERE. Thanks LOADS. WelcoMe #Tech4Good #RethinkRetail #NHSDigital #Hospitality #Innovation #Dentist #Vets #Voting #Travel #inclusion #StaffTraining #Access4All... everywhere, forever. NB, imagine just saying "hey Alexa, book me a hairdressing appointment and it not only booking the appointment, but also triggering disability awareness training". Yes this stuff excites us too.

Isabelle Jani-Friend is a talented journalist. We met her through her work, taken by not only the quality of her writing, but also her ability to elevate underrepresented and marginalised voices. Izzie is a freelance writer and content producer with work reflecting her passion for human rights and the politics of disability, healthcare, gender and race. The piece she wrote about our work with Currys plc is an indication of her abilities and passion for equity in service provision but also also highlight's the need for retailers to improve their understanding of disability and the communication needs of their disabled customers. Please check out her page and keep an eye open for work and our top tip: Find and employ the people who truly understand the challenges and the solutions and your own voice will be more impactful. https://lnkd.in/e2yUEDCK Thank you Izzie. .gavin. WelcoMe Thank you also to Luis Canto E Castro and Sulaiman R. Khan (سلیمان راشد خان) for putting WelcoMe to the test and providing feedback and of course to Currys plc for their initiative. #Employment #Journalism #JournoRequest #TechForGood #Society #Community #AllWelcoMeNow https://lnkd.in/ehFbyR4z

This year we launched WelcoMe with Levi Strauss & Co. 13 stores now offer the service meaning if you are disabled you can communicate your access and communication needs before you arrive.. helping staff to help you. The Levi Strauss & Co. teams have been amazing and are looking forward to providing this new industry standard to all their disabled customers. More and more venues are joining us.. have you? Retailers, museums, libraries, sports centres, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, offices.. anywhere people meet people. With £274 billion being spent by disabled people every year.. perhaps it’s time to #RethinkRetail with the #Tech4Good WelcoMe? Tag the folks you think need to get on board here or come and chat to us at hello@wel-co.me. ..and, as always, thanks for the support. WelcoMe. Thanks to Chris Lynch 🎥 and Diverse Made Media for the superb clip. https://lnkd.in/dszXGrrZ

Did you know, that thanks to the The Scottish Parliament, you can now ask your #MSP to provide WelcoMe to support your visit. MSP’s Maree Todd Stuart McMillan MSP Joe FitzPatrick Alexander Burnett and others are already offering the service. Tag your MSP/MP if you believe #DemocracyInAction must include the views and opinions of #disabled people if we are to create a truly inclusive Democracy. Scottish National Party (SNP) Scottish Conservatives Scottish Labour Party Scottish Green Party The Disability Policy Centre Disability Rights UK

Did you know, that thanks to the The Scottish Parliament, you can now ask your #MSP to provide WelcoMe to support your visit. MSP’s Maree Todd Stuart McMillan MSP Joe FitzPatrick Alexander Burnett and others are already offering the service. Tag your MSP/MP if you believe #DemocracyInAction must include the views and opinions of #disabled people if we are to create a truly inclusive Democracy. Scottish National Party (SNP) Scottish Conservatives Scottish Labour Party Scottish Green Party The Disability Policy Centre Disability Rights UK

"There' an app for that." ..but whats the difference between an app and a web app? An app is an application the user downloads onto their mobile device. A web app is a software program that runs in a web browser and is accessible on any device with an internet connection. Web apps are used for a variety of purposes, including shopping, banking, customer service, and productivity. Some examples of web apps include Google Maps, Gmail, Amazon Video, and increasing numbers of WelcoMe venues. Web Apps: 1. Improve user experience: Accessible web apps provide a positive user experience and increase satisfaction.  2. Support social inclusion: Accessible web apps promote equal access to information and services for disabled people.  3. Broadens reach: Accessible web apps can reach a more diverse audience. Here is a superb example of WelcoMe being used as a web app at Silverstone Museum but is also in use by NorthLink Ferries, Westminster City Council, Glasgow Science Centre, Battersea Power Station, CV Life, The City of Edinburgh Council, and many others. Check it out below at Silverstone Museum.. and hey, if you're in the area, go visit...it's amazing. WelcoMe #inclusion #Access4All #Tech4Good #WebApp #StaffTraining #CustomerService #OpenDoors https://lnkd.in/eKCE-FTG

Where #sustainability and #disability meet. We are super proud to be helping Whitelee Windfarm provide next level service provision for disabled people interested in a more sustainable world. When WelcoMe is used to arrange your visit this triggers disability awareness training at the venue. This “Proximity based awareness of need” prepares staff and gives confidence that access and communication needs will be met on arrival. Thanks to ScottishPower Renewables and Glasgow Science Centre for their support in making this happen. WelcoMe Communiction before arrival. https://lnkd.in/evKf-XMe

Half way through nearly every demonstration of WelcoMe we are asked where we get all of our disability related info and how we know it’s up to date. We currently list 30 conditions on the platform which people can opt to inform customer service teams about.. although of course our WelcoMe member can also just say they would like staff to have “a discreet general awareness” if they would prefer to just let staff know they are in the building. We don’t even ask folks to prove disability meaning our members don’t have to be registered disabled to use the service. It’s really just in case the person feels they might appreciate a little support. So, anyway, all of the info comes from the charities we promote. They provide us with a brief overview, some general top tips like “always introduce yourself” or “don’t interact with your guests service animal”, stuff like that. We also provide URL links to the organisations web site where they can promote their work or campaigns or provide links to awesome videos like this one from Epilepsy Action. We are super proud to support these organisations and do so for free.. in fact the service is 100% free to our members too, with all costs covered by the venue the person is visiting. So, here’s to our amazing charities: Finding Your Feet Amputee Charity Cure Usher Ataxia UK Dyscover Scottish Autism Scope STAMMA Parkinson's UK Deafblind UK Fibromyalgia Action UK Headway Ireland - Brain Injury Services and Support MS Trust Scottish Huntington's Association Tourettes Action The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association RNIB RNID ..and of course Epilepsy Action for their support and fantastic work. ..and of course our engaged and forward thinking venues.. too many to mention these days. 🙂 Thank you. Please find out more at wel-co.me and drop us a line if you would like your charity to be involved or if you would like your business to be able to offer this ground breaking service. WelcoMe #Tech4Good changing the way #CustomerService to ensure #Access4All. https://lnkd.in/epcGdadd

Half way through nearly every demonstration of WelcoMe we are asked where we get all of our disability related info and how we know it’s up to date. We currently list 30 conditions on the platform which people can opt to inform customer service teams about.. although of course our WelcoMe member can also just say they would like staff to have “a discreet general awareness” if they would prefer to just let staff know they are in the building. We don’t even ask folks to prove disability meaning our members don’t have to be registered disabled to use the service. It’s really just in case the person feels they might appreciate a little support. So, anyway, all of the info comes from the charities we promote. They provide us with a brief overview, some general top tips like “always introduce yourself” or “don’t interact with your guests service animal”, stuff like that. We also provide URL links to the organisations web site where they can promote their work or campaigns or provide links to awesome videos like this one from Epilepsy Action. We are super proud to support these organisations and do so for free.. in fact the service is 100% free to our members too, with all costs covered by the venue the person is visiting. So, here’s to our amazing charities: Finding Your Feet Amputee Charity Cure Usher Ataxia UK Dyscover Scottish Autism Scope STAMMA Parkinson's UK Deafblind UK Fibromyalgia Action UK Headway Ireland - Brain Injury Services and Support MS Trust Scottish Huntington's Association Tourettes Action The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association RNIB RNID ..and of course Epilepsy Action for their support and fantastic work. ..and of course our engaged and forward thinking venues.. too many to mention these days. 🙂 Thank you. Please find out more at wel-co.me and drop us a line if you would like your charity to be involved or if you would like your business to be able to offer this ground breaking service. WelcoMe #Tech4Good changing the way #CustomerService to ensure #Access4All. https://lnkd.in/epcGdadd