Purple Reach

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Purple Reach is a Norfolk based disability consultancy that believes in the social model of disability.

Purple Reach is a disability consultancy service working with businesses and the community to make the world more inclusive and to enable disabled people to achieve their potential. We are here to work with businesses and third sector organisations to help them better their understanding of disability. Purple Reach is here to help you through services including: Consultancy, Training, Mystery Shopping and Access Auditing.

31/10/2026

Throughout October, we’ve talked about:

- Making services more accessible for older people
- Disability awareness training
- Dyslexia and ADHD in the workplace
- Accessible information for people with sight loss
- Workplace adjustments for different health conditions
- Giving people who stammer the time they need to speak
- Why accessibility often comes down to ordinary, everyday details

There is a lot to consider, and no organisation is expected to know everything immediately.

What matters is being willing to look at how people experience your workplace or services, listen when somebody identifies a barrier and make changes where they are needed.

If October’s posts have raised any questions about accessibility within your organisation, Purple Reach can help.

Visit www.purplereach.co.uk to book a consultation.

Image: A graphic with a purple background with the text "October at purple reach" in the centre of the graphic. The purple reach logo is at the top of the graphic.

29/10/2026

Today is World Stroke Day.

The effects of a stroke can include changes to mobility, speech, memory, concentration and energy. Some will be visible, while others - such as fatigue or difficulty processing information - may not be obvious.

Someone returning to work or taking part in community life after a stroke may need more time, information presented differently, flexible hours or changes to a physical environment.

It is important not to make assumptions about what somebody can manage based on how they appear or how they communicate.

Ask what they need, listen to their answer and be prepared to review arrangements if their needs change.

Image description: A graphic with a pale purple background featuring an illustrated brain in shades of pink and red. Bold purple text underneath reads “World Stroke Day,” with the Purple Reach logo in the top-left corner.

27/10/2026

You know your organisation could be more accessible, but you’re not entirely sure where to begin.

It is a common position to be in. Accessibility covers a lot of ground, from physical access and written information to staff knowledge, customer service and workplace processes.

A consultation with Purple Reach gives you the opportunity to talk through what is currently happening in your organisation, where you have questions and which areas may need a closer look.

You don’t need to arrive with a perfectly organised list or all the answers. That is rather the point of having the conversation.

Visit www.purplereach.co.uk to book a consultation.

Image: Tom is a man who is looking directly at the camera and smiling. Tom has a beard, wearing glasses and has a blue shirt. To the left of the image of Tom is a purple box with the text "not sure where to begin with accessibility?"

22/10/2026

Today is International Stammering Awareness Day.

When someone stammers, the most useful thing you can usually do is give them the time they need to speak.

Finishing their sentence, interrupting or rushing to fill a pause may be intended to help, but it can take control of the conversation away from them.

Maintain natural eye contact, listen to what the person is saying and avoid treating a stammer as though it needs to be apologised for.

It is also worth looking at how your organisation communicates. If the only way to contact you is by telephone, are you creating an unnecessary barrier for people who would prefer to use email, live chat or another option?

Accessible communication begins with recognising that not everybody communicates in the same way.

Image: graphic shows a green speech bubble with 3 white dots inside it and an orange speech bubble with three white lines inside it. There are the words "International stuttering Awareness Day" underneath the graphic.

19/10/2026

October is ADHD Awareness Month.

ADHD can affect attention, working memory, time management and the ability to begin or switch between tasks. It doesn’t always look like somebody being visibly hyperactive, and two people with ADHD may have very different experiences.

At work, unclear instructions, frequent interruptions and processes with several unwritten steps can create additional barriers.

Helpful adjustments might include written follow-ups after meetings, clearer deadlines, fewer unnecessary interruptions or breaking a long process into visible stages. The right support will depend on the individual, so it is important to ask rather than assume.

An employee can be very capable and still find a particular system or way of working difficult to navigate.

Image: A graphic with a light grey background featuring an orange ribbon to represent ADHD awareness. At the bottom of the graphic is a curved purple shape with the purple reach website - www.purplereach.co.uk

16/10/2026

Today is World Spine Day.

Back pain and spinal conditions can affect mobility, concentration, energy and how long somebody can comfortably remain in one position. What a person can manage may also change from one day to the next.

At work, adjustments could include an ergonomic workstation, regular movement breaks, flexible hours or the option to work from home when travelling is particularly difficult.

It is easy to assume that providing a different chair has solved the problem. In reality, the right adjustment depends on the individual, their role and the barriers they are experiencing.

A conversation with the person is usually the best place to start.

Image: A healthcare professional examines a seated person's back, with one hand on his shoulder and the other on his lower back. The Purple Reach logo appears at the top, with “World Spine Day” written in purple at the bottom.

15/10/2026

Global Handwashing Day is a useful reminder that accessibility applies to the most everyday parts of a building too.

Can somebody reach the basin comfortably from a wheelchair? Does the soap dispenser require a strong grip or precise hand movement? Is there enough room for a person, their mobility aid and anybody assisting them?

An accessible toilet can meet the basic measurements and still be difficult to use if it becomes a storage cupboard or equipment is placed out of reach.

These may seem like small details until they prevent somebody from using the facilities independently.

When accessibility is reviewed, the whole experience needs to be considered—not simply whether an accessible toilet exists.

Image description: A watercolour-style illustration of two hands being washed with blue soap bubbles, with colourful germs shown above them. The graphic has a purple background with large white text reading “Global Handwashing Day!”

12/10/2026

Today is World Arthritis Day.

Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, fatigue and reduced mobility, but those effects will not always be obvious to the people around them. They can also change from one day to another.

In the workplace, useful adjustments might include suitable equipment, flexible hours, home working or being able to take regular breaks.

The important thing is to speak to the individual. A solution that works well for one person may be completely unhelpful to someone else, even if they have the same condition.

Accessibility isn’t about treating everybody identically. It is about giving people a fair opportunity to work and take part.

Image: graphic is a blue and purple ribbon to represent world arthritis day. Above the image is the date "12 October" and underneath the image are the words "world arthritis day"

10/10/2026

Today is World Mental Health Day.

Mental health can affect how somebody manages their working day, communicates or works within a particular environment. However, people may be reluctant to ask for an adjustment because they are unsure how the conversation will be received.

There isn’t one standard adjustment that will suit everyone. Flexible working, a quieter place to work, clearer communication or changes to how tasks are managed may help, depending on the person and their role.

A good starting point is to make it clear that staff can raise what they need and that those conversations will be taken seriously.

Image: A graphic with a light purple background, featuring overlapping side-profile silhouettes of two faces in black and yellow. White text to the right of the side-profile image reads “World Mental Health Day,”

08/10/2026

Today is World Sight Day.

Accessibility for people who are blind or partially sighted isn’t limited to the physical environment. It also applies to the information people need to use a service, complete their work or find their way around.

This could mean making sure documents work with screen readers, using suitable colour contrast, adding useful alt text to images and providing signs that are clear and easy to read.

It is also worth remembering that not everybody with sight loss will need the same thing. Asking what format or adjustment somebody prefers is much more useful than making assumptions.

When was the last time your organisation checked how accessible its information is?

Image description: An an older man is having his eyes examined by an optometrist. The optometrist is using specialist eye-testing equipment. A purple banner across the bottom reads “World Sight Day”.

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Norwich

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http://www.purplereach.co.uk/

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