Accessibility and Inclusion Information Policy

  • Newpark School Sports Centre is committed to communicating effectively with all customers. We will ensure that:

    • Staff are trained on how to use clear language and other forms of communication such as Irish Sign Language and LAMH

    • All documents are structured correctly and if necessary are available in an alternative form, including large print and audio

    • This policy is reviewed regularly and updated when needed

  • Newpark School Sports Centre is committed to maintaining an accessible website:

    • We state our commitment to this in our Accessibility Statement.

    • Ensuring that this website achieves “Level AA” conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, to comply with the National Disability Authority’s Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information Provided by Public Bodies. (The National Disability Authority’s Centre for Excellence in Universal Design has an introduction to policy and legislation relevant to Universal Design in Ireland.)

    • Ensuring that all new information on the website will achieve “Level AA” conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.

    We are aware of some areas on the website where we could improve accessibility. We are currently working to achieve this.

  • Along with CARA and Sport Ireland, we believe that fitness and sport should be available to every member of our society. As such, we have signed up to CARA’s Charter of Inclusion, and will strive to meet the 5 tenets of the charter, including:

    • Openness - To be open to and understanding of all people with disabilities

    • People - Access training for our staff/volunteers to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities

    • Activities - Develop and deliver inclusive activities

    • Facilities - Review our facility/venues/equipment to make our organisation more accessible

    • Promotion - Promote the inclusive nature of our activities, in a variety of formats

  • Newpark School Sports Centre aims to:

    • Provide all information in a format that is accessible to all our users.

    • Maintain up to date large print brochures at reception

    • Provide ongoing staff training to ensure customer service and communication skills are up to standard

  • We welcome feedback on the accessibility of this website and all our documents and brochures.

  • At Newpark Sports Centre we pride ourselves in being accessible for all users. We are dedicated to making every experience at the centre a stress free and positive one. From the car park right through our centre we are on one level. Our front door is automatic allowing for ease of access.

    Throughout the sports centre our facilities signage have Braille on them. Careful consideration is also taken in font size and layout of information posters throughout the building.

    Our 25 metre swimming pool has a pool hoist available at the shallow end and we also have easy access steps available in the shallow aid to allow pool access for users of all abilities. A number of the barriers around the pool have been changed to clear toughened glass to allow all our users to view the pool.

    Our fitness centre offers treadmills, bikes and cross trainers with Braille buttons or added raised markings to allow easy usage for anyone who may have a visual impairment. All of our weights machines have brightly coloured contrasting buttons for adjustment. We have a good free weights section and a very user friendly cable machine. There is also ergometers available. We also encourage ongoing training for our staff to enable them to provide inclusive classes and suitable fitness programmes. A number of our staff have attended the Cara Disability Awareness Training and Disability Inclusion Training courses. We promote and encourage inclusiveness for all our fitness classes and courses and are looking to expand our programme to include inclusive teen fit classes.

    Our changing facilities for male and female both have large cubicles and reserved lockers for users with disabilities. In addition we have a disability changing room, which has a ceiling hoist and adjustable changing plinth for changing and showering as needed.

    Newpark carries out regular in house and external audits to ensure we are pushing ourselves to provide the best facilities and services for our users. We also encourage and actively seek feedback from our users on our strengths and areas of improvements. We have dedicated disability inclusion officers, Damaris Ayres and Kevin Treacy who offer training and support to all staff.

  • Download Facility Accessibility Policy