Overview

In Hall toilets poorly maintained, door latches faulty, emergency cord too short. I have used the disabled toilets on the concourse/atrium level before and they are above parr. This weekend I was there as a volunteer fundraiser for a charity, so, yep I got in free. Partway through the day, I needed the loo so went to the closest, which was in the Hall, 8 I think. The first door I tried was unlocked. Unfortunately, it was occupied, due to the fact that the latch was obviously broken. The 1 next door was free, though its latch was only a little more secure, a strong pull on the door and someone would be scarred for life seeing me on the loo! The emergency cord was far too short, not tied up, just short. Very little space which gave me a lot of trouble getting out. Fortunately, there were some staff on hand to hold the door open for me. When it came time to go home, I called the private hire firm who had dropped me off, only to be told that I would have to make my way, via Bus or pavement to an out of the way pick up point by the carparks. The reason, Black Cab Monopoly! If I had given in, and gone by Black Cab, the roughly 4 mile journey, on past experience, would have cost me between £25 and £30. The private hire fare, £7.50, with drivers I trust and actually know where I live! Sorry, outside London, with Black Cabs, forget the Knowledge, more satnav and "do you know the way?" When I went back in to ask NEC staff, I was told about the buses that went to a couple of the respective carparks, they couldn't tell me which went near the pick up point or guarantee that I could access a bus in my wheelchair! They then directed me to the event security. When I explained my situation, their first response was " What, in a f****ng wheelchair?!? Are they mad!" 4 of them tried to work out a way I could get through the Halls. Fortunately, my booked driver then called me and said that they had let him through to pick me up at the closest point. So after 30 minutes plus, common sense prevailed. The staff where very good, the maintenance and procedures, dire to the extreme.

Transport & Parking

As stated above, disabled transport and access have extremely low priority. You feel like an imposition, at best.

Access

Level access is good in the main complex, but you need to overcome major hurdles to get there. It is knackering and embarassing.

Toilets

Some loos are very good, others deplorable. To get to the good ones you have to travel a fair distance, if you even know where they are.

Staff

Majority of staff will go out of their way to help, shame that their training lets them down.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Embarrassing, tiring and frustrating. They need a major kick up the backside and major investment in facilities and training to begin to be truly disablity friendly. Automatic designated doors and a row of disabilty scooters are merely window dressing. Hearing aid loops at access points, resources for the visually impaired, the expected standard for disabled loos, staff disability and access training, disabled transport access, all areas in which they seem to live in the 1970's. I also live with an anxiety disorder, if I had lost it on the day, I bet they would have called the Police!