The Accessible Guide was founded and designed by Disabled People with lived experience of exclusion. Our mission is to leverage digital technology in innovative ways to create inclusion and reduce the barriers Disabled People frequently encounter. We provide accurate, reliable and trustworthy information to help users find venues and services that meet their specific access requirements.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
As the Managing Director and Founder of the company, Phil Peel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler. During his early teens, his condition worsened, and by the age of 15, he had become a full-time wheelchair user. Despite this, Phil embraced life with determination and a passion for travel, which took him across the globe. He spent three summers working at Camp Ascca in Alabama—two through the Camp America program—while also visiting destinations such as New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Chicago, New Orleans, Florida, Lisbon, Berlin, Warsaw, and Krakow.
It was the barriers Phil faced while traveling that inspired the creation of The Accessible Guide. Across different locations, he encountered the same challenges—lack of suitable toilet facilities and limited physical access to buildings being the most common obstacles.
A graduate in Information Technology and Business from Liverpool Hope University, Phil decided in 2015 to combine his expertise and passion for travel to make a difference. After completing the School for Social Entrepreneurs Start-Up Programme in 2016, he formally registered The Accessible Guide as a Community Interest Company later that year.
Through consultation with stakeholders, the early years focused on researching the competitive landscape and, more importantly, exploring how the latest technology could be adapted to support greater inclusion. In 2019, the company received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, marking a game-changing moment. Shortly after, Cyberfrog Design was appointed as the company’s IT partner, responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the platform.
With a vision to be revolutionary, we continuously seek new ways to enhance our platform and services. In today’s digital era, technology has the power to create opportunities for inclusion while breaking down barriers, making society and the world more accessible for Disabled People.
THE THEORY
Digital technology plays a pivotal role in empowering Disabled People by enhancing accessibility, independence and innovation. It is important to our Company that we are innovative and we believe that utilising digitial technology can significantly reduce the barriers to inclusion that Disabled People encounter on a daily basis.
It it equally important for businesses to recognise and understand how to communicate effectively and respectfully with Disabled People to eliminate the barriers to inclusion, only then will we begin to see real changes that will support Disabled People access goods and services.
Image Descriptions
Left Image: Phil is speaking at the School for Social Entrepreneurs Graduation in 2016 at Blackburne House, Liverpool.
Right Image: Camp Ascca Summer Staff 2008, Phil is pictured to the left. Picture taken at Camp Ascca, Alabama, USA.
