Celebrating accessibility this Purple Tuesday
Find out how we’re striving to create more accessible homes and services for residents with disabilities – and what we plan to do next.
Today (Tuesday, 12 November) marks Purple Tuesday, a global social movement celebrated every November to highlight the experiences of disabled customers and their families, and to drive meaningful change.
As a Founding Partner of the disability organisation Purple, we’re committed to promoting disability inclusion in all aspects of our work to help create homes and communities that feel safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone.
With this year’s Purple Tuesday theme focusing on accessibility, it’s a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on our progress and identify areas where we can do better.
Our disability inclusion journey
We were proud to achieve Founding Partner status with Purple and to be recognised as a ‘Disability Confident Leader’ in 2023 – the highest level in the Government’s Disability Confident Employer scheme.
But we’re not stopping there. We continue to implement initiatives that strengthen our commitment to disability inclusion across our services.
Raising the conversation with residents
This year, we spoke to 25 residents living with a range of physical, cognitive, and mental health conditions to understand the challenges they face. The feedback has been invaluable, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
We received positive comments about the work we’re doing to support our residents and communities, but also important feedback on where we need to do more – especially in terms of communication, service accessibility, and the increasing need for home adaptations.
Our Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Hugo Drummond, says: “These conversations have helped us identify key areas for improvement. We’re already working on solutions, including introducing more accessible communication methods, providing disability training for staff, and making our homes more adaptable with things like ramps and accessible bathrooms.”
Reflecting on the progress we’ve made to date, Customer Influence Committee Chair and Board member, Catherine Turner, says:
“The improvements we've made in accessibility over the past year are encouraging. The CIC has been proud to contribute to the ‘Raising the Conversation’ project, reviewing resident feedback and making recommendations that will drive real change. While we’ve made great strides, we know there’s still work to do to ensure our homes are truly secure and comfortable for all residents, especially those with disabilities. The insights from our recent research are invaluable, not just for us, but for the entire housing sector.”
Tackling communication barriers with BSL
We’re excited to have launched a British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation service, provided by SignVideo, for deaf and hard-of-hearing residents. This service aims to ensure that communication with us is as easy and effective as possible.
Boosting online accessibility
In response to feedback from residents about difficulties navigating online forms, we’ve added a link to an ‘Additional Support’ page on each of our online forms. This simple change means you can access information in a way that suits your individual needs.
Purple Tuesday: Join us!
Celebrating disability inclusion at Braintree Village
We’ll be hosting a stall at Braintree Village shopping centre from 10am to 2pm today, Tuesday, 12 November, alongside local partners. Come and find out more about our work to create accessible and inclusive services and discover the resources and support available to you. We look forward to seeing you there!
Join the conversation
Stay connected on social media to join in the day’s discussions – or see Piccadilly Circus lit up in purple!
Follow us on the following platforms:
- X (formerly Twitter): @Eastlighthomes
- Instagram: @Eastlighthomes
- LinkedIn: Eastlight-Community-Homes-
- Facebook: @Eastlighthomes
Or look up the following hashtags to find out more:
#PurpleTuesday #PurpleTuesday2024 #EastlightPurpleTuesday #Inclusivity #Accessibility #Inclusive #CustomerExperience
Have your say and help shape our services for the better
We’re always eager to hear from residents about their experiences with us, and improvements we can make to help you feel safe, secure and comfortable at home. To find out how you can get involved and make a difference to our services and your communities, click here.
