Purple Reach

Purple Reach 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.

Today is World Brain Tumour Day.For many people, a brain tumour can affect far more than physical health. It can impact ...
08/06/2026

Today is World Brain Tumour Day.

For many people, a brain tumour can affect far more than physical health. It can impact communication, memory, concentration, fatigue levels and day-to-day activities in ways that aren't always visible to others.

That's why awareness matters.

Understanding some of the challenges people may face helps create more supportive workplaces, services and communities.

Not every disability or health condition is immediately obvious, and a little patience, understanding and flexibility can make a significant difference.

Today is an opportunity to learn more, raise awareness and show support for those living with or affected by brain tumours.

Image: Purple / blue background with the image of a side profile of a head in dark purple with a brain image inside which is a lighter shade of purple. Underneath the side profile of the head are the words "world brain tumour day"

So, who is Purple Reach?Purple Reach is a disability consultancy working with businesses and community organisations to ...
04/06/2026

So, who is Purple Reach?

Purple Reach is a disability consultancy working with businesses and community organisations to help improve accessibility and better understand disability in practical, realistic ways.

A lot of organisations want to make their services more accessible but aren't always sure where to begin or what barriers people may be experiencing.

That's where we come in.

We provide support through services including:

🔹 Accessibility audits
🔹 Consultancy
🔹 Training (whether that’s staff or the management team)
🔹 Mystery shopping
🔹 Advice around accessibility and inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by both professional knowledge and over 30 years of lived experience with disability.

That combination matters because accessibility isn't just about policies or ticking boxes. It's about understanding how people actually experience and access services, spaces and communication in everyday life.

Our aim is simple:

To help organisations feel more confident about accessibility and support them in making meaningful improvements that work for the people using their services.

No complicated language or jargon.
Zero judgement.
Just real conversations and support that is realistic.

Image: Tom is a man who is looking directly at the camera and smiling. Tom has a beard and is wearing glasses and has a beard. Tom is also wearing a blue shirt

Many organisations simply couldn't do what they do without volunteers.Whether they're supporting community projects, hel...
02/06/2026

Many organisations simply couldn't do what they do without volunteers.

Whether they're supporting community projects, helping at events, providing practical assistance or offering their time to others, volunteers make a huge difference every day.

A lot of that work happens quietly behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed.

This Volunteers' Week is an opportunity to recognise the people who give their time, skills and energy to support others and strengthen their communities.

If you know a volunteer who deserves a thank you, why not give them a mention below?

Image - snippet of a page of a book / document with a green highlighter pen highlighting the word volunteer.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say but struggling to find the words.That's the reality for many people living ...
01/06/2026

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say but struggling to find the words.

That's the reality for many people living with aphasia, a condition that affects communication that can occur after a stroke or brain injury.

Aphasia affects communication, but it doesn't affect intelligence. Yet many people living with aphasia face barriers simply because others don't understand what they're experiencing.

The good news is that support and technology can make a real difference.

Tools such as speech-generating devices, text-to-speech software and visual communication apps can help people communicate more confidently and independently in everyday situations.

Something as simple as ordering a coffee, sending a message or joining a conversation can become much easier with the right support in place.

This Aphasia Awareness Month, take a few minutes to learn more about aphasia and the challenges people can face.

A little understanding can go a long way.

Image: Graphic has a yellow background. Near the top of the graphic is a circle which has a white frame and in the centre of the circle is the image of a hand holding a black ribbon to represent Aphasia awareness month. Just underneath the circle are the words "Aphasia awareness month,"

Managing menstrual health is often treated as straightforward.But for many disabled people, it isn’t.Things like inacces...
28/05/2026

Managing menstrual health is often treated as straightforward.

But for many disabled people, it isn’t.

Things like inaccessible toilets, products that don’t work for different needs, or information that isn’t easy to access can all create barriers.

And these aren’t small issues.
They affect independence, comfort, and dignity.

Some of the challenges can include:

- Toilets that aren’t set up for accessibility
- Products that don’t suit different needs
- Information that isn’t available in accessible formats

These are things that can be improved.

Because something this basic should work for everyone.

What’s something you’ve seen that makes menstrual health more accessible?

Image: Light pink back ground, with light circle with the words "Menstrual Hygiene Day", there is a slightly smaller circle inside the other circle that has outlines of side profiles of women, they are in dark purple, light purple and a pink/purple colour. Overlaying the image inside the smaller circle are the words " Menstrual Products For All"


A lot of disability awareness training leaves people unsure what to do next.They leave with information.But not always w...
24/05/2026

A lot of disability awareness training leaves people unsure what to do next.

They leave with information.
But not always with confidence.

And without that confidence, very little actually changes.

At Purple Reach, training is designed differently.

It’s practical, honest, and focused on what people can actually do.

- Real situations
- Clear guidance
- Useful next steps

No jargon.
No tick-box exercises.

Just training that helps people feel more confident in their role.

If your team hasn’t reviewed disability inclusion recently, now is the time to do it properly.

www.purplereach.co.uk

Image: 2 women, one has long blonde hair, is wearing black and has a white bracelet on her wrist. The other lady has short dark hair, is wearing glasses and has a scarf and they are both looking at something on a table top, just in shot is also another person's hand. Underneath the image is a white box with the words "Training that builds confidence, not confusion" in purple writing.


Inclusion isn’t just one thing.People don’t experience the world through a single lens.For someone from a different cult...
21/05/2026

Inclusion isn’t just one thing.

People don’t experience the world through a single lens.

For someone from a different cultural background, disability can be understood and supported in very different ways.

That can affect:

- How comfortable someone feels asking for support
- How disability is talked about
- What access or adjustments are actually offered

If we only approach inclusion from one angle, we miss part of the picture.
Creating more inclusive spaces means recognising that people’s experiences aren’t all the same.

What’s something you’ve seen that helps create more inclusive spaces?

Image: graphic has a purple background with the purple reach logo and writing that says "world day for cultural diversity". There is also are also cartoon people on the graphic representing different cultures. The people in the image are standing holding hands and they are also standing on a globe.


Most digital spaces are designed with a “default” user in mind.And that doesn’t work for everyone.For people using scree...
21/05/2026

Most digital spaces are designed with a “default” user in mind.

And that doesn’t work for everyone.

For people using screen readers, voice navigation, or other assistive tech, small design choices can make the difference between something being usable or not.

Things like:

- Low contrast text
- Missing alt text
- Overly complex layouts
- Navigation that only works with a mouse

Individually, they might seem minor.
But together, they create real barriers.

Accessible design isn’t about making things perfect.
It’s about making sure more people can actually use what you’ve created.

Not sure how accessible your website or content is? Drop a 👋 and we’ll send over a simple starting point.

Image: Graphic of 4 people around a table. One person has dark hair styled in a bun, wearing a beige top and skirt with flat black shoes. The person is holding a sign with accessibility symbols on it. Another person has short dark hair, is wearing a dark green jumper, beige trousers and flat black shoes. One person is sitting in front of a black laptop. They have dark, shoulder-length hair and are wearing a beige top and dark grey trousers. The final person in the graphic is a wheelchair user with short dark hair, wearing an orange top and beige trousers. Above the graphic of the group of people are the words "Global Accessibility Awareness Day"


“We know we need to improve accessibility… we’re just not sure where to start.”This is one of the most common things we ...
18/05/2026

“We know we need to improve accessibility… we’re just not sure where to start.”

This is one of the most common things we hear.

Because accessibility isn’t always obvious.
And without clear direction, it’s easy to second guess every decision or avoid starting at all.

That’s where a conversation helps.

Purple Reach offers a free initial consultation to:

- Look at your current approach
- Highlight practical improvements
- Build confidence around disability inclusion
- Map out clear, manageable next steps

No generic advice.
No long reports that sit untouched.

Just practical, relevant guidance you can use straight away.

There are a limited number of consultation slots available this month.

If you’ve been waiting until you “have more time”, this is your starting point.

www.purplereach.co.uk

Image: Tom is a man who is looking directly at the camera and is smiling. Tom also has a beard and is wearing glasses.


“Do you have any access requirements?”It’s a common question.But not always an easy one to answer on the spot.That’s whe...
15/05/2026

“Do you have any access requirements?”

It’s a common question.
But not always an easy one to answer on the spot.

That’s where an accessibility rider comes in.

An accessibility rider is a simple document that outlines what you need to work, attend, or take part comfortably.

It can include things like:

- Preferred communication (email instead of phone, written summaries)
- Environment needs (quiet spaces, lighting, seating)
- Scheduling (breaks, timing, pacing)
- Format of information (written, audio, structured)

It doesn’t need to be long or complicated.
It just needs to be clear.

For businesses, giving people the option to share this in advance makes things easier for everyone.

It removes guesswork.
And avoids last-minute adjustments.

Because when people know what’s needed ahead of time, things run far more smoothly.

Do you give people the option to share access needs in advance?

Image: graphic of a man who is looking directly at the camera and is smiling. The man is wearing a headset with a microphone. The man has a beard and wearing a shirt and tie.


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Norwich

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