Nimbus Disability is a social enterprise run by disabled people for disabled people. It was founded by Martin Austin MBE almost 20 years ago with supply income donated to its sister charity Disability Direct to further enable projects supporting disabled people.

Originally, Nimbus was focused on supporting businesses to meet and exceed their obligations to disabled customers in relation to the DDA that became the Equality Act 2010. 

This focus expanded in 2014 when Martin came up with the concept of the Access Card at the Download Festival near Derby.

Martin takes up the story: “I was faced with a scene I simply could not comprehend. Disabled People were queuing up in the rain and covered in mud – waiting to show benefits letters in order to get onto the raised viewing platform.”

“I came to the realisation that there had to be a universal way of doing this, so I went away and sketched out the Access Card on a sheet of A4 and that’s where it all began.”

From those humble beginnings, the award-winning Access Card is recognised as the first accessible ticketing scheme of its type in the world – offering a universal and consistent way for disabled people to evidence and communicate their needs to providers quickly and discreetly.  

The Access Card is now held by about half a million disabled people and is recognised by more than 2,000 venues and events across the world who offer accessible tickets.

Powered by ‘NOS’, a bespoke software, the system translates its holder’s disability/impairment or access requirements into symbols, which ultimately means that, when booking online, it informs providers quickly and discreetly about the access requirements that individuals need. 

It has realised a simple but highly effective way for disabled people to book online and protect those reasonable adjustments for those who require them.

The scheme has become a lifetime of opportunity for disabled people and a digital bridge to customers for business internationally – widely recognised at the majority of the UK’s leisure and tourism venues such as Buckingham Palace, the O2 Arena and Alton Towers as well as venues in the USA, Europe and New Zealand.

Mark Briggs PLY, Nimbus Disability’s partnership director, talks about how The Access Card and the scheme has become one of the simplest ways of discreetly conveying your access requirements in so many situations. 

“As disabled people, we don’t want to have to tell everyone our personal details, we just want to have our access needs met. I’m an amputee that uses a wheelchair and I just want to communicate that I need level access.”

Martin has the same amputation, but uses crutches and it is standing and queuing that is the barrier for him, so that symbol is what’s crucial in his life. Same disability but a huge difference in our access needs. 

“Our team, who in the main have lived experience, undertake the decision making on applications and allocate the symbols based on narrative substantiated by evidence. 

“It’s imperative that this is robust and consistent in order to support both our disabled card holders and the organisations we do this for, such as Merlin Entertainment and AXS ticketing.”

The digital world and online bookings has been a game changer for the Access Card, explains Mark: “As the shift developed to online booking, disabled customers and ticketing businesses wanted to provide this but one of the main challenges was ensuring that the provision of online booking met the customers’ needs, but also protected both sides from misuse. 

“There needed to be some form of validation and the Access Card was already doing that. We built a system, now called NOS, the Nimbus Operating System and this pulls your access symbols into ticketing systems within seconds. 

“It unlocks seats, provides essential companion tickets and ensures those doing so are those protected by the Equality Act’.”

The Access Card costs £15 for three years, Purpl members can get 10% off, but that’s just half the story. 

Nimbus also operates a Digital Access Pass which is free to those customers who just want to convey their access requirements for certain businesses.  

Nimbus has always been clear that validating access should not be behind a paywall, so if people just visit Birmingham Hippodrome or want to go to Glastonbury for example, they just need to complete a free application for a Digital Access Pass. 

Nimbus and the Access Card Scheme are integrated into some of the world leading ticketing systems and continues to be ground breaking. 

Martin concluded: “One of the proudest moments of my life was when we were nominated for and won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2022. This was for our innovation in creating the card and opening the door to digital ticketing for disabled people.”

The scheme goes from strength to strength and now partnering with Purpl is the next stage in being able to support disabled people in a wider context. Access Card holders can apply to Purpl with their card, just ensure the First Name and Surname match exactly as the details on your Access Card.

“Whilst the Access Card isn’t a discount card, we certainly recognise the cost of living for disabled people continues to be a huge barrier for our community of card holders and if relationships brings a wider opportunity we are certainly meeting and exceeding our social mission.”

For more information about the Access Card, please visit https://www.accesscard.online/