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Snowball - The Accessibility Rating Scheme

GITA has teamed up with Snowball to offer members a robust, value-for-money, way of obtaining a nationally recognised accessibility rating scheme.

Snowball Community, known simply as Snowball, is the world’s largest and most widely used disability accessibility app, transforming how people with disabilities find and share inclusive spaces.

This innovative platform allows users to rate and review businesses and services based on their disability-friendliness, covering everything from restaurants, tourist attractions, and supermarkets to coffee shops and more. Users can instantly search for accessible venues anywhere in the world, add new locations not yet listed, and leave detailed reviews contributing to a database that already includes tens of thousands of entries, from Changing Places facilities to accessible toilets.

A standout feature of Snowball is its integration with Google Maps, making it simple to navigate directly to chosen destinations. Both disabled travellers and locals enrich the app by adding and reviewing venues that welcome individuals with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory needs, and neurodivergent conditions.

Powered by community input, Snowball grows just like its name suggests, through a snowball effect, making it an unmatched resource in the global accessibility market.

The Details

Snowball has launched the first ever National Disabled Access Rating System (NDARS).

This is similar to the Food Safety Hygiene Certificate but for disabled access for all business in the UK. GITA members can start their Snowball journey for just £250 a year, we have dozens of trained assessors based all over the UK.

The assessor will visit your business but also produce a assessment but also a recommendations report on how to make your business more attractive and inclusive for disabled customers.

Designed to empower individuals with disabilities and promote awareness among all businesses, NDARS sets a new standard for accessibility ratings, providing consumers with vital information to make informed choices about where to shop, dine, and access services. Snowball is going to change the way people access local community and the wider world.

NDARS offers a comprehensive and user-friendly rating system that assesses businesses based on their accessibility features and accommodation for individuals with disabilities, from wheelchair access and parking facilities to assistive technologies and sensory friendly environments. NDARS evaluates various aspects of accessibility to ensure that businesses meet the diverse needs of their customers.

So, what does your business get for the membership?

  • A visit and an assessment from a trained Snowball Assessor in your local area.
  • A Membership Pack.
  • A Snowball Access Rating Certificate.
  • A Snowball Rating Window Sticker.
  • A Stimulating Rating (for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities).
  • A recommendations report on how to improve your business for disabled customers.

Key features of NDARS include:

  • Improved Accessibility: Identifies physical, digital, and procedural barriers, leading to better access for employees, customers, and clients with disabilities.
  • Broader Customer Base: Making products, services, and premises more accessible can attract and retain customers with disabilities, expanding the market reach.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, enhancing the company's reputation and aligning with CSR goals.
  • Increased Innovation: Diverse workforces, including people with disabilities, can bring new perspectives that drive innovation and creativity.
  • Better Risk Management: Identifying and addressing potential hazards or barriers related to disabilities can prevent accidents and create a safer environment for everyone.
  • Positive Company Culture: Promotes a culture of inclusion and respect, which can improve overall workplace morale and attract top talent.
  • Financial Incentives: Some governments offer tax credits or grants for businesses thatvmake accessibility improvements.

Overall, a business disability assessment can lead to a more inclusive, productive, and legally compliant workplace, benefiting both the business and the community.

In addition to providing valuable information to consumers, NDARS serves as a catalyst for positive change, inspiring businesses to enhance their accessibility efforts and create more inclusive environments for all. By participating in NDARS, businesses demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while gaining visibility and recognition as leaders in accessibility.

EXCLUSIVE GITA PRICE

GITA Members can become assessors of their own site for £310 for three years. After initial training, you will be able to make a genuine assessment of your own venue for upload out the Snowball Community.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT

Register at the Snowball Website.


Last review 4th February 2026

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