How Access Compass works

Access Compass helps you find disability support services and how-to guides in your area. Here's how to use it. You don't have to set anything up first, and there is no account to create. It already works with your device's own text-size, dark mode and motion settings.

Finding a service

Browse or search: Browse shows services and guides as cards you can read and filter. Search lets you type what you're looking for, such as a type of support, a condition, or a place name.
Filter to what you need: Narrow the list by category, so you can focus on the kind of support you're looking for, for a child, an adult, a family or a carer.
Your edition: Access Compass has full local packs for Northamptonshire, Luton, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire, a trial pack for Rutland, small early "seed" packs for Essex, Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire, a UK-wide Accessible Air Travel pack, and Victoria (Melbourne and regional Victoria) in Australia. Editions are published as "Access Compass: <Region>", and a switcher near the top of the app lets you choose yours. Seed and trial packs are clearly labelled in the area picker, so you always know how deep coverage is before you rely on it. More regions are added over time.
Ideas to get you started: If you're not sure where to begin, the row of "Ideas" cards at the top (things like accessible days out, rainy-day ideas, free things to do, or autism-friendly places) apply a useful starting filter with one tap.

Reading a listing

Open any service or place and you'll see what it is, who it's for, and how to get in touch. Where we have it, you'll find contact details, and a note of where the information came from and when it was checked, plus a status showing how far the source has been checked. "Source checked" means the listing's official source was confirmed live and matching, usually by an automated AI web check. "Source verified" means a person reviewed the source. "Review pending" means a draft listing still awaiting that check. The listing's detail view names the check method used.

Listings are public directory information gathered from each service, and details can change. Always confirm with the service directly before you rely on it. Access Compass is information and signposting, not professional, legal, medical or financial advice.

How we keep listings honest

Every claim about a place's accessibility, such as step-free access, a quiet space, a hearing loop or a Changing Places toilet, is only shown when we can point to where it came from and when it was checked. A blank or "not yet checked" field is never shown as, or means, "not accessible": it simply means nobody has confirmed it yet. We would always rather tell you what we don't know than guess.

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Every listing and guide has a "Suggest an update" link, so you can tell us directly and we can put it right.

Using the how-to guides

Alongside the service listings, Access Compass includes plain-language how-to guides on getting support, for both children and adults. They are there to help you understand a process and know where to turn next. Where available, a guide also offers a signed video version (BSL or Auslan), so the information itself is accessible, not just the page it sits on.

Making it easier to use

Text size, dark mode, high contrast and dyslexia-friendly font: Open settings and you'll find controls to adjust the text size, switch themes, turn on a high-contrast or reduced-motion mode, and choose a dyslexia-friendly reading font.
Your access profile: Tell the app what matters to you once, and lists and results can adapt to your needs. This is stored only on your device.
Saved items: Save services and guides you want to come back to. Your saved items stay on your device.
Journey support: Open Travel to track rail, coach, airport, ferry or local-bus assistance and create a practical support plan. You choose which sections are included when it is shared.

Your data and our policies

There are no accounts and no tracking. Your settings and saved items stay on your device, and nothing is sent to us. If you want the full picture, or if your organisation is considering the app, everything is set out plainly in one place: privacy, cookies, data protection, security, accessibility, and terms. Read our policies.

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