Accessibility

This page gives all the accessibility information for Typewronger CIC, both the bookshop and the print studio. We believe everyone should have access to Typewronger, but there are practical problems that can make this difficult and though we have worked hard to find solutions we freely admit not all of them are perfect. We do our best.

Physical Accessibility of the Bookshop

4a Haddington Place

The shop is located down a flight of eight steps, the steps on the left are regular and flush, those on the right are significantly more worn and uneven. The hand rails to the left and in the centre are free of obstruction, those on the right hand side have lights and blackboards attached. We strongly recommend you don’t use the right hand set of rails for support, the central and left hand rails are free of obstruction and the steps they serve are easier under foot.

The entrance to the shop is the right hand set of doors. The left hand door opens to a width of 50cm. If you knock a bookseller can open the other door to create a space of 88cm in width. There are two steps down into the shop. The back of the shop is accessed through arches, the smallest of which is 70cm in width.

Should you require assistance with buggies, mobility aids or bags and suchlike do knock on the door, or call the shop on 07721 058 861  for assistance.

It’s not currently possible to make the shop fully accessible to those who can’t get down our front steps, however on a fine day booksellers are happy to bring out a selection to browse based on your tastes, we can run orders up the stairs etc. We also offer virtual browsing of the shop via Skype or Zoom where you can direct a bookseller from the comfort of your home, and of course this very website. We offer free Edinburgh delivery so there is no extra charge.

There are three comfortable armchairs in the shop for customers who want to sit down when browsing, and you are welcome to ask booksellers to fetch books for you. There is also a more upright chair without arms at the typewriter.

Typewronger does not have a public toilet, the nearest one is in the McDonald Road Library.

Physical Accessibility of the Studio

St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road

The studio can be accessed via a stone bridge with a several flights of steps with railings from London Road, or at basement level from the car park, and then via a lift to the “ground” floor. The studio door is 65cm wide. There are two low desks and one high desk and a variety of different chairs and stools. Workshop attendees are given Tee’s personal number so they can call for assistance if required.

St Margaret’s House has public toilets, many of which are accessible.

Music Policy

We play music throughout the bookshop as the creaky floors make some of our customers feel deeply self-conscious. Our staff love playing all kinds of stuff – we’ve got a vinyl record player and a tape deck and even a Spotify account, and we often get compliments on our exquisite music taste. We are aware that some folk will find music playing in the shop a barrier, and as the intention is to improve the atmosphere rather than make things worse do let us know on entering if you need the music switched off . Tee often plays music when running workshops at the studio, but they always ask attendees their preference first.

Large Print titles / Braille

We don’t carry very many large print titles, though we do have a few and are happy to order things in. We investigated stocking sample chapters of Braille books, but were told that’s not possible. Booksellers are happy to read out sections of books, blurbs and the like, and describe covers.

Writing machines for the blind were instrumental in the development of the typewriter, and so resident typewriter geek Tee happens to own a Brailler and can both read and write a bit of Braille (uncontracted, sadly – they’re working on it!) If you would like to write a letter to the shop in Braille we will reply in same.

BSL / Communication without sound

As yet no member of staff is trained in BSL, but we are trying to change that, we’ve a target to get some staff up to a basic level in this by the end of 2025. We have pen and paper at the till, booksellers understand the importance of speaking clearly and directly facing customers who are lip-reading.

Events

We are hoping to work with a larger more accessible nearby venue, but currently the majority of our events happen in the shop.

Sound and BSL at Events

We use an antiquated Selmer PA100 to amplify the sound both indoors and outside in fine weather, do ask the bookseller on duty if you need to put a device near a speaker or microphone to assist you in picking up the sound. We do not have a BSL interpreter for our events as yet as we don’t have sufficient funds, but it’s certainly something we’re hoping to provide at some point in future.

Airborne Disease Transmission Mitigation

Though in the winter we often have the door closed to keep the heat in, where possible we open the door and sometimes run a fan for ventilation. By us placing a speaker outside in fine weather customers have the opportunity to attend some of our events en plein air.

Though we no longer routinely wear face masks we are aware that for a variety of reasons some of our customers would much rather continue to wear masks and have others around them mask up also, and so we still offer private browsing where you can book the shop for a half hour where we won’t let anyone else in and the bookseller is masked, email info@typewronger.com to arrange this free service. We can also arrange virtual browsing of the shop via Skype or Zoom which is safer still, and of course there’s the option of using this very website.

Typewronger booksellers do not come to work when they are ill and are paid in full regardless. Their word is all that is required – no doctor’s notes – so there is no reason for them to come in if they’re unwell and they know to err on the side of caution. Booksellers might wear a mask if they’re recently recovered as a further precaution, but never as an alternative to staying at home when potentially infectious.

Online Events

We didn’t get much take-up when we streamed events on YouTube during the pandemic (by which I mean often our system showed there was nobody watching live) and so have ended that as a format, though we might revisit YouTube in future and there’s still a bunch of videos up you can check out. We now stream most of our events live on Instagram. We ask that if you feel unwell please do not attend our events in person – use the online option instead. If you’re a speaker and have become unwell we would also ask you not to attend, but instead to send us a video of your reading for us to play on our projector.

Anything Else?

If you have specific accessibility requirements not covered here and want to know what we can do to accommodate them please email info@typewronger.com