{"id":4417,"date":"2026-09-20T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/?page_id=4417"},"modified":"2026-09-20T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T09:00:00","slug":"accessibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/accessibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessibility at a swap"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"bsw-hero bsw-hero-lg has-art\" data-bsw-hero style=\"--bsw-shade:0.72\"><div class=\"bsw-hero-media\"><svg class=\"bsw-art bsw-art-door\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 420\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path class=\"l\" style=\"stroke-width:1.8\" d=\"M240 386 V96 H400 V386\"\/><path class=\"l fb\" d=\"M240 96 L176 128 V404 L240 386 Z\"\/><path class=\"fr\" style=\"stroke:none\" d=\"M240 386 H400 L520 414 H150 Z\"\/><path class=\"h\" d=\"M150 414 H560\"\/><rect class=\"r\" x=\"286\" y=\"52\" width=\"68\" height=\"26\" rx=\"4\"\/><path class=\"r\" d=\"M300 65 h24 m-8 -6 l8 6 -8 6\"\/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"bsw-hero-glow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div><div class=\"bsw-wrap bsw-hero-grid\"><div class=\"bsw-hero-copy\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow bsw-in bsw-in-1\">Accessibility<\/p><h1 class=\"bsw-h1 bsw-in bsw-in-2\"><span class=\"bsw-h1-claim\">Tell us what you need. We will say what we can do.<\/span> <em class=\"bsw-turn\">Plainly, before you come.<\/em><\/h1><span class=\"bsw-rule bsw-in bsw-in-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><div class=\"bsw-hero-lede bsw-in bsw-in-3\"><p>Every Bloom Swap is set up to the same access standard, and every venue is still its own building. This page says what every swap commits to, what varies, what Bloom does not promise yet, and how to ask about a venue before you set out.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"bsw-actions bsw-in bsw-in-4\"><a class=\"bsw-btn bsw-btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/contact\/\" data-bsw-magnet><span>Ask about a venue<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a class=\"bsw-btn bsw-btn-ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/upcoming\/\"><span>Upcoming swaps<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bsw-rail\" role=\"list\" aria-label=\"At every Bloom Swap\"><span class=\"bsw-rail-bar\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-rail-end bsw-rail-end-l\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-rail-end bsw-rail-end-r\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><div class=\"bsw-tag bsw-tag-1\" role=\"listitem\" style=\"--i:0\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-string\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-card\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-hole\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-t\">Step-free<\/span><\/span><\/div><div class=\"bsw-tag bsw-tag-2\" role=\"listitem\" style=\"--i:1\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-string\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-card\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-hole\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-t\">Seating<\/span><\/span><\/div><div class=\"bsw-tag bsw-tag-3\" role=\"listitem\" style=\"--i:2\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-string\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-card\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-hole\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-t\">Large print<\/span><\/span><\/div><div class=\"bsw-tag bsw-tag-4\" role=\"listitem\" style=\"--i:3\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-string\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-card\"><span class=\"bsw-tag-hole\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><span class=\"bsw-tag-t\">Ask first<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-stone\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><header class=\"bsw-head bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">Every swap<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2\">What makes an accessible clothing swap here.<\/h2><p class=\"bsw-head-lede\">These come with Bloom to every venue. A host agrees to them before a date is set, and they are written into the host playbook.<\/p><\/header>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Step-free access.<\/strong> Every host venue must have a step-free way into the swap room. A venue without one is not used.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Seating.<\/strong> Chairs in the room, so browsing never means standing for as long as it takes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Large-print rack labels.<\/strong> Sizes and styles are labelled in print large enough to read from the aisle.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Volunteers who fetch and carry.<\/strong> Ask for a size from a high rail, a second bag, or someone to carry what you chose to the door.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A quiet corner, where the room allows.<\/strong> Somewhere to sit away from the racks. Not every building has the space, and each listing says which do.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A request about scent.<\/strong> Volunteers are asked not to wear perfume or scented products on swap days. It is a request to volunteers, not a rule for guests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Access is part of the room plan from the first conversation with a host, not a fix on the day. <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/host\/playbook\/\">The host playbook<\/a> sets out how a room is laid out, including the accessibility checklist every venue works through.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-parchment bsw-light\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><header class=\"bsw-head bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">The building<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2\">What varies by venue, and how you find out.<\/h2><p class=\"bsw-head-lede\">Bloom brings the racks, not the walls. Some things depend on the host\u2019s building, so each listing tells you about them.<\/p><\/header><div class=\"bsw-split bsw-rv\"><div class=\"bsw-col bsw-col-brass bsw-d1\"><h3 class=\"bsw-col-t\">Depends on the venue<\/h3><div class=\"bsw-col-b\"><ul>\n<li>Restrooms, and whether one is accessible<\/li>\n<li>Dressing space, and how it is curtained<\/li>\n<li>Parking, accessible spaces and the nearest transit<\/li>\n<li>Lighting and noise<\/li>\n<li>Whether there is room for a quiet corner<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"bsw-col bsw-col-rose bsw-d2\"><h3 class=\"bsw-col-t\">How you know before you go<\/h3><div class=\"bsw-col-b\"><ul>\n<li>Every swap on the board carries one access line written for that venue<\/li>\n<li>The message to the list two weeks ahead repeats it<\/li>\n<li>You can ask Bloom about a venue and get a plain answer<\/li>\n<li>If the answer is no, you hear it before you travel, not at the door<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/upcoming\/\">See the board<\/a> for the access line on every announced swap.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-ink\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><aside class=\"bsw-honest bsw-rv\" aria-labelledby=\"bsw-honest-5bbcec362c6efad92359808bd209721a\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">Where we honestly stand<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2\" id=\"bsw-honest-5bbcec362c6efad92359808bd209721a\">What Bloom does not promise yet.<\/h2><div class=\"bsw-honest-b\"><p>Bloom cannot yet promise ASL interpretation on demand, a particular restroom layout, or a changing space that meets every need. Where Bloom cannot promise something, it will not print it.<\/p>\n<p>If you ask for something that is not standard, Bloom will make an honest attempt and tell you the result before the day: yes, no, or partly, and what partly means. Ask early; the more notice, the more is possible. <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/contact\/\">Write to Bloom here<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><p class=\"bsw-stamp\">Written September 2026 \u00b7 figures update from records<\/p><\/aside><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-stone\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><header class=\"bsw-head bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">Online<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2\">This website.<\/h2><p class=\"bsw-head-lede\">The site is built to the same standard as the room.<\/p><\/header>\n<ul>\n<li>Every page works with a keyboard alone, and focus is always visible as a ring.<\/li>\n<li>A skip link at the top of every page goes straight to the content.<\/li>\n<li>Motion is reduced or removed when your device asks for reduced motion.<\/li>\n<li>Text can be enlarged in your browser without the page breaking.<\/li>\n<li>Every form field has a real label, and errors are announced beside the field they belong to.<\/li>\n<li>No form asks you to solve a picture puzzle to prove you are human.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Bloom Ministries publishes <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/accessibility\/\">an accessibility statement for the whole network<\/a>. If something on this site gets in your way, tell Bloom; it is treated as a fault to fix, not a preference.<\/p><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-parchment bsw-light\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><div class=\"bsw-faq\"><header class=\"bsw-faq-head bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">FAQ<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2\">Access questions<\/h2><p class=\"bsw-faq-more\">Still asking? Write to <a href=\"mailto:swap@bloomministries.org\">swap@bloomministries.org<\/a> and a person answers.<\/p><\/header><div class=\"bsw-faq-list bsw-rv\"><details class=\"bsw-q\" data-bsw-q><summary><span class=\"bsw-q-t\">Is every swap step-free?<\/span><span class=\"bsw-q-mark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/summary><div class=\"bsw-q-a\"><p>Yes. A step-free way into the swap room is a condition of hosting, written into the playbook. If a venue cannot offer it, Bloom does not hold a swap there. <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/host\/\">The host page<\/a> lists what a host provides.<\/p><\/div><\/details><details class=\"bsw-q\" data-bsw-q><summary><span class=\"bsw-q-t\">Can someone come with me to help?<\/span><span class=\"bsw-q-mark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/summary><div class=\"bsw-q-a\"><p>Yes. Bring a support person, a friend or a carer. They are welcome in every part of the room, and they can take what fits them too. <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/first-time\/\">Your first swap<\/a> walks through the day.<\/p><\/div><\/details><details class=\"bsw-q\" data-bsw-q><summary><span class=\"bsw-q-t\">Is there a quiet time?<\/span><span class=\"bsw-q-mark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/summary><div class=\"bsw-q-a\"><p>Not a promised one yet. Where the room allows, there is a quiet corner for the whole swap. If a quieter time would make the difference for you, say so when you <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/contact\/\">ask about a venue<\/a>; it tells Bloom where to start.<\/p><\/div><\/details><details class=\"bsw-q\" data-bsw-q><summary><span class=\"bsw-q-t\">What if I cannot get to a swap at all?<\/span><span class=\"bsw-q-mark\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/summary><div class=\"bsw-q-a\"><p>Then tell us what you need. <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/need-clothes-now\/\">If you cannot wait for a swap<\/a> is for exactly that, and a person replies within one business day.<\/p><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-g-stone\"><div class=\"bsw-wrap\"><div class=\"bsw-related\"><header class=\"bsw-related-head bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">Keep going<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2 bsw-related-h\">Where to go from here.<\/h2><\/header><div class=\"bsw-related-grid bsw-rv\"><a class=\"bsw-rel bsw-d1\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/first-time\/\"><span class=\"bsw-rel-k\">Next<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-t\">Your first swap<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-r\">Nervous about going? What happens from the door to the way out, and how to leave at any moment.<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a class=\"bsw-rel bsw-d2\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/safety\/\"><span class=\"bsw-rel-k\">Next<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-t\">Safety<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-r\">The rules every volunteer and host signs, and what to do if something at a swap feels wrong.<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a class=\"bsw-rel bsw-d3\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/need-clothes-now\/\"><span class=\"bsw-rel-k\">Next<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-t\">If you cannot wait<\/span><span class=\"bsw-rel-r\">Need clothes before the next swap? Tell a person, privately, and hear back within one business day.<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"bsw-sec bsw-close bsw-g-ink\" data-bsw-close><span class=\"bsw-close-rail\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><div class=\"bsw-wrap bsw-close-in bsw-rv\"><p class=\"bsw-eyebrow\">Before you come<\/p><h2 class=\"bsw-h2 bsw-close-h\">Find a swap, then ask.<\/h2><div class=\"bsw-close-lead\"><p>Each swap on the board carries its access line. If you need more, one message gets a plain answer before the day, not a surprise at the door.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"bsw-actions bsw-actions-center\"><a class=\"bsw-btn bsw-btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/upcoming\/\" data-bsw-magnet><span>See upcoming swaps<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a class=\"bsw-btn bsw-btn-ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/need-clothes-now\/\"><span>If you cannot wait for a swap<\/span><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-arrow\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M5 12h13\"\/><path d=\"m13 6 6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div><p class=\"bsw-exit\"><svg class=\"bsw-ico bsw-ico-exit\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.6\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M14 4h4.5A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 20 5.5v13a1.5 1.5 0 0 1-1.5 1.5H14\"\/><path d=\"M10 16.5 5.5 12 10 7.5M5.5 12H16\"\/><\/svg><span>In danger right now?<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/crisis-support\/\">Bloom\u2019s crisis support is free, and a person answers<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":17,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4417","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomministries.org\/swap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}