AFTER my visit to the Stadium of Light, we returned up the A19 to the National Glass Centre - also in Sunderland - ready to enjoy a family-style afternoon outing. The brochure had been requested in advance, (always a good idea), and in it were many helpful references for people with disabilities: "The centre is wheelchair accessible throughout, with lift access to both floors. There are toilets accessible to wheelchair users on both levels," it said.

"Guide dogs are welcome. Large print copies of National Glass Centre literature are available on request from the reception desk. We are happy to supply Braille translations, though we would appreciate the request in advance of the visit. The centre will provide escorted tours of the building for people with visual impairments if notified in advance."

Now that is more like it! This is the sort of advance information we need. Yes, there could be more, such as whether a wheelchair/power chair is available for hire, but at least there is an acknowledgement of the wide range of needs to be catered for and a genuine attempt to anticipate them.

Parking was a cinch, directly in front of the totally accessible entrance, not to mention the totally accessible roof. Surely, this is the world's only building where you could get onto the roof in your wheelchair. Reassuringly, one of the two sets of accessible toilets is by the entrance. These are clean with an adjustable hand-wash basin (very useful) and handily placed at the start of your tour. Next stop was the reception desk where my wife learnt to her dismay that as my pusher, she was officially an "enabler". We struggled to think of a better name for a helper/pusher/facilitator so we settled for keeping the status quo.

We also learnt that there would be an activity that the children joinc in, allowing me and my enabler to have a quiet coffee together. But first we took the lift to the lower level, where we could get access to the promenade along the banks of the Wear and have our picnic. Here, there are benches overlooking the river where nosy people-watchers like us could enjoy the stream of joggers and cyclists passing by, eating our packed lunch.

Refreshed and ready for action, we returned to the start of the Glass Tour which was an enticing mix of a colourful history of glass-making in Sunderland and interactive displays. I could get to most displays in my wheelchair but struggled with one or two. One was Micro World (involving looking through a microscope) and another was Seeing into Space (looking through telescopes). These, however, were the exceptions.

Soon it was time for the girls to go their activity - biscuit making for an hour - and for the adults to retire to the Throwing Stones restaurant for a breather. Everything was accessible by wheelchair in the restaurant but I was a bit disappointed when a waitress removed my seat to make room for the wheelchair without asking me first which I would like to sit on. The chair, once retrieved, allowed me to transfer from my wheelchair and feel more relaxed. Everything went smoothly after this and the food was excellent.

The girls had had a great time making biscuits and we were all refreshed and ready for the tour of the glass factory and a glass-making demonstration. Some clever design work means that the route through the factory is effortless in a wheelchair and the demonstration area offers fine views of the action, backed up by screens for close-ups.

Our tour finished with a visit to the Glass Shop where we could all move freely around the displays in an atmosphere as laid-back as moving amongst glass with children can be.

FACT FILE:

National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland, SR6 0GL.

Tel: 0191-515 5555

Entrance fee: £3 includes entrance for disabled person and their "enabler".

NOTICE BOARD:

Durham City: Thanks to Mr Suddes for his e-mail detailing a less than enjoyable wheelchair trip of Durham City but also including useful hints on getting down alongside the river. Readers can access this e-mail and give us feedback on their experiences on www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/leisure/access/comments.html

Sunderland AFC:

We received another welcome e-mail from Philip Steele, Sunderland fan and member of Wear Valley Disability Access Forum, giving details of how he successfully gains access in his wheelchair to the Stadium of Light for matches. Read the message in full on www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/leisure/access/comments.html

Stockton Riverside Millenium Bridge:

I recently dared myself to go by wheelchair from the Riverside Road level of this new bridge to the Castlegate Shopping Centre. The gradient was surprisingly gentle with periodic refuges where a breather can be had. Great care is needed on the descent, though, and I would recommend having a friend standing by until you are confident you can manage it alone. How have other users found this? Let us know.

London Cycle Campaign:

The group produce a booklet, All Ability Cycling Guide, which gives excellent insight into cycling with a disability. It is full of information on how disabled people can get into cycling through a range of specially-adapted bikes, trikes and tandems. For details call 020 7928 7220.