Access Guide

An accessible environment is important to everyone. Access for disabled people is not just limited to physical access, for instance a ramp to an entrance door. It is important to remember that people need access to employment, education, transport, leisure activities etc. Access in this broader sense is covered by other sections of this guide.

This section looks at physical access to the environment including ramps and lifts. It has details of rules and regulations regarding access and also sources of information available locally and nationally.

Legislation & Design
Creating an Accessible Environment
Other Sources of Information
Contacts

Legislation and Design

The laws and regulations governing access and design of the physical environment have been developed in a haphazard fashion. The Disability Discrimination Act, which is covered in the Legislation section of this guide, goes some way to enforce the right of access for disabled people. There still remain several loopholes that allow many buildings to remain only partially accessible.

Part M (Access and Facilities for Disabled People) of the Building Regulations, provides builders and developers with the most wide-ranging guidance on access. The regulations state that new buildings should be ‘safe and convenient for disabled people to gain access to and within’. However, older and renovated buildings are not covered under Part M.

The Part M regulation covers such items as the design and construction of ramped and stepped approaches to building, size and type of entrance doors, the design and construction of ramps, steps and lifts within building and the size of internal doors. Also included is the design of suitable sanitary conveniences.

The British Standards 8300:2001 "Design of Buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of Disabled People - Code of Practice" offers further guidance to developers. Darlington Borough Council Building Control Service has a copy.

The Disability Discrimination Act has made it unlawful for a service provider to discriminate against a disabled person. Copies of the Act can be obtained from the Disability Rights Commission. Examples of discrimination may include deliberately not providing goods, facilities or services to a disabled person or providing goods and services at a lower standard than would be provided to a non-disabled person.

Service providers have to put in place practices, policies and procedures that avoid making their services 'unreasonably difficult' for disabled people to access. This should, for example, prevent a shop from obstructing an aisle with goods that makes it impossible for a wheelchair user to pass. It also ensures that, as far as it is deemed 'reasonable' a restaurant should make the menu available in a range of formats.

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Creating an Accessible Environment

Darlington Association on Disability facilitates an Access Interest Group that brings together disabled people with other individuals who are interested in access issues. The group works closely with Darlington Borough Council to promote access within the local Borough. The Access Interest Group aims to highlight good practice, involve disabled people, make people aware of access issues and concerns and promote the Disability Discrimination Act and other legislation. The group's work includes the campaign 'Pavements for People' and organising an annual Access award in partnership with Darlington Borough Council.

Darlington has an extensive network of wheelchair accessible routes and dropped kerbs. For details of wheelchair accessible routes contact or visit Darlington Association on Disability. The organisation also has a website that enables disabled people to use an interactive map of Darlington Town centre to locate wheelchair accessible shops and services.

The Centre for Accessible Environments works to improve the built environment to accommodate all users, including older people and disabled people. It offers an information and advisory service on design and technical matters, publishes guidelines and design sheets, administers a national register of architects with experience of designing for disabled people and runs an extensive training programme.

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Other Sources of Information

Other sections of the Darlington Association on Disability Information Guide may contain further information relevant to Access.

The Education section provides information on access to schooling and further education.

The Employment section gives details of support available for training and work.

The Housing section outlines housing and adaptations services.

The Legal Rights section gives general information on how to access legal advice, and how to make your voice heard.

The Mobility section looks at transport issues in more detail.

There are a number of local and national organisations providing broad information and advice resources. Please refer to this guide's Introduction for contact details.

Contact Darlington Association on Disability's Information Service for assistance with searching for information about any subject in this guide or for support in dealing with your information requests.

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Contacts

Centre for Accessible Environments
70 South Lambeth Road
London
SW8 1RL
Telephone and Minicom : 020 7840 0125
Fax : 020 7840 5811
E-mail : info@cae.org.uk
Website : www.cae.org.uk

Darlington Association on Disability
20-22 Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5PT
Telephone : 01325 489999
Fax : 01325 488188
Minicom : 01325 245061
Email : mail@darlingtondisability.org
Website : www.darlingtondisability.org
Town centre accessibility website : www.wheelygood.org

Darlington Borough Council
Building Control Service
Town Hall
Darlington
DL1 5QT
General Enquiries Tel: 01325 370820
Fax : 01325 38 617
Minicom :
E-mail : buildingcontrolenquiries@darlington.gov.uk
Website : www.darlington.gov.uk (follow links to building control)

Disability Rights Commission
DRC Helpline
FREEPOST MID02164
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 9BR
Telephone : 08457 622633
Fax : 08457 778878
Minicom : 08457 622644
E-mail : contact through website
Website : www.drc-gb.org

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