Access Auditor

Lancashire Disability Information Federation (LDIF) Access Audits

By the 1st October 2004 it is the duty of service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people visiting their premises.

Currently there are over 11.5 million registered disabled people in the UK

They have huge spending power

If only they could access services and business’s

We can help

A need has been identified to offer Access Audits to charitable and non-charitable organisations. Our auditor has undertaken training at the Centre of Accessible Environments and has an intrinsic interest and experience of people with disabilities.

Depending on the size of the building the audit normally requires a day visit, followed by a comprehensive written report with recommendations and illustrations conforming to BS8300 and the revised Part M Building Regulations (May 2004).

There is a charge for this service but we aim to keep this as reasonable as possible for one significant reason to encourage as many organisations as possible to be accessible to everyone.

What is an Access Audit?

An access audit is undertaken in order to ascertain the current and proposed accessibility to a building. An audit is the starting point for your organisation to be able to plan and carry out adjustments in a methodical and cost effective manner.

It is important to remember that access in this instance is not only related to physical access to the building, but also encompasses access to information and services, evacuation procedures, Health & Safety issues, the design of printed material etc.

Any audit should include not only physical disability, but also mental impairments, manual dexterity, visual, speech and hearing impairments, the ability to concentrate on and/or understand information given in a variety of formats.

It is paramount that building design incorporates the needs of people with disabilities wherever possible. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) ensures building owners, managers of buildings and occupiers of buildings take reasonable steps to alter or remove any physical feature of the building that affects movement around or access to information for people with disabilities.

Insurance companies are now adding the following condition to their policies

“Requires an access audit to be carried out to minimise the chance of insurance companies having to respond to claims. Alleging nervous shock and or mental injury by failing to meet the standards of the DDA”.
- Alliance Cornhill Insurance 03/04/2003

We have had a number of experiences where businesses contact organisations offering a free access audit and then encourage them to buy equipment supplied by the company, in order to comply with the legislation.

This could be expensive and not necessarily cater for the widest range of disabilities.

Examples of previous Audits

Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard

Camelot Theme Park

Consultative Work with Wyre & Fylde Borough Council

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Council for Voluntary Services (CVS)

Grade 2 listed building – office premises

Blackpool Theatre

Churches

Village Halls

Vocational Training Centres

If you would like to know more about how an access audit can benefit your organisation please call Rosemary on 01772 621633 or alternatively complete our access audit enquiry form.