For those, more enlightened businesses and organisations that are seeking to improve their accessibility, by providing detailed information and making adaptions and improvements in their spaces, it is often a question of “where do I start?” Our work also focuses on how we can provide regular support to those organisations either through specific advice, consultancy, training and advocacy.
Access Audits
An Access Audit is an assessment or survey of physical and non-physical barriers to access using specific measurable criteria, at a specific moment in time. These criteria are designed to observe the ‘user friendliness’ of a building from the point of view of disabled visitors or employees and to give recommendations or suggestions for improvements. The survey findings are then written into an audit report using either a narrative or excel spreadsheet format with recommendations and priorities. Recommendations are based on what is reasonable for you to do, as is required by the Equality Act 2010 (which supersedes the Disability Discrimination Act 1995).
Walk and Talk Surveys
A ‘walk and talk’ survey is a practical, onsite survey of a venue/environment conducted by one of access and inclusive design consultants or trained surveyors alongside key members of the host organisation. More practical in nature than an Access Audit, able to look at specific areas, answer questions and provide immediate feedback. Host members take notes of the key aspects of the survey which can then be reviewed by the consultant or surveyor and, if required best practice guidance drawings can be added.
Best Practice Guidance Reports
A spreadsheet-based report, contrasting the information collected by our surveyors against national best practice BS8300:2018. They provide a prioritised index of potential improvements with an approximation of costs. The demand for these Reports has been driven by Estates and Facilities colleagues within our current partners. The emphasis has been on the production of information that can be of immediate practical support.
Recommendations Matrix
This report provides an overview of an estate. Using the information collected by the surveyors and highlighting where key aspects of accessibility apply and don’t apply within the different venues across an estate portfolio. Often used in the risk management process, these reports can be updated each year, essentially tracking accessibility improvements across an estate.
Design Reviews
Drawing and design reviews provided detailed assessment of proposals to assess how a building or place can better meet the needs of all the people who will use it. The process involves a systematic review of the current design/drawing plans by an expert access consultant experienced in access and inclusive design standards. Comments can either be provided as a narrative report or as a table.
Design Reviews
Our Design Guides provide you with bespoke inclusive design principles relative to your service or environment. This can then be used for any construction project, whether new build, refurbishment or material alterations. This is a collaborative process led by an access and inclusive design consultant alongside the client to identify those key principles and the practical applications of them.
Retained Support & Advice Programme
With a team of 35 trained surveyors and access and inclusive design consultants, our Retainer programme can be available 5 days per week to provide advice and guidance, answer queries or concerns and respond to issues. This programme provides the assurance to partner organisations that issues can be dealt with swiftly and comprehensively and therefore managing risk more effectively.
Training
We have a dedicated online training module targeted at organisations seeking to improve staff awareness around disability.
We are also able to offer bespoke training and workshops in all aspects of access and inclusive design, including (but not limited to)
- Disability equalities and awareness
- Disability legislation
- Building Regulations and best practice relating to access and inclusive design