North Somerset Council Equalities Team A summary and useful links for business Ranking: useful Publication date: August 2020 We have provided here a range of advice on access for disabled people on a range of issues. We will add and…
Blog Archives
Consultation with Deaf and disabled people
Interior Architecture and Design, University of Brighton Making Discursive Spaces Publication date: 2008 Ranking: useful This project and website explored new ways of developing more effective consultation methods. In their words: “Making Discursive Spaces hopes to open up disability and…
Booking a holiday as a disabled person
Independent Digital News & Media Limited The complete guide to booking a holiday as a disabled person Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful We’ve included this article to highlight the issues that disabled people face to give holiday and hotel accommodation…
Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods
Critical Dementia Network Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful The Memory-Friendly Neighbourhoods (MFN) programme ran in two phases between 2014 and 2017. They focused first, on what makes a good, lifelong, inclusive neighbourhood for a person whose life is…
Tagged with: Dementia, dementia friendly communities, inclusive access, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Planning, Urban Design
Data and evidence on impact of hearing loss in England
NHS England Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Guidance Publication date: June 2019 Ranking: useful In their words, what’s it about? “This guide brings together the available evidence and timely data on hearing loss so that local authorities and NHS commissioners can…
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs: the rules
Gov.uk Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs: the rules Publication date: current Ranking: useful This post contains the Government guidance and also a guide produced by the National Shopmobility Federation. In summary, “Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs come in 2 categories:…
Hidden no more: Dementia and disability
All-party Parliamentary Group on dementia Hidden no more: Dementia and disability Publication date: 2019 Ranking: useful A good read for who? local authorities, employers transport providers and housing organisations. In their words: “Dementia is a disability, according to domestic law…
What’s a veg peeler and a ramp got in common?
Fast Company Oxo Cookware Company The untold story of the vegetable peeler that changed the world Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful Inclusive design. Read on. “One of the most important moments in the history of industrial design occurred in 1990,…
How to make your service welcoming for disabled people
Business disability forum Welcoming disabled customers Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful In their words: “The spending power of disabled people in the UK is around £249 billion per year and set to increase as the number of people living with…
Tagged with: business, customer service, disability, Equality Act 2010, inclusive access
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Cashiers do Blue Peter!
North Somerset Council Case study 9: Accessible cashiers desks Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful To meet the needs of both staff and customers, cashiers at Sheffield City Council helped design the cashiers desks for the then brand new Howden House…
Posted in Disability, Service Provision
Living with dementia and accessing green spaces
Natural England: P. Clark; N. Mapes and S. Preston. Greening dementia Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful This is a literature review of the benefits and barriers facing individuals living with dementia in accessing the natural environment and local greenspace. It also…
Homes of people with sight loss
Thomas Pocklington Trust Daylighting and windows in homes of people with sight loss Publication date: 2010 Ranking: useful In their words: “This report presents findings from a …review of research on daylighting and windows in the homes of people with sight loss,…
Housing disabled people
Equality and Human Rights Commission Housing disabled people – Britain’s hidden crisis Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential In their words: “In December 2016, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) launched a formal inquiry on housing for disabled people.…
Tagged with: design, disability, housing, housing adaptations, Independent living, planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Accessible housing in North Somerset
North Somerset Council Accessible and adaptable housing in North Somerset. Publication date: April 2018 Ranking: essential North Somerset Council adopted a planning policy in 2016 requiring accessible and adaptable housing to be provided as a part of all new housing…
Tagged with: design, disability, Independent living, Part M, planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
Posted in Disability, Housing, Planning
The Awkward interview – Alex Brooker
BBC Television Publication date: 4th August 2015 Ranking: useful The “End the Awkward” campaign looks at the way able people interact with disabled people and the issues that a lack of awareness creates. To obtain a copy in an…
Tagged with: awareness, disability, Equality Act 2010, Independent living
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
DIY access guide to music venues
Attitude is Everything Attitude is Everything’s DIY access guide Publication date: 2018 Ranking: useful A guide for bands, artists and promoters on how to gigs and tours more accessible for Deaf and disabled people. The guide includes a quick checklist…
Dementia villages
The Guardian Publication date: March 2018. Ranking: useful Shops, cafes and round the clock care: life in a “dementia village” This project aims to construct a self contained community for people living with dementia in Kent. Modelled on a concept…
Do housing adaptations improve later life?
Centre for Ageing Better, University of the West of England, Bristol and Building Research Establishment Publication date: November 2017 Ranking: useful The role of home adaptations in improving later life In their words: “The review aims to provide evidence to make…
Government response: report of House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. HMSO. Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment Publication date: March 2018 Ranking: useful This is the Government’s response to the inquiry by the Committee.…
A Guide Dog’s LIfe
BBC Scotland Publication date: February 2018 Ranking: essential Crossing the road: a Guide Dog’s life Video highlights the lack of understanding by many drivers of the needs of visually impaired people. This video has a spoken commentary and English subtitles. To…
How adaptations can improve later life
Centre for Aging Better, University of the West of England and Building Research Establishment. The role of adaptations in improving later life. Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful In their words: “Very little attractive, affordable housing has been built in the right…
Standards make the world accessible for all
British Standards Institute BSi documentary – Building accessibility Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful Why are accessibility standards important? How do standards help designers? How can we make the World Wide Web wider? With a new documentary on accessibility, BSI Group…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Review of accessible hotel stock in London
Grant Thorton, Colin Buchanan, David Bonnett Associates and Inclusion London for Design for London (DfL)/London Development Agency (LDA) and Greater London Authority (GLA). Accessible Hotels in London Publication date: March 2010 Ranking: useful This report was commissioned to provide evidence to inform a new London…
Tagged with: accommodation, disability, hotels, inclusive access
Posted in Accommodation, Disability, Planning
Posted in Accommodation, Disability, Planning
Design for dementia
Bill Halsall, Halsall Lloyd Partnership and Dr. Rob MacDonald, Liverpool Moores University. Design for Dementia, Volume 1 – A Guide Design for Dementia, Volume 2 – Research Projects Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful In their words: ‘Design for Dementia’ is a…
Tagged with: Dementia, design, housing, Independent living
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Office life for Deaf people
Charlie Swinbourne, The Guardian What’s it like to work in an office when you are Deaf? Publication date: 31 May 2012 Ranking: useful Explains many of the barriers faced by Deaf people when working in a variety of types of…
Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment
House of Commons Select Committee: Women and Equalities Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential Download a copy here from the Parliament website The report sets out the Select Committee’s findings and recommendations on…
Tagged with: access, disability, inclusive access, Independent living, legislation
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Highways, Paving, Urban Design
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Highways, Paving, Urban Design
Code of practice for wheelchair passport schemes
British Standards Institute (BSi) Code of practice (CoP) for wheelchair passport schemes Publication date: 2013 Ranking: essential This CoP promotes the use of a passport scheme which would include basic details required by wheelchair users to enable their safe travel…
Tagged with: disability, inclusive access, public transport, Transport
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability
Why the UK voting system must change
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Turned out 2017 Published: 2017 Ranking: essential Whilst all voters have the right to vote independently and in secret the RNIB’s research into the last UK General Election has shown “…breakdowns in the current voting…
Tagged with: elections, polling stations, visual impairment, voting
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Service Provision
Managing Accessible Toilets
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) Managing Accessible Toilets Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential This guidance sets out the need for accessible toilets, the legislative background and the standards for the various different types. Importantly, it highlights 10 key good practice…
Tagged with: management practice, toilets
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Deafspace
Hansel Bauman (hbhm architects) in conjunction with ASL Deaf Studies Department, Gallaudet University. The DeafSpace Project (DSP) Publication date: 2005 Ranking: useful In their words: “Our built environment, largely constructed by and for hearing individuals, presents a variety of surprising challenges…
Digital accessibility
Government Digital Service, Cabinet Office Making your service accessible: an introduction Publication date: May 2016 Ranking: essential This forms part of the guidance to central government services to ensure that all services are digitally accessible to equality groups. It contains…
Tagged with: digital accessibility, websites
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Service Provision
The case for play
SENSE Making play inclusive: a toolkit for play settings Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful In their words: “For three months between September and November 2015, Sense undertook a public inquiry into the provision of play opportunities for children aged 0-5…
Does someone need your seat?
Aine Pennello, The Atlantic CityLab. Do you know who needs you subway seat? Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful Article discusses issues for people with unseen impairments who may need a seat on public transport with reference to the new Transport…
Being disabled in Britain
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Being disabled in Britain: a journey less equal Published: 2017 Ranked: useful In the EHRC’s words: “Being disabled in Britain is a review into disability inequality in Great Britain. It builds on the Equality and…
Tagged with: business, design, disability, disabled children, Equality Act 2010, health, housing, inclusive access, Transport
Posted in Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Disability, Service Provision
Education, estates and equality
Equality and Human Rights Commission (and former Disability Rights Commission). Two documents are posted here. It is important to read the historic guide in the context of the current guidance in the 2014 EHRC document. Estates: The Disability Discrimination Act…
Transport and disabled people
Access to transport for disabled people House of Commons Transport Committee 2013-14 Publication date: September 2013 Ranking: useful This Parliamentary report reviews the government’s progress on meeting its own action plan targets and those set out in law to meet…
TED goes designing for disability
TED ideas worth spreading A playlist of 10 videos all on subject of designing for disability from TED conferences around the world. In their words: “Good design — and smart technology — should fuel inclusivity. These talks show how tech…
Tagged with: design, disability, health, inclusive access, Independent living, visual impairment
Posted in Disability
Posted in Disability
Dementia and Town Planning
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Dementia and Town Planning – RTPI Practice Advice Publication date: January 2017 Ranking: useful In their own words… “This practice note gives advice on how good planning can create better environments for people living with dementia. It…
Tagged with: Dementia, disability, friendly communities, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Core disability design documents
Compiled by North Somerset Council Equality and Diversity Team. Publication date: December 2016 Ranking: essential These documents are the key ones which we feel underpin most design work from service delivery to transport, interior design or the public realm. Disability…
The Equality Act and disabled people
House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability The Equality Act 2010: the impact on disabled people Published: March 2016 Ranking: essential In the committee’s words: “The Equality Act 2010 is the legislative framework. We have been examining whether it adequately…
Autism and public transport
Ambitious about Autism Using public transport Ranking: useful Publication date: June 2015 Public transport for someone with autism can pose particular challenges that complicate the journey if a dedicated taxi isn’t available or you don’t have access to car. This…
Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020
Produced by Williams Lea for the Department of Health Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020 The former Prime Minister David Cameron launched the initial dementia challenge in 2012. The document sets out a number of goals…
Adapting your home
Age UK Adapting your home: Services and equipment to help you stay living at home Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful This useful guide is aimed at disabled people wanting to make adaptations or improvements to their homes to make them…
Tagged with: disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living
Posted in Disability, Housing
Posted in Disability, Housing
Making a house a home
Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) Making a house a home: Local Authorities and disabled adaptations Publication date: March 2016 Ranking: useful This report highlights some of the issues raised with the LGO when the process goes wrong, and the impact this…
Tagged with: access, disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living
Posted in Disability, Housing
Posted in Disability, Housing
BSI code of practice on dementia friendly communities
British Standards Institute BSI PAS 1365:2015 Code of Practice for the recognition of Dementia Friendly Communities Publication date: 2016 Ranking: essential This code of practice aims to help support existing communities and to inspire more areas to get involved in…
Customer service and people living with dementia
Alzheimer’s Society How to help people with dementia: a guide for customer facing staff Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful This guide gives key tips and guidance for staff in how to assist customers living with dementia and explains some of the…
Tagged with: customers, Reception staff
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Events & Meetings
Posted in Accessible Information, Disability, Events & Meetings
Repealed legislation under Equality Act 2010
A number of pieces of equality and discrimination legislation were repealed when the Equality Act 2010 came into force. It is unfortunately too common a mistake by construction and environmental professionals to still refer to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995…
Tagged with: Equality Act 2010, legislation
Posted in Disability, Gender, Race, Religion & Belief, sexual orientation
Posted in Disability, Gender, Race, Religion & Belief, sexual orientation
Shared space: is it evidence based?
University of the West of England (UWE): Simon Moody and Steve Melia Shared space – research, policy and problems Publication date: 2012 Ranking: essential The authors’ introduction states: “Shared space is an approach to street design which minimises demarcations between vehicles…
Tagged with: access, disability, Independent living, planning, public realm, Transport, visual impairment
Posted in Disability, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Disability, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Colour, contrast and perception
Keith Bright, Geoff Cook and John Harris; University of Reading. Colour selection and the Visually Impaired – A Design Guide for Building Refurbishment Publication date: 1997, updated 2004 Ranking: useful Report describes how visually impaired navigate buildings and how colour…
Tagged with: colour, inclusive access, visual impairment
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
Towards Accessible Housing Toolkit
Habinteg and Town and Country Planning Association Towards Accessible Housing Toolkit Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential The introduction states: “This toolkit has been assembled to help planners to plan and secure delivery of accessible homes.” The document describes: The process…
Tagged with: design, disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living, planning
Posted in Disability, Housing
Posted in Disability, Housing
The Access Officer 