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
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…
A city’s living room
Nicolas Bosetti, Richard Brown, Erica Belcher and Mario Washington-Ihieme for Centre for London Public London: the regulation, management and use of public spaces Publication date: 2019 Ranking: useful We’ve used the opening line from the report to describe how spaces…
Tagged with: inclusive access, placemaking, public realm, public space management
Posted in Service Provision, Urban Design
Posted in Service Provision, Urban Design
Mobile tech and disabled people
Stephen Thompson, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Mobile technology and inclusion of persons with disabilities Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful In their words: “This K4D Emerging Issues report highlights research and emerging evidence that show how mobile-enabled services can help…
Tagged with: alternative formats, disability, inclusive access, Independent living
Posted in Accessible Information, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Service Provision
Later living – policy and design for providers
ULI Urban Land Institute Later Living: Housing with Care Publication date: 2019 Ranking: useful In their words: “The ULI guide sets out best practice and innovation within this emerging sector for funders, developers, architects, and operators… The report also outlines…
Tagged with: age, design, facilities management, Independent living, planning
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
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
Housing our ageing population
Local Government Association (LGA) Housing our ageing population – learning from councils meeting the housing need of our aging population Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful The report contains a number of case studies which highlight four key themes: Having a…
Tagged with: age, Case Study, Independent living
Posted in Housing, Planning, Project Management, Service Provision
Posted in Housing, Planning, Project Management, Service Provision
Building better care homes
Care Inspectorate Building better care homes for adults – Design, planning and construction considerations for new or converted care homes for adults Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential – Scotland In their words: “This guidance has been completely revised in light…
Tagged with: care homes, older people
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Service Provision
Accessibility and adaptability of housing
Housing LIN Accessibility and adaptability Publication date: 2017 Ranking: useful Here are resources on housing accessibility and adaptability of housing which are available from the Housing Learning Improvement Network (Housing LIN). Information is available on accessible and adaptable, new and…
Tagged with: design, disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living, planning
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
Posted in Housing, Planning, Service Provision
Working for age friendly communities
Centre for Aging Publication date: various Ranking: useful Age friendly community In their own words: “In age-friendly communities, people of all ages actively participate, it is easy for people to stay connected, active and healthy in later life, and appropriate…
Tagged with: age, Dementia, health, Independent living, planning
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Service Provision, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Planning, Service Provision, Urban Design
Why don’t women cycle
Various sources Publication dates: various, 2017 Ranking: useful There is a gender gap in cycling which various across different countries. These articles show what some of the issues may be and what physical design barriers need to be addressed. As…
Design toolkit
MediaLAB Amsterdam Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful This toolkit sets out in detail all the various stages to design from initial ideas to implementation looking at what needs to be considered and how it should be carried out. Stages include,…
Tagged with: Co-design, design, design methods
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Project Management, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Project Management, Service Provision
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
Life and times of a BSL interpreter at Glastonbury Festival
Here’s an edited account of one of Deafinite’s interpreters working with DeafZone at the 2017 festival. Download the Glastonbury BSL story For a copy in an alternative format or language please write to: Deafinite Interpreters 50 Topsham Road…
Tagged with: Deaf, festivals, inclusive access, leisure
Posted in Accessible Information, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Service Provision
Inclusive service provision
British Standards Institute (BSi) Inclusive service provision BS 18477:2010 Requirements for identifying and responding to consumer vulnerability In their words: “All consumers are different, with a wide range of needs, abilities and personal circumstances. These differences can place some in a…
Tagged with: accessible services, inclusive services
Posted in Events & Meetings, Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Events & Meetings, Private Sector, Service Provision
Web accessibility
British Standards Institute (BSi) Web accessibility Publication date: November 2010 Ranked: essential Guidance setting out the technical requirements for all organisations to ensure their websites are fully accessible to disabled people with a range of impairments. To obtain a…
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
Dementia-friendly housing charter
Alzheimers Society Dementia-friendly housing charter Publication date: March 2017 Ranking: useful In their words: “This.. charter seeks to make the housing sector including housing organisations, corporate bodies and sector professionals aware of the challenges of living with dementia so that…
How to write an Access Statement
VisitEngland VisitBritain Accessibility Guides Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential In their words: “An Accessibility Guide is produced by tourism operators to provide potential visitors with important accessibility information about a venue, property or service. The guide enables individuals with accessibility…
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
Chief Fire Officers Association/Home Office Publication date: 2006 Ranking: essential Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: a short guide to making your premises safe from fire The Order is designed to provide a minimum fire safety standard in all non…
Tagged with: fire and evacuation, means of escape
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
Diversity: why it matters to designers
Canon Australia 6 Photographers Find 6 Different Ways To Shoot The Same Man. Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful As a part of a Canon advertising campaign called “Decoy” six photographers were given different briefs to photograph the same man, entirely…
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
Library of the future
Michaela Cavanagh, CityLab, The Atlantic. A library of the future arrives in Denmark Publication date: December 2016 Ranking: useful Described as less of place for books and more a space for people the article highlights how a key issue in…
Tagged with: age, consultation, inclusion
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
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…
The purple pound
VisitEngland Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful The purple pound: volume and value of accessible tourism in England Facts and figures on the economic benefits of accessible tourism and accommodation venues. Download the information here at the VisitEngland website More access…
Tagged with: accommodation, business, purple pound, tourism
Posted in Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Private Sector, Service Provision
Why you can’t ignore dementia and tourism
National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful Dementia: Why is it important for tourism? In their words: “This brief guide, is designed to give businesses in the visitor economy advice, information and resources on becoming dementia friendly. The NCTA has produced…
Tagged with: business, Dementia, inclusive access
Posted in Accommodation, Health, Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Accommodation, Health, Private Sector, Service Provision
What is dementia?
Alzheimer’s Society Publication date: 2013 (review due August 2016) Ranking: essential What is dementia? This factsheet explains what dementia is, including the causes and symptoms, and how it is diagnosed and treated. It also looks at some of the different…
Winning more visitors!
Visit England Winning more visitors Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful This guide is aimed at businesses and destination managers. It sets out how to ensure websites are fully accessible and the sort of information that should be provided. Download a…
Building inclusion
Andrew Holdsworth-Wild, Jayne Earnscliffe and Jo Verrent Building inclusion: physical access guidance for the arts Publication date: First published 2008, updated 2013. Ranking: useful In their words: “(The) guidelines represent Arts Council best practice and are broadly based on BS8300:2001 and…
You, Equality law and your community group
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) What equality law means for your community group Publication date: 2014 Ranking: essential This guide is one of a series written by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to explain what you must do…
You, Equality law and your business
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) What equality law means for your business Publication date: 2014 Ranking: essential This guide is one of a series written by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to explain what you must do to…
Building better places
House of Lords Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment. Building Better Places Publication date: February 2016 Ranking: useful This report covers the findings of the Select Committee. The Committee commented: “(the) …cumulative effect of progressively diluting the capacity…
Tagged with: access, design, disability, housing, inclusive access, planning
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Private Sector, Service Provision
Dementia care and LGBT communities
National Care Forum (NCF) and the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), working with the National LGB&T Partnership Dementia care and LGBT communities: A good practice paper April 2016 In their own words… “The UK is home to an estimated 1.2…
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…
Arts access guides
Produced by Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA), (responsibilities now transferred to the Arts Council). Disability Portfolio Publication date: 2003 Ranking: useful The Disability Portfolio is a collection of 12 access guides. They were produced originally to meet the growing need…
Tagged with: arts, audits, consultation, induction loops, learning disability
Posted in Arts, Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
Posted in Arts, Design Standards (Buildings), Service Provision
Access survey of galleries and arts venues
Arts Council of Wales Disability Access Survey of Revenue Funded Venues and Galleries Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful Key findings include addressing access to information, improvements to overcome specific barriers faced by Deaf people and making sure all venues have appropriate…
Wayfinding for healthcare facilities
efm standards – NHS and Dept. of Health Effective Wayfinding and Signing Systems: Guidance for Healthcare Facilities Publication date: 2005 Ranking: useful This document replaces the 1984 edition of HTM 65 “Signs.” It describes ways of improving wayfinding around healthcare sites. It…
Tagged with: health, hospitals
Posted in Accessible Information, Auditing, Service Provision, Signage
Posted in Accessible Information, Auditing, Service Provision, Signage
Setting up a Polling Station
The Electoral Commission Setting up a Polling Station Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential Written as a concise bullet point guide, this fact sheet guides anyone running a polling station through the required features they must consider to ensure the building…
Small venues – big changes!
Guardian Music blog How small venues can make big changes for disabled fans and artists The music charity Attitude Is Everything has signed up its 100th venue to its Charter of Best Practice. Mystery Jets frontman Blaine Harrison explains how…
Dementia does not discriminate
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia (APPG) Dementia does not discriminate – the experiences of black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities Publication date: July 2013 Ranking: useful The report states the number of individuals with dementia from these communities will increase…
Great places to go
Case studies – index North Somerset Equality and Diversity Team Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful Here are both buildings and spaces that show how good inclusive design can be achieved in practice. The cases are not all brand new buildings and…
Tagged with: Case Study, design, inclusive access
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Project Management, Service Provision
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Health, Project Management, Service Provision
Case study 2: North Somerset Town Hall
North Somerset Council Equality and Diversity Team Art of combining steps and a lift in one Publication date: 2014 Ranking: Useful The case studies aim to show inclusive design in practice All the case studies can be found in our…
Tagged with: Case Study, design, inclusive access
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Project Management, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Project Management, Service Provision
Rural ageing: research summary report
Department for Enviroment Food and Rural Affairs Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful This report provides an overview summary of key findings, drawn from across the research as a whole. Combining insight across all stages of research, it draws out key general…
Ways for staff to consult people with dementia about services
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Publication date: 2001 Ranking: useful Previous research has demonstrated that, given the right support, individuals with dementia can express opinions about services. However, staff need help with identifying and using opportunities for meaningful consultation. This study by…
Tagged with: design, inclusive access, Independent living
Posted in Consultation, Health, Service Provision
Posted in Consultation, Health, Service Provision
Fire safety risk assessment: means of escape for disabled people
Publication date: 2007 Ranking: essential Guidance about completing a fire safety risk assessment for people responsible for providing means of escape for disabled people. This guide is a supplement to be read alongside the other risk assessment guides in this…
Tagged with: business, disability, fire and evacuation
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide
Dept. of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Publication date: 2003 Ranking: useful The primary objective of this guide is to ensure the planning system in England successfully and consistently delivers inclusive environments as an integral part of the development process.…
Tagged with: age, design, gender, inclusive access, planning, women
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Service Provision
Posted in Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Gender, Service Provision
Best practice guidelines for accessible cinemas for disabled people
Cinema Exhibitors Association Ltd (CEA) Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful Produced in consultation with a wide array of relevant stakeholders, this document set out a comprehensive view not just of the requirements placed on cinema owners and operators by legislation,…
Tagged with: access, disability
Posted in Arts, Design Standards (Buildings), Private Sector, Service Provision
Posted in Arts, Design Standards (Buildings), Private Sector, Service Provision
You’re Welcome – self assessment tollkit
NHS Publication date: 2009 Ranking: useful A self-assessment tool originally for NHS services to see what to do to be “young people friendly” and more appropriate to the needs of young people, as detailed in the NHS quality criteria. The toolkit…
The Access Officer 