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…
Blog Archives
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…
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
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…
Tagged with: disability, Parliamentary report, Transport
Posted in Disability, Service Provision, Uncategorized
Posted in Disability, Service Provision, Uncategorized
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 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…
Tagged with: design, disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Urban Design
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…
Around the toilet
Around the toilet Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful This project approaches a fundamental issue in a very different, but very informative way. Use this link to their web site to find out more or read on. In their words: “Around…
Briefing – Accessible housing standards 2015
Habinteg Accessible housing standards 2015 – briefing Publication date: November 205 Ranking: essential Using a simple chart and symbol format this guide runs through the changes between the Lifetime Homes standards and the latest 2015 Building Regulations Approved Document M4 (2),…
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
So how good is tactile paving?
Rodney A. Hunter, Hannah Consulting. Slip resistance of tactile surface indicators Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful This Australian piece of research assesses the slip resistance of tactile paving when wet and in varying conditions from brand new to very worn.…
Tagged with: disability, public realm, tactile paving
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
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
Breaking point
Muscular Dystrophy UK Breaking Point: the crisis in accessible housing and adaptations Publication date: 2016 Ranking: useful Accessible housing and adaptations are vital in enabling disabled people and their families to have the same quality of life and independence as…
LLDC Inclusive Design Standards
London Legacy Development Corporation LLDC Inclusive Design Standards Publication date: March 2013 Ranking: useful This document sets out the design standards used by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) as a part of the Olympic Legacy process. It develops the guidance…
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
Housing standards 2015
Habinteg HA Briefing: 7 points about the new Housing Standards 2015 Publication date: October 2015 Ranking: essential This valuable briefing from Habinteg explains the policy context and implementation plan for the new Housing Standards. It will be of particular use to anyone…
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
Crossings and pedestrian walking speeds
Transport Research Laboratory Report prepared by M cRabtree, C Lodge and P Emmerson. A Review of Pedestrian Walking Speeds and Time Needed to Cross the Road Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful Living Streets commissioned Transport Research Laboratory to bring together…
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…
What’s your place really like?
Arts Council England Disability access – a good practice guide for the arts. Publication date: 2004 Ranking: useful Originally written in the context of Lottery funding and the arrival of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, this document still offers…
Small plot, big technology
Papworth Trust Small plot, big technology in accessible bungalow design Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful. The Papworth Trust have constructed two space-saving bungalows in Papworth Everard in Cambridgeshire. They are an example of how to create accessible accommodation with a focus…
Tagged with: access, design, disability, housing, inclusive access, Independent living
Posted in Housing
Posted in Housing
National housing standards
Dept. for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Accessible housing standards Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential A range of new standards for the construction of residential development have been introduced. Many issues relating to the way they will be implemented and…
Outdoor Events Accessibility
Independent Street Arts Network. Produced by Attitude is Everything. Access Toolkit: Making outdoor arts events accessible to all Publication date: 2009 Ranking: essential The toolkit highlights simple measures that organisers can undertake to improve access to any outdoor event .…
Do you know who you’re speaking to?
Employers Forum on Disability Publication date: 2010 Ranking: useful Knowing your customer or client is invaluable to a designer or business. It allows you to tailor your service to their needs and ensure no discriminatory barriers are being created. This…
Accessible railway stations
A joint code of practice (CoP) by Dept. for Transport and Transport Scotland. Design standards for accessible railway stations. Publication date: 2015 Ranking: essential The document sets out the standards required for all infrastructure works at stations to ensure a…
Your cash, your access
Access to ATM’s: UK design guidelines Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) Publication date: 2004 Ranking: essential This is the definitive guide used by designers looking to ensure automatic telling machines – cash machines – are accessible to disabled people. It…
Tagged with: cash machines, disability, information kiosks
Posted in Accessible Information, Self Service Terminals
Posted in Accessible Information, Self Service Terminals
Hotels
British Standards Institute (BSi) PAS 88:2008 Guidance on accessibility of large hotel premises and hotel chains Publication date: 2008 Ranking: useful The document contains principles of good practice based on the duty to make reasonable adjustments and provide equal standards of service…
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…
More Lifetime Homes
Housing LIN Case studies on accessible housing design. Publication date: 2015 Ranking: useful The link here is to the Housing LIN’s case studies on accessible design, together with details of housing design standards produced by Habinteg and the Centre for…
Fire Safety Risk Assessment – Means of escape for disabled people
HM Government Publication date: March 2007 Ranking: useful This is a supplementary guide and should be read alongside other guides in the Fire Safety Risk Assessment series.It provides additional information on accessibility and means of escape for disabled people. The…
Making your project accessible for disabled people
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Publication date: December 2012 Ranking: useful This guidance has been written to support bids for funding to the HLF. It looks at how it is possible to improve projects so that disabled people, (visitors, volunteers or staff),…
Tagged with: design, disability, heritage
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Historic Buildings & Landscapes
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Historic Buildings & Landscapes
Local Transport Note 1/11
Department for Transport Publication date: 2011 Ranking: essential This Local Transport Note (LTN) focuses on shared space in high street environments but many of its principles will apply in other settings. It places particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement and inclusive…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access, public realm, Transport
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Highways, Urban Design
Neighbourhoods for life Checklist
Housing Corporation Publication date: 2004 Ranking: useful This checklist gives a range of design recommendations to help housing associations improve the quality of life of older people with dementia in the outdoor environment. How to view a copy To…
Tagged with: disability, housing, Independent living, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Housing, Landscaping, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Housing, Landscaping, Planning, Urban Design
State of Access Report 2014
Attitude Publication date: 2014 Ranking: useful This report gives you an idea of what access is like to music venues for deaf and disabled people. Have a look as well at their case studies on the Case Studies Index page …
Tagged with: arts, disability, festivals, hearing impairment, tourism
Posted in Arts, Disability, Events & Meetings, Hearing Equipment
Posted in Arts, Disability, Events & Meetings, Hearing Equipment
Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors (I’DGO)
I’DGO project Publication date: various Ranking: useful This is a link to the valuable website resource funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a part of a project that was established in 2003. I’DGO has a longstanding record…
Tagged with: age, design, disability, inclusive access, Independent living, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Health, Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Dementia: design and built environment
Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN) Publication date: updated periodically Ranking: useful Follow this link to the Housing LIN website which offers a range of publications and events on housing design and older people with information available on dementia. Other housing and care topics…
Tagged with: design, disability, planning, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Disability
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
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
Disability Design Standards
Publication date: updated 2013 Ranking: essential The North Somerset Council design sheets summarise design guidance for disabled people and are based on national guidance, good practice and the views of local disabled people. They form a part of the council’s policy…
Tagged with: design, disability, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability
Lifetime Homes and Part M 2004
Habinteg and Joseph Rowntree Foundation A comparison of each of the 16 Lifetime Homes Design Criteria with the relevant requirements of the Building Regulation Approved Document M (Part M) is listed under each Lifetime Home Criterion 1-16. This comparison will assist in the assessment of…
Meeting Checklist and Venue Guide 2013
North Somerset Council Publication date: 2013 Ranking: useful The document sets out the requirements of the council for ensuring all meetings are held in accessible locations and run in ways that are inclusive, wherever it is reasonable and practicable to do…
Tagged with: disability, meetings and venues
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Disability, Service Provision
North Somerset Equality Access Policy
Publication date: 2013 Ranking: Essential (North Somerset Council) This document sets out North Somerset Council’s policy for achieving accessible buildings, spaces and transport for everyone. It also addresses the related theme of accessible information. It provides a framework for the…
Tagged with: access, disability
Posted in Accessible Information, Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Service Provision
Posted in Accessible Information, Consultation, Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Disability, Service Provision
Changing Places: the practical guide
Changing Places Consortium Publication date: 2013 Ranking: essential The document aims to provide practical guidance on the design and management of a Changing Places toilet, as well as an understanding of why they are needed and who is likely to…
Guidance on the use of Tactile Paving Surfaces
Department of Transport Publication date: 2007 Ranking: essential Guidance on the use and layout of tactile paving in pedestrian environments. How to view a copy Follow this link to the central government website to download a copy To obtain a copy…
BS 9999:2008 – Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings
British Standards Institute (BSi) Publication date: 2008 Ranking: essential BS 9999:2008 is the fire safety code of practice for building design, management and use. It is based on government guidance and provides a best practice framework for fire safety. The standard…
Tagged with: disability, fire and evacuation
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
British Standard BS5888-8 Fire precautions in the design, construction and use of buildings,
British Standard Publication date: 1999 Ranking: useful – superceded, see below This part of BS 5588 provided guidance for designers, the building construction team and building managements on incorporating into new buildings, or buildings that were being altered, measures that…
Tagged with: disability, fire and evacuation
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
Posted in Building Regulations, Design Standards (Buildings), Disability
Equal access to electoral procedures – good practice guidance
Electoral Commission Publication date: 2004 Ranking: useful This good practice guidance was produced as part of the Commission’s review of equal access to electoral procedures. The full report and recommendations in relation to the legal framework were published in “Equal access…
Blue Badge Scheme – rights and responsibilities in England
Department of Transport Publication date: Updated May 2012 Ranking: essential This booklet explains the key repsponsibilities and rights for the use of the Blue Badge and importantly who it may be used by. More detailed information about the scheme is…
