A Guardian Cities article by Emily Yates “People aren’t disabled, their city is”: inside Europe’s most accessible city. Publication date: May 2019 Ranking: useful Article describes writer’s experience as a disabled person in travelling around the Dutch city of Breda…
Blog Archives
“People aren’t disabled their city is…”
Tagged with: disability, historic buildings, inclusive access, public realm, ramps
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
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
Disabled Facilities Grant review 2018
University of the West of England (UWE) Authors: Sheila Mackintosh, Paul Smith, Helen Garrett, Maggie Davidson, Gareth Morgan, and Rachel Russell Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and other adaptations External REview: Main Report Publication date: 2018 Ranking: essential In their words:…
Tagged with: DFG, disability, Disabled Facilities Grant, housing, Independent living
Posted in Housing
Posted in Housing
Kerb, what kerb?
Accessibility Research Group, University College London. Effective Kerb Heights for Blind and Partially Sighted People Publication date: 2009 Ranking: essential Commissioned by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), this research report looks at the effect of removing kerb heights in…
Shared space – DPTAC summary
Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) DPTAC position on shared space Publication date: June 2018 Ranking: essential This page on the Government’s website provides a summary of key reports and sets out DPTAC’s position. It provides some general observations and…
Tagged with: disability, public realm, shared space, Transport
Posted in Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Posted in Highways, Planning, Urban Design
Building for Everyone
National Disability Authority Building for Everyone – a universal design approach Publication date: 2012 Ranking: useful In their words: “… provides comprehensive best practice guidance on how to design, build and manage buildings and spaces so that they can be readily…
Tagged with: design, disability, inclusive access, public realm
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Buildings), Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
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
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.…
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
Standards make the world accessible for all
British Standards Institute BSi documentary – Building accessibility Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential 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
Case study 7: Deaf Cafe
North Somerset Council Choosing a place to meet Publication date: December 2017 Ranking: useful Conversations about “work” happen everywhere all day, all the time which makes this case study about meeting up relevant to us all. Every month a group…
Tagged with: Case Study, Co-design, consultation, disability, meetings and venues, North Somerset Council
Posted in Accessible Information, Events & Meetings
Posted in Accessible Information, Events & Meetings
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
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
Accessible Street Charter
Equality and Diversity Team, North Somerset Council Publication date: 2017 Ranking: essential The charter is based on work undertaken by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), to promote the concept of charters which set out the key principles…
Tagged with: Dementia, disability, inclusive access, public realm, visual impairment, women
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), Urban Design
Posted in Design Standards (Environment), 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
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…
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…
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…
Tagged with: core design guides, 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 2015 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…
