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DDA |
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The DDA and Accessibility |
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Accessibility is about understanding human perception and how people live. It is about quality of life for all and an inclusive way of living and using our buildings. This is a responsibility shared by us all. Buildings have too often been designed within a culture of exclusion, treating disabled people as separate. With the introduction of the changes to Part M of the Building Regulations and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 the requirements of 'inclusive' design has been legislated so that all users of buildings are catered for, whether disabled or not, in the same way. All service providers must now take reasonable steps to 'remove, alter or avoid a feature that makes it impossible or reasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of the service on offer'. Buschow Henley is fully competent with the implications of this legislation and believes that accessibility contributes to the overall longevity and sustainability of a building. Accessibility Appraisals are carried out throughout the design process for all relevant buildings to ensure that the requirements of the DDA are met. Additionally we can assist service providers to carry out an Accessibility Audit to an existing building to identify what reasonable steps can be made to eliminate any discriminatory barriers. For this process to be effective it must embrace the needs of people with whole spectrum of disabilities. Key areas that need to be addressed include mode of entry to the building, circulation within the building, and safe and effective escape from the building in an emergency as well as the provision of toilet facilities, signage, lighting and awareness training of staff. |
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