Disabling Buildings: Understanding Disability and The Built Environment

A hearing induction loop enables clearer communication for those using hearing aids, while Braille directions, tactile guidance and easy-to-read pictographs help the visually impaired. All 91 subway stations are fully accessible, along with its rail carriages and the entire bus fleet.

Seattle: a sidewalk mapping app

People with autism can be hypersensitive to sound, light and movement, and become overwhelmed by noisy, cluttered or crowded spaces. The site, which opened in , includes four 4-bed homes for 16 young adults, a community centre, therapy pools and an urban farm — all designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects according to autism-specific principles recommended by Arizona State University to promote a sense of calm.

Along with simple, clear lines, the homes are designed so residents can clearly see spaces across thresholds. Noise is kept to a minimum thanks to quiet heating and ventilation systems and thoughtful design, such as locating the laundry room away from the bedrooms.

Fittings and decor reduce sensory stimulation and clutter, with muted colours, neutral tones and recessed or natural light. At the centre of the venue, owned by the Danish Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, is a vast, circular sports hall, with an aerial ropeway and climbing wall for wheelchair users and an integrated pulley system.

Singapore: universal design

Outside, a m ramp spirals up from the base of the hall to a sky lounge. The ramp can also be used as a wheelchair racing track. The 24 hotel rooms each have ceiling hoists, electronic curtains, beds that can be automatically raised or reclined, adjustable height sinks and accessible toilets.

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By the waterside, a private bathing jetty is wide enough for wheelchairs and accessible via a ramp. Chester in north-west England is renowned for its two-mile circuit of Roman, Saxon and Medieval walls and its elevated walkways, called Rows. The site will include accessible stores, restaurants, housing and a room hotel including eight accessible rooms with ceiling hoists.

The hotel will include a changing places facility for people with complex or multiple and profound disabilities. Unlike standard accessible toilets, these include a height-adjustable changing bench, adjustable sink, a toilet designed for assisted use and hoist. Chester already has six such changing places facilities, including one at the recently opened bus interchange, and more are planned around the city. Backstage, there is an accessible toilet, accessible changing rooms and lift. As David Meere discovered, in Melbourne, Australia, an eight-month pilot scheme is currently transforming how visually impaired people navigate public space.

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Users receive audio cues via their smartphones, providing directions or real time information about issues such as escalator outages. Outside, the app provides real time directional information; inside, where GPS is unreliable, 20 wireless Bluetooth beacons means users still receive information. Seven years on and the DDA is still continually referenced. This change was more than simple rebranding; it has far wider implications and there is a need for better awareness and understanding across the industry.

The Equality Act provides greater consistency than the DDA and, in some areas, strengthens provisions. Clients and asset operators need to be fully aware of their obligations, which in turn, will allow us to correctly manage their expectations. Pertinent parts of the Equality Act include, but are not limited to:.

While the international symbol for access depicts a wheelchair user, the majority of disabled people do not use a wheelchair. The Equality Act defines a disabled person as: While the international symbol for access depicts a wheelchair user, the majority of disabled people do not use a wheelchair and there is a wide variety of disabilities that must be considered when addressing access for all.

These include, but are not limited to:. Rather, duties under the Equality Act include the requirement to consider barriers created by physical features of buildings and to make adjustments in certain circumstances, while focusing wholly as applicable on:. This distinction is important, especially when limited funds are required to improve an existing estate. Focus should be on providing the best access possible to the functions noted above, not necessarily focusing spend on gaining access to percent of a building or site. This can improve the quality of function provided and drastically save costs.

Focus should be on providing the best access, not necessarily focusing spend on gaining access to percent of a building or site. To do this, you should note items that would have a noticeable impact, while considering:. In historic buildings, for example, solutions could be accepted that do not meet recognised standards, but improve access while being sympathetic to the original make-up of a building.

Yet this is something that is asked by clients and service providers on a regular basis. Rather than building compliance, it is full access to services, education and employment that matters and this can be delivered in numerous ways — often with minimal impact on existing environments.

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Importantly, Building Control approvals do not necessarily equate to meeting the requirements of the Equality Act Building Control approvals are focused on the Building Regulations, which are minimum statutory standards. Reasonableness under the Equality Act may dictate that more onerous standards should be applied. There is no reason if a scheme design specification is developed by cherry-picking from a range of standards in order to assist with delivering an asset that meets the needs of all its users.

Cost must not be considered as a sole reason not to improve disability access and all avenues should be explored. The provision of inclusion and full disability access in the built environment can deliver social and business benefits, and enable providers to keep pace with the ever-increasing demands of society.