Estimates of the numbers of disabled people in Britain have recently been updated by the Department for Work and Pensions. Estimates, from 2003-2004, show that there is a total of 10.1 million disabled children and adults in Britain, 9.5 million of those are adults. The annual spending power of disabled people remains at £80 billion…
FAQs
What are the new public sector duties under the Disability Discrimination Act?
The Disability Equality Duty affects all public bodies from local councils to government departments, from universities to hospitals. The law says they must now actively promote disability equality. This new legal duty will mean that any public body will need to actively look at ways of ensuring that disabled people are treated equally. A similar…
Where can I find information about specific measurements for wheelchair access in and around buildings?
For general information you can download a copy of The Access Guide in pdf format here. The Access Guide is a useful wall chart that gives general good practice guidance on access issues for public buildings. Using clear diagrams and best practice measurements the wall chart covers design for parking, entrances and crossings, doorways, toilets…
How can Disability Information Scotland help us improve our information?
With a range of free resources that try to explain the issues in straightforward language, for example: Standards for Disability Information and Advice Provision; Guides, booklets and factsheets covering aspects of accessible information; This website: www.disabilityscot.org.uk; Tailored advice and guidance.
What is an accessible information policy?
A way of establishing guidelines and procedures that help everyone in the organisation to understand and comply with legislation/good practice. One way of making sure that your organisation is meeting the needs of all its customers is to adopt an accessible information policy. This means setting yourself some guidelines to help you meet the needs…
No one has ever requested an alternative format before. Couldn’t we just get things produced if someone does make a request?
Keep your master document accessible so that alternative formats can be produced quickly and inexpensively. Plan for alternative formats the same way and at the same time you do for the paper version. Get everyone in the organisation to agree an accessible information policy and procedures to back it up. Information should be produced in…