JMU Access Partnership
Policy Updates
Shared Surfaces Research
Guide Dogs is running a research project which has been seeking to establish the extent of the problem with 'shared surfaces' and develop design solutions. The first part of this research concluded last autumn with a report on the results of focus groups in the UK.
The charity has commissioned international designer Bjarne Winterberg to develop potential design solutions that will be trialled with disabled people by University College London in the summer.
More information can be found at the Guide Dogs website.
Citizenship Resources
The DCLG has brought together several on-line resources to develop citizens' capacities to engage with local councils and other decision-making bodies (i.e. their range of political skills). The new planning system pre-supposes a widespread eagerness to get involved in making policy choices earlier in the plan-making process and sets new expectations for consultation processes.
Some details can be found on-line at: http://www.takepart.org/framework-for-active-learning
18/12/06
New DRC Guidance
The Disability Rights Commission has issued new guidance, entitled 'Planning, buildings, streets and disability equality: A guide to the Disability Equality Duty and Disability Discrimination Act 2005 for local authority departments responsible for planning, design and management of the built environment and streets'. The guidance covers what the Disability Equality Duty (DED) means for these departments, the requirement under the duty to produce a Disability Equality Scheme (DES), and the importance of involving disabled people in this process.
The guide is available for free download from the DRC website. 04/11/2006
Air Travel Review
The Department for Transport has just published online the report "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People: 2005 Monitoring study" by Jo Sentinella.
Much of this report is directed at those who own or operate airliners, but a few recommendations concern air terminals. Since 2003 the aviation industry has been encouraged to follow a voluntary Code of Practice, which sets out the minimum standards to be met by airlines. 15/10/2006
Independent living policy review
A review of Government policy on independent living for disabled people has been announced during the second reading of the Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill in Parliament.
Spokeswoman, Baroness Royall said: “ Independent living is a reality for some disabled people in spite of the disabling barriers that still exist. However, in its fullest sense, independent living is still a dream for too many."
The review will initially take 12 months and will:
Bring together the views and experience of officials from central and local Government, disabled people and organisations of disabled people
- Develop imaginative new solutions in the areas of health, social care, transport, employment and housing
- Develop thinking on the relationship between independent living and individual budgets
- Make practical proposals for activity to support independent living.
The review will regularly report progress to the Independent Living Expert Panel.
Read more 17/07/06
Free-flowing Traffic Consultation
The draft Guidance on Intervention Criteria, announced by Transport Minister Gillian Merron, stems from the Traffic Management Act 2004. It outlines how the Department for Transport will assess whether local authorities are managing their roads properly and describes what will happen if they are not. The focus of the Guidance is on encouraging all authorities to raise their standards for managing the road network.
Local authorities are duty-bound under the Act to aim for free flowing traffic on their road network, as well as facilitating the same on neighbouring networks. The consultation is aimed at "all organisations and individuals who have an interest in network management".
The consultation process will last for a period of twelve weeks and the closing date for comments is the 27 September. The draft proposals can be found on the Department for Transport website
12/07/06
Design & Access Statements
The recent Statutory Instrument that gives fresh clarity and emphasis to Design and Access Statements can now be downloaded online. They will come into force on 10th August 2006, applying only to England. Download regulations (PDF).
05/05/06
Historic Buildings Report
A new research report on accessibility improvements to historic buildings has just been published. Focusing on the application process, it found a depressingly poor understanding of access matters amongst town planners, with participation by volunteers hampered during the design process.
The report was drawn up by Tom Lister Associates on behalf of the DRC and Historic Scotland. The findings are available to download as a PDF or word document from the DRC website.
04/05/06
Lifetime Neighbourhoods Guidance
'Neighbourhoods for life', published by Oxford Brookes University suggests that people with dementia prefer compact neighbourhoods, pedestrianised streets, open spaces with distinctive landmarks, flat and non-reflective surfaces and services within 10 minutes' walk of their homes. Unless streets, places and open spaces meet the needs of an ageing population, many elderly residents will be effectively housebound.
The recommendations include a concise checklist of design features, which can be downloaded free of charge. Design guidance and checklist (PDF).
04/05/06
Affordable Homes Report - quality concerns
Two reports recently published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation expressed misgivings about the quality of the housing being produced, and the way agreements are monitored.
Jon Watson, who examined housing in eight different planning agreements in Leeds and York, found that most schemes comprised 'off the shelf' purchases of homes built by private house-builders. The housing associations who commissioned them were more concerned with 'doing the deal', than ensuring that the homes met the quality standards required under Housing Corporation funding.
None of the Registered Social Landlords investigated was able to provide information on:
- Energy ratings.
- Data on comparison with the Housing Corporation essential or recommended standards.
- EcoHomes standards achieved. It is not possible to establish even whether the 'pass' standard was achieved.
- Lifetime Homes standards. From the comments regarding space and disabled parking, plus observations on site, it is obvious that they did not achieve these either.
This project is part of the JRF's research and development programme. More information can be found at: www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/understanding-planning-gain.pdf
12/04/06
Workplace Noise
With less than a month to go, RNID and the TUC are warning employers and employees to take hearing damage more seriously, as the new Control of Noise at Work Regulations come into effect on 6th April 2006.
Under the new regulations the noise levels at which workers will be required to have hearing protection available, and the level at which they will be required to wear hearing protection have been reduced by 5dB(A) to 80dB(A) and 85dB(A) respectively.
Employers must reduce noise through a 'hierarchy of control measures' ranging from acoustic and mechanical design down to hearing surveillance (i.e. tests) and protection. The best solution is to get rid of the noise at source. When this is not possible the employer has to make suitable ear protection available free of charge. Noise is also a sign of wasted energy; by reducing noise output by machinery, employers will make efficiency gains.
16/03/06
Signage & Wayfinding Report released
The final report for the project "Signage and wayfinding for people with learning difficulties" is now available online. The scoping study behind the report was carried out in 2004/5 by the BOI consortium, including JMU.
Find out more about our other research projects.
24/02/06
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Government believes that the developers of new homes want to know how to build more sustainably, at the same time there is a demand from purchasers to buy more sustainable homes. As a result, a new code is being developed to take into account these principles.
The code as proposed would have five performance levels from a basic entry level to an "aspirational" carbon-neutral 'five star' development. The levels are defined by a points scoring system out of a maximum of 100. One suggestion is that the points can be earned by a combination of performance standards which must be met, and optional 'tradeable' elements that may be met, covering energy, water, waste and materials, as well as elements such as lifetime homes and domestic security.
The code can be ordered or downloaded from the ODPM's website.
24/02/06
New Equality Body in new Equality Act
A powerful new body to put equality at the heart of modern Britain has been given the go-ahead as the Equality Act gained Royal Assent.
Individuals experiencing discrimination and prejudice on the basis of race, gender, disability, age, religion and belief or sexual orientation will have easier access to help and support. Businesses will also have improved advice and information through the single Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), from next year. The new organisation will bring together the work of the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission from October 2007; and that of the Commission for Racial Equality from 2009, putting expertise on equality, diversity and human rights in one place.
Other provisions of the Act include:
- The introduction of a new gender equality duty
- Protection from discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in the
provision of goods, facilities or services - A power under which the Secretary of State may make regulations that prohibit
sexual orientation discrimination (including harassment) in the provision of
goods, facilities and services.
20/02/06
Transport Code of Practice
The Disability Rights Commission has placed a supplement to the Part 3 Code of Practice before Parliment, for formal approval. The document covers the new duties placed on transport providers under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, extending the law to cover the use of transport vehicles, buses, trains, taxis, car hire and breakdown services. This removes the exemption created in the original 1995 DDA. Publication is likely to follow in March or early April 2006, but the text is available online at http://www.drc.org.uk/transport
25/01/06
Disability Discrimination Act 2005: New rights, new protection
The DDA 2005 is coming into force in two parts. Since 5th December 2005, the definition of disability has been extended to include, from the point of diagnosis, people with HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis. Among other changes implemented this year, it is now unlawful for private clubs with 25 or more members to treat disabled people less favourably.
Most of the significant parts of the 2005 Act will come into force in December 2006. These include new duties for public authorities in terms of their functions and promoting disability equality, land based transport vehicles being brought under the scope of the Act, new duties for landlords and a duty for private clubs with 25 or more members to make reasonable adjustments. Further information can be obtained from the Disability Rights Commission.
19/12/05
Disability Equality Duty
The DRC Code of Practice on the Disability Equality Duty (England and Wales) completed its laying period before Parliament on 3 December 2005, before being issued on 4 December 2005. To download the code, or find out more about it, go to the DRC website.
The good news? The Code does not come into force until December 2006, giving all public sector authorities the chance to prepare for it.
19/12/05