Ian Streets, NRAC consultant at About Access, discusses the key issues in addressing the creation of an accessible environment
You could call it a top 10 of shame – a list, which is all too easy to compile, of ten big failings when it comes to accessibility. Some are oldies that have been around for years but, you certainly wouldn’t describe them as goldies.
Signage
It’s more important for wayfinding signs to impart information in a way which is effective, accurate and accessible than for them to look stylish, but it shouldn’t be difficult to achieve all of that. The key elements include the fonts used, tonal contrast, the layout of the text and any symbols – such as arrows and pictograms – and location. If the signage fails then people will struggle to find their way to such essentials as loos and exits.
Accessible loos
It’s hard to fathom why so many people get these wrong. Where to start? Maybe by sitting on the loo and thinking about what you might need. Accessible loos are – or should be – designed and laid out to accommodate people who have specific physical needs. They should have more space for getting in and out and for manoeuvring mobility aids, whether wheelchairs or sticks. Such facilities as basin, soap, hand drier, paper towels and shelves should be within reach.
External routes
However accessible a building might be on the inside, it’s no use if people can’t get to it. Check the approaches to the property from public transport stops, accessible bays in the car park, any kerbs, steps or slopes on the way to the doors. Any obstructions such as bins and bollards. If you get these wrong the building ends up as an island of accessibility in a sea of inaccessibility.
EV accessible parking
As we motor towards a future of electric cars replacing petrol and diesel, charging points and associated infrastructure are appearing in car parks, on forecourts and outside offices. We need more of them, and they should be well-lit, close to amenities, with space around the vehicle to allow people to use walking or mobility aids. It is also essential that the instructions, screen, and cables can be easily viewed and used from a sitting and standing position.
Tonal contrast
Correct use of colours is essential, and the priority is tonal contrast rather than colour contrast. Difficulties can arise with doors, pieces of furniture and other fixtures and fittings. Good tonal contrast will help people watch where they’re going and avoid mishaps or worse.
Reception desks
They are the first point of contact for many people, and the quicker and more efficiently you are able to deal with visitors when they arrive the better it is for all concerned. There are generally two suitable heights, one for standing users and a lower one for people of short stature or who use a wheelchair. Good practice will see these incorporated into a single unit, and will also address visual and hearing impairments..
Designers’ language
Architects, designers, surveyors and other property professionals are all highly educated people, yet too many of them still struggle with the basic parlance around accessibility. Two examples are particularly grating. “Fully accessible” isn’t a thing because every individual is different. And the DDA – Disability Discrimination Act – made way for the Equality Act 2010, unless you’re in Northern Ireland, or you mean the Dangerous Dogs Act.
Ramps
If you don’t have them you risk discriminating against people who are unable to use steps. What is not so well known is that there is all sorts of guidance around providing ramps – location, length, gradient, turning space – and if you get it wrong you can end up on a slippery slope.
Office kitchens
It’s very helpful for workers to have a space where they can make their own drinks, snacks and meals, but the facilities must be accessible. In one building we audited I had to use two hands to open the door of the fridge because the seal was too tight. When it comes to controls, generally levers are better than knobs or the traditional tap head which has to be gripped and turned. Push buttons also do the job and turn themselves off. Some places use braille to indicate hot and cold taps, which is helpful.
New builds
You would expect a new build to deliver the highest standards of accessibility. Refurbishments should aim to achieve the same, informed by any barriers to access that have arisen in the past. It doesn’t always happen that way, and in some cases a refurb actually makes things worse. The key to avoiding this – and the other issues in this list – is to anticipate the customer journey and strive to make it as smooth as possible.
