Jean Hewitt Consulting
Tel: 01707 251 246
Creating
inclusive
&
safe
environments
Jean Hewitt Consulting
Tel: 01707 251 246
Creating
inclusive
&
safe
environments
An access appraisal is a review undertaken at design stage (usually including scheme or development plan drawings and finishes specifications) so that accessibility is not overlooked. Identifying opportunities for improving access at the design stage usually has minimal if any cost implication and saves costly retro-fitting and adjustments at a later date.
A statement usually prepared for Planning or Building Regulations consent, setting out access provisions and explaining any deviation from accepted standards is necessary.
An access audit is a review to establish the accessibility and ease of use of a building, environment or service by a wide range of potential users, including people with a range of disabilities or impairments. The access audit is often the first step towards a planned programme of access improvements. The audit report should give prioritised recommendations which can be developed into an Access Action Plan or Statement.
Anything that is in reach or can be used comfortably by disabled people, usually to a widely accepted standard such as BS8300.
Commonly referred to as a "disabled toilet" - a facility designed to meet the requirements of disabled persons. Historically, such facilities were primarily designed around wheelchair use but today they should embrace the requirements of all users including those with sensory and cognitive impairments. People with vision impairments prefer to use such facilities as the configuration will be familiar to them; some people feel more secure in a self-contained facility. The preferred layout, as shown in BS8300, is illustrated in the appendices.
Clarity of sharpness of vision.
WC cubicle or compartment not meeting wheelchair requirements but suitable for an ambulant disabled person, usually having support rails in designated places with outward opening door or break out facility as a minimum. An example is illustrated in the appendices.
Physically disabled person who is able to walk where conditions allow, commonly using a walking aid or support
Electrical and electronic equipment which assists people with disabilities.
Auxiliary Aid
Something that helps or assists a disabled person eg BSL interpretation, portable loop or ramp.
A tactile system of writing and printing for people with profound vision loss, invented by Louis Braille in the 1830’s
A gestural language used by people who are D/deaf or hearing impaired.
Closed Circuit Television
Stairlift with a seat, which may be fixed or folding
A bevelled surface at corner or edge
Someone with a cognitive impairment has learning difficulties which may include difficulty in reading and writing, memory and understanding. Reliance purely on written communications is therefore not recommended but where used should be provided in simple English, in a clear typeface, such as Arial, and in "Sentence Case."
Contrast in colour and tone
Steps constructed as an integral part of an access ramp.
A ribbed tactile paving that assists people with visual impairments, commonly located at the top and bottom of external steps.
Disability Discrimination Acts (1995 or 2005)
Any restriction or lack of ability (resulting from an impairment) to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for human beings (Source: World Health Organisation)
A tapered and flush kerb to provide ramped detail to provide access for wheelchair users (and prams)
A specific learning difficulty relating to literacy.
Symbols or lettering standing proud from a surface
Cut into or engraved on a hard surface
An evacuation chair can facilitate the transfer of people with significant physical disability in event of emergency egress. It is a purpose-designed unit which is usually wall-mounted and stored in a refuge area or in a prominent position on the route of escape. These units are not suitable for transfer of all people with disabilities and staff assisting should be trained in their use.
Distance from finished floor to designated height given (same as AFL)
A footway or pavement is part of a highway adjacent to a carriageway with public right of way. A footpath has no adjacent carriageway.
A footpath has no adjacent carriageway.
A plan showing the provision for a range of people with additional evacuation needs.
Hearing enhancement systems enable sound signals to be transmitted to people with impaired hearing, without interference from background noise or excessive reverberation. Hearing enhancement systems may use induction loop, infrared or radio transmission. Sound field systems are also used, especially in educational settings.
Amount of light falling on a surface, measured in lumens or lux
A philosophy that embraces the needs of all potential users
Any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. (Source: World Health Organisation)
An inductive loop system is a loop of wire fixed around a building or room, which may be built in at the outset or retro-fitted. The wire is connected to an amplifier, power source and a sound input device such as a microphone or a television. The sound is amplified and transmitted as a current around the loop which works like a transmitting aerial. A hearing aid has a switch which, when in the "T" position, picks up sound more clearly. .
A wireless sound transmission system which conveys sound from its source to hearing aids or headsets.
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This measure is used to ascertain whether tonal contrast between two colours is sufficient for a person with impaired vision to differentiate. Based on the findings of Project Rainbow, the LRV scale runs from 0 to 100 with a true white 100 and true black 0. In order to provide sufficient contrast, there should be an LRV difference of 20-30 points or 30%.
Learning disabilities are learning differences which may interfere with the ability to understand, remember, and/or use information. The effects are quite individual, but it is generally accepted that these difficulties create a gap between a person’s true capacity and his or her day-to-day performance and productivity. For example, these learning differences may include difficulties with attention or concentration, memory, visual or auditory processing, spatial orientation, language, reasoning or sequencing.
Museums and Galleries Disablility Association
A system of marking hazards (such as clear glazing, leading edges of doors and windows, projections) so that they are clearly visible.
Dull surface giving little or no reflection.
A trade name often used for a textphone (see textphone).
Museums Libraries and Archives
Also known as "deaf blind".
Partial enclosure, usually floor standing, for fire extinguishers - usually fabricated from preformed plastics. Prevents visually impaired people from tripping over extinguishers housed in corridors and access routes.
A Newton is a measurement of force. One Newton is the unit force required to cause a mass of one kilogram to accelerate at a rate of one metre per second squared. One kiloNewton (1kN) is equal to 1000 Newtons.
Projecting front edge of a tread or landing that may be rounded, chamfered or otherwise shaped.
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A typist who types speech into a machine which displays it on a computer screen.
Embracing all disabilities - physical, sensory and cognitive.
Personal Emergency Egress Plan.
A Peninsular facility has the WC pan in the centre, providing transfer from either side. It is only recommended where assistance in transfer is likely to be needed, as the hand wash basin, soap, etc., are too far away from the WC pan to be used comfortably and safely by an independent wheelchair user.
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An area that is enclosed with fire resisting construction and served directly by a safe route, making a temporary safe waiting place for a short period for disabled people to await assistance for their evacuation.
Font without projections to the ends of letters, eg., Helvetica, Arial.
A hearing or visual impairment or combination of the two.
Signs, notices, noticeboards, message displays and systems which convey information and directions.
See Learning differences.
Interference within one induction loop from a signal from another induction loop nearby.
Lift that travels from one level to another along a line parallel with the pitch line of the stair.
Profiled surface or finish providing guidance or warning to blind and partially sighted people, eg., blister paving is a style of tactile paving used to provide guidance at crossings.
A telephone facility with electronic keyboard that enables Hearing Impaired people to communicate - communication can be direct textphone to textphone or via a Typetalk Operator (relay service) from an ordinary telephone to a textphone.
Most accessible toilet facilities have a corner WC layout which will offer either a right-hand or left-hand transfer to wheelchair users. Some users may have reduced ability or strength on one side of the body, so it is always recommended that where more than one accessible WC is provided in a building, facilities are alternated to provide some of each type.
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A term used to describe anyone who is blind or partially sighted, as opposed to short or long-sighted. If you are visually impaired, you will have some loss or distortion of your vision.
The degree of visible definition - usually achieved through colour and tonal contrast.
This is the process of identifying, travelling along and adhering to a suitable route - usually comprising two main components - the negotiation of obstructions or features and navigation of a route or direction.
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Telephone or text 07850 111 955
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Jean is based in Hertfordshire, but has clients throughout the UK.
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