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CONSULTANCY
Introduction
Access Adaptions was formed in 2003 to provide specialist solutions
for "access" problems. Its sister company, The Galbraith
Partnership, founded in 1993, provides building surveying, construction
consultancy and project management services.
The combined skills provide a comprehensive understanding of clients,
their "businesses" and their buildings.
We undertake a range of commissions from one-off audits to UK-wide
portfolio advice, expert witness, bespoke training and project management.
Access Adaptions strives to ensure clients meet their obligations
under the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005 and Special Educational
Needs and Disability Act 2001.
Access consultancy services
Project management and
design services
Clients
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ACCESS CONSULTANCY SERVICES
The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) (DDA) first came into effect
in 1996.
Employer and service-provider duties have been introduced in stages
to allow plenty of time for adapting to the new law and for accessibility
improvements to be planned and carried out over time. (Final stage
October 2004).
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) amended
the DDA in respect of education, both schools and post-16. (Final
stage September 2005). The DDA 2005 has introduced new duties for
all public authorities.
We offer a range of access consultancy services - all tailored to
suit individual clients. These fall broadly under the following
headings:
Access Audits
Access Reasonableness Assessments
Access Implementation Strategies
Design Review Services
Expert Witness
Disability Awareness Training
If your organisation is not prepared; has an audit but don’t
know what to do with it; is worried that the policies, practices
and procedures are inadequate; require disability awareness training;
an impartial expert or assistance with design; contact us now for
a confidential discussion.
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Access Audits
The access audit is an important tool to identify barriers to access
typically within a building but also external areas such as play
spaces, car parking etc. An access audit can be extended to include
a review of policies, practices and procedures within the client
organisation.
The audit provides a "base-line" assessment against which
initial recommendations can be made. Key criteria used are:
- Building Regulations Approved Document M
- British Standard 8300: 2001 Design of buildings and their approaches
to meet the needs of disabled people Code of Practice
- Disability Rights Commission Codes of Practice (various)
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
- Disability Discriminations Act 2005
The audit will often recommend the ideal solution to a barrier with
a pre-agreed priority against each item.
The new Approved Document M and the design criteria in BS 8300 far
exceed the standards many buildings were designed to. The result
is that most access audits will provide an extensive list of recommendations
which can be daunting for many clients. For this reason an access
reasonableness assessment is crucial for most clients.
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Access Reasonableness Assessment (ARA)
A key component of meeting DDA/SENDA duties is "reasonableness";
the Acts are not strict compliance based. Thus, removing every physical
barrier (whilst ideal), may not guarantee that a claim for discrimination
will not be reasonably made. Other barriers may exist to how services/education
are provided, such as policies, practices and procedures.
The ARA interprets the audit against the specific circumstances
of the client organisation to try and seek "reasonable"
solutions to the barriers. These circumstances could include:
- Physical constraints of the building/site
- Type of service provided
- Profitability
- Turnover
- Tenure/length of lease remaining
- No of visitors/employees/pupils/students
- Financial cost of making physical alterations
- The amount already spent improving accessibility
- Extent of disruption
- Financial and other resources available
- Availability of finance
- Other possible ways of providing services
This list is not exhaustive.
Access Adaptions will assist clients with an ARA whether or not
we have carried out the audit.
The ARA’s we undertake provide an audit-trail to record actions
(or inaction) and the reasons for those. They also allow for periodic
updating to suit changing circumstances. The ARA could form a key
part of a defence against a claim for discrimination.
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Access Implementation Strategies
Once an ARA has been carried out the client can develop an implementation
strategy. For smaller organisations this may be as simple as contacting
a local builder, staff training and making changes to some policies,
practices and procedures. Other clients may require detailed feasibility
and design advice for specific improvements and some may require
advice on procurement strategy, particularly for improvements across
a portfolio.
All works can be planned and if appropriate incorporated into planned
maintenance/asset management programmes.
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Design Review Services
Increasingly popular services are off-plan access appraisals and
production of Building Regulations Approved Document M Access Statements.
A desk-top review is carried out of the drawings for a scheme and
a detailed report is compiled with recommendations. We produce a
report that can be amended to show how the design has evolved and
a clear audit-trail.
The desk-top review report can be further developed for submission
as an Access Statement for Building Regulations applications.
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Expert Witness
Do you need expert assistance with a (potential) claim?
Access Adaptions can provide an expert witness service. We are used
to working with solicitors/barristers and to the requirements of
the Civil Procedure Rules for expert witness.
Please contact us for a confidential discussion.
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Disability Awareness Training
Access Adaptions can assist organisations meet their training requirements.
We offer disability awareness training tailored to suit each organisation’s
specific requirements. See also our online
training packages available to download today.
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT & DESIGN SERVICES
The implementation of physical access improvements often requires
design and/or project management advice.
Attention to detail is crucial if design solutions are to maximise
accessibility and the right access advice during design and construction
is essential.
Our combination of skills across these disciplines provides continuity
for clients creating a one-stop shop.
Project management and design covers a broad spectrum of tasks as
detailed below.
Project Management
& Design Services
Access Adaptions can:
- Undertake feasibility studies to assess a range of design solutions.
- Prepare specifications/drawings for works.
- Make applications for statutory consents such as Planning, Building
Regulations, listed building consent.
- Provide advice on appropriate procurement methods.
- Obtain competitive tenders.
- Seek landlord consent and obtain licences for alterations.
- Notify and seek approval from Fire Brigade re: changes to fire
certificate.
- Act as CDM Coordinator (and in some cases Principal Contractor)
under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1997.
- Serve Notices and agree Awards required under the Party Wall etc
Act 1996.
The extent, value and complexity of works are key factors determining
appropriate procurement. For some projects a single contractor with
single-point responsibility is preferred. For others individual
contracts with each specialist is better. There are many ways construction
work can be procured and managed.
Access Adaptions’ Project Management Service is always tailored
to suit individual client needs.
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CLIENTS
Examples of recent and current clients include:
PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP - Access audits of UK wide office
portfolio and advice on policy and implementation works.
NHS Walk-In Centre - Access advice, design & feasibility
of access improvement works.
Investor - Access audit and subsequent input to design team
for £2.8m office refurbishment.
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund - Access audit and maintenance
management advice including implementation works.
St Bartholomew’s Church, Norbury - Access audit, design
and specification of access improvement works alongside major refurbishment
of church hall.
Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) - Access audits
and advice, design and project management of access and other works.
Royal Ocean Racing Club - Access audit of private club.
Hindhead Golf Club - Access audit of golf club.
Surrey County Council - Production of Access Resource Pack
to provide guidance on legislation and design for the County’s
schools.
Woking College - Access audit of college.
Royal Borough Of Kensington and Chelsea - Access audits of
social services properties.
Islamic Bank of Britain - Off-plan review and portfolio advice
for roll-out of units across UK.
Speciality Retail Group - Access audit and portfolio access
advice.
Syracuse University (USA) - Acquisition advice, including
agreement for lease, monitoring landlord works.
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