Accessibility Audits for the Education Sector

“Learning about the world opens doors and makes all things

possible. Knowledge is empowering and makes us more capable to go out in the world, follow our dreams and

affect positive change.”

Education is one of the most valuable things that

anyone can receive.

Disability and EducationEducation is one of the most valuable things that anyone can receive. Learning about the world opens doors and makes all things possible. Knowledge is empowering and makes us more capable to go out in the world, follow our dreams and affect positive change. The wisdom of a great teacher can have a profound impact on the life of a student and the skills and information learned in school can be the stepping stones on the path to success. Everyone should have the right to education, regardless of any disability.

However, sometimes individuals with disabilities are hindered from enjoying the benefits of education simply because the school facilities are not designed in a way which accommodates their needs. It is very important that our education institutions be barrier-free and adapted to meet the needs of everyone.

In most parts of the world it is against the law for any education provider to treat disabled students unfavourably because of their disability, which includes only providing access to education in one form which is not suitable to the student. The education provider has the responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled students are not discriminated against, which includes making physical changes that allow students to enter and use the classroom. This also includes providing support, aids, special equipment or teachers for students that require it.

We are the only dedicated

disability consultancy run by disabled people, so we have

first-hand knowledge of access issues and we can look at

your facility from an expert perspective.

Access Audits for Educational Facilities

What Does an Access Audit Look For?

We are global leaders in providing disability access audits for schools and other educational establishments. Direct Access has surveyed and audited over 500 schools, universities, colleges, nurseries and special schools, either directly or via a local authority. We have worked with several prestigious and world famous institutions, including Loughborough University

Our Access Audits will assess your premises and will ensure that all provisions for disabled access are in place. Our consultants live with disabilities and their first-hand experience gives them a trained eye to spot any barriers that the able-bodied might not notice.

We provide access audits which recognise the requirements of equality legislation in your country of operation and are based on the guidance from BS8300: 2009 – Design of Buildings and Their Approach to Meet the Needs of Disabled People – Code of Practice. Our access audits are based on the information that we receive at the time of the audit and the evidence seen. While we take every care to interpret the current Approved Codes of Practices, these will only be authoritatively interpreted by a Court of Law. Compliance with our reports will assist in meeting the requirements of relevant equality legislation, but it does not guarantee it.

The purpose of an access audit is to provide a “snapshot” of your facilities at a certain point in order to highlight areas for improvement and provide a general risk assessment.

The decisions of the architect when building the shell of the structure are very important, as are the fixtures and fittings inside. If any deficiencies are identified in these fixtures, they can be amended in the next refurbishment. Also, the furnishings and equipment within the building affect its accessibility, which is a factor that can be easily improved. Finally, the way that the building is used and managed is also important. Continual monitoring by management is important for spotting any hazards that might arise from bad housekeeping.

Our Access Audits include an action plan which you can follow to start improving access at your facility immediately. We will work together with you to help you find the ideal solution and measure the outcome of any changes that you implement.

The Process of the Access Audit

Identifying Priorities

The process of completing an access audit is taken in two stages. The first stage is a walkthrough inspection of the site using our comprehensive checklist and the surveyor’s knowledge. During this stage we look at a number of different details including external and internal ramps, entrances, reception areas, platform lifts, lighting, acoustics, means of escape and much more. Our expert consultants use their first-hand experience of disability in order to identify any issues or barriers.

The second stage suggests any possible improvements which can be made to the site, from small adjustments to major structural alterations. The audit will also give you an idea of costs and priorities.

Our access audit will help you to determine what your organisation needs and which adjustments are the most important to make right away. We help you to decide which changes are the most important, based on legality, building usage, health and safety, resources and costs, planned refurbishment and other factors specific to your business.

We will identify these adjustments in order of priority, for example if we describe an adjustment as Priority A this means that it poses a potential health and safety or legal risk to the organisation and the building occupants. A Priority A adjustment should be immediately implemented.

Direct Access produced a comprehensive and professional report, detailing recommendations for improvement. In addition to this they also kindly reviewed our current SEN Policy and agreed to review our Accessibility Plan. I am more than happy to recommend the services of Direct Access Consultancy Ltd. Their prices are very competitive, and the disability access audit we received was extremely well written

Mrs Hoban Business Manager St Peter’s Church Of England Primary

Let our expertise help you

Does your educational facility allow students of all ability levels

to learn to their full potential?

If not, we can help. Contact us today

to find out more about more about our access audits.

Contact us:

T: +44 (0) 845 0564421E: contact@accessdda.comW: www.accessaudits.com

Some of our Clients include:Government • Local Authorities • HousebuildersHealth Services • Schools • Landlords • AirportsRail • Hotels • Housing Associations • RetailCharities • Heritage • Corporate • Many more

Services:Accessibility Audits • Access Consultancy Lifetime Homes • Access StatementsTactile Signage • Auxiliary AidsDisability Training • Asset Management

Direct Access Consultancy Ltd is registered in England and Wales with Company Registration number 5185023.VAT Registration number 990 3499.

Locations: United Kingdom • Europe • USA • Middle East • Australasia We have highly experienced consultants around the world