Disability Advice Project
Access Audit Type 1
Walk and talk audit
This audit consists of a discussion between the client and/or staff and
the auditor, on site at the clients premises. It provides the opportunity
to identify the following:
- Identification, measurement and assessment of compliance of physical features
- Explore solutions where physical features do not comply
- Prioritisation of required alterations
- Advice on access management issues
- A checklist for the retention of the client is provided. Further standard information available if required (e.g. automatic doors)
Access Audit type 2
Full audit
A full audit includes a written report which outlines the following:
- Identification, measurement and assessment of compliance of physical features
- Recommend solutions where physical features do not comply
- Prioritisation of required alterations
- Advice on access management issues
Type 1 audits have the advantage of being much cheaper as they do not include the expense associated with the production of a full written report. With Type 2 audits there is the added assurance of a written report and the convenience of a physical copy when dealing with builders, grant providers etc.
Design Appraisals
An appraisal of design principles assessing the potential usability of the finished building. An appraisal includes a report which outlines the accessibility of the proposals, makes recommendations for improvement where necessary and provides further guidance for areas which have not been designed in detail. Our current charge is £75 per hour to large organisations and commercial businesses.Why employ the services of The Disability Advice Project?
It is true that anyone can claim to be an access auditor. As a result access auditors vary from disabled individuals, just relying on their personal experience of their disability, providing inexpensive verbal advice, to expensive consultants, who have had specialist training, as well as building industry qualifications. The vast majority of access audits do not require an in-depth knowledge of building construction and yet there must be a guarantee of our professional competence and accountability. Please be assured by the following:- All individuals at DAP have an innate knowledge of disability
- All individuals involved in access auditing have undergone training approved by the Royal Institute of British Architects
- DAP has achieved the Community Legal Service Quality Mark ensuring our services and procedures are of the highest standards, comparable with any organisation providing legal advice
- DAP has professional indemnity insurance cover.
Service providers should know that an important aspect of ensuring that your goods and services remain accessible, as well as improving your reputation, increasing your customer base and increasing profits, is staff training. DAP can provide a 4-hour Disability/Access Awareness, video and PowerPoint presentation to your employees. The emphasis of this training can be tailored to your needs and concerns. Access issues specific to your building or site can also be incorporated into this training session if an access audit has been previously completed.
Click here for further details of our Disability Awareness Training.
