Disability Access
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The Council's Access Officer for Disabled People provides advice on all aspects of physical access for disabled people to the city's environment.
You can find links here to more information about the Disability Discrimination Act and the October 2004 deadline for shops and businesses to improve access to their services. The Access Officer can help you with design advice on making the “physical adjustments” the Act refers to.
The Disability Rights Commission website has information about Open4All, and is the best starting point for advice and information about the wide-ranging aspects of the Act and how it operates.
Council Access Services
Key features of the service include:
- Advice on:
- Development proposals (eg planning, building regulation and licensing applications)
- Access to the City Council's buildings, and
- General access advice throughout the City.
- Preparation of policies and design guidance on access, eg City Council's Access Policy, or the Disability Design Standards.
- The Access Officer also facilitates the Access Liaison Group, a Council disability consultative group, which importantly ensures that disabled people are directly involved in the advice and guidance it offers.
Design Guidance
The Council produces a range of design guidance. It has been prepared with the aim of being of assistance to not only environmental professionals, such as architects, but also businesses, community groups or individuals wishing to ensure their buildings are fully accessible to disabled people.
Further Information
A range of contacts for disability organisations and specialist sources of advice are available by contacting the Access Officer. You can read more information on our Design and Access Statement pages.
Contact
Brian Messider, Access Officer for Disabled People: (0114) 273 4197 or by email at brian.messider@sheffield.gov.uk.