Tag: access consultants

  • Using Braille as an Accessibility Tool

    Did you know that braille can be used as an accessibility tool? I used to think that braille was only used to help the visually impaired.

    World Braille Day: Raising Awareness for an Important Communication Tool

    Since 2019, World Braille Day has been celebrated to create awareness of the importance of Braille; an access and communication tool that has played a key role in the realization of human rights for blind and partially sighted people.

    Its roots trace back to the 19th century, when in 1829, its blind inventor; Louis Braille created a tactile alphabet in order to be able to read and write, and eventually gain access to education, the news of this increasingly important tool receiving its own international day of recognition could not have arrived at a more relevant moment, as in its third year of celebration (2021). World Braille Day was reinvented by the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

    Braille is the system of raised dots used for reading and writing by people who are blind or severely visually impaired. It is read with the fingertips, although with practice, people with sight can read it with their eyes. Letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and numerous other symbols can be written with Braille. Although not technically its own language, Braille is a form of code and can be learned by just about anyone.

    On World Braille Day 2022, Direct Access encouraged businesses to facilitate accessible formats as a means of communication as it is the right thing to do for customers and potentially valuable employees who might also be disabled people. Since our post-COVID world has forced much of society to utilise digital media and formats to facilitate communication, shopping, entertainment, and business; digital accessibility is now necessary to ensure the digital inclusion of all people. Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion, as reflected in article 2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

    Using the latest Index Embossers, Direct Access can produce Braille in A4 and A3 formats ranging from healthcare or financial letters to legal documents and company brochures. We also provide state-of-the-art tactile map boards that incorporate a multitude of formats including braille, BSL sign language video, and audio descriptions. They are bound according to preference and checked by our proof-readers. This is usually helpful for tactile learners.

    For more information regarding their access and communication services feel free to contact them. 

    Tactile Braille Map Boards – Direct Access (directaccessgp.com)

    https://www.biography.com/scholar/louis-braille

  • Accessibility Tools

    Manningham House has introduced powerful Accessibility Tools to ensure an inclusive experience for everyone!


    Colour Modes

    Grayscale for calm viewing.

    High Contrast to make things pop.

    Negative Contrast for cool clarity.


    Enhanced Readability

    Light Background for ease on the eyes.

    Links Underline for clear navigation.

    Readable Font for smooth reading.


    And the best part?

    If you ever need to go back to default, just hit Reset!

    Celebrate our launch with us and explore a website that adapts to YOUR needs. Let’s create a more accessible web together!
    Navigate and send us feedback!

    I am impressed with Manningham House. Accessibility Tools help to enhance Access Consultancy!

  • Legislation surrounding Access Consultancy

    Access consultancy is a service that provides advice on how to make buildings and environments more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and other protected characteristics. Access Consultancy covers a wide range of areas like:

    • Wheelchair Accessibility
    • Digital Accessibility
    • Web Accessibility

    Welcome to The view from where I sit versus The view from where you sit!

    DISABILITY RIGHTS:

    There are different pieces of legislation that relate to access consultancy, such as: The Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers, employers, education providers and others to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people and to avoid discrimination based on protected characteristics.

    Article 54 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 requires that a person with a disability to have: access and facilitation in educational institutions, reasonable access to all places, and access to device material. Additionally, at least 5% of elective and appointive positions are to be for PWDs.

    I just recently found out that March 1st is International Wheelchair Day! International Wheelchair Day, is a global celebration of the profound impact wheelchairs have on the lives of millions around the world.

    International Wheelchair Day 2024 promotes mobility, access, and inclusion. This is very important for access consultancy.

    Key takeaways

    • International Wheelchair Day was celebrated on March 1, 2024, to raise awareness of the challenges faced by wheelchair users and promote inclusion.
    • The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Mobility, access and inclusion: Empowering independence’.
    • United Spinal Association urged people to recognize the day and support disability inclusion.

    The National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC), which is an independent accreditation service for individuals who provide access consultancy and access auditor services in the UK. The Information and Consultation Regulations, which require employers to establish arrangements for informing and consulting their employees on certain matters.

    Kenya has not been able to meet the standards of this article due lack of political goodwill, ignorance of the law, and general and intentional overlook of the plight of PWD. Persons with Disabilities are still considered as people who should sit somewhere and wait for help and care.

    In the few employment opportunities, is the work environment disability friendly to enable PWD thrive? The answer is NO!

    1. What is the level of representation for PWD?
    2. What is the level of accessibility?
    3. What is the level of access to development and personal growth,
    4. Are PWD considered for promotional opportunities?
    5. What is the level of inclusivity in the organization or integration is the order of the day?

    We must seek to answer these insightful questions to help us in identifying the gaps.

    The Constitution under the Bill of Rights recognizes in Article 54 that persons with disabilities are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect and not to be referred to in a manner that is demeaning, to access educational institutions and facilities, to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information, to use sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication and to access materials and devices.

    You can find more information about these and other relevant legislation on the websites of the sources I have referenced.
    https://globaldisability.org/2016/04/01/review-kenya-persons-disabilities-act-2003-overdue#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20under%20the%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20recognizes,of%20communication%20and%20to%20access%20materials%20and%20devices.

    https://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/assets/Guide-PDFs-2023/Equality-Act-and-Access-Audits-Guide-23.pdf

    https://www.evansjones.co.uk/services/access/access-audits.php

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2010362#:~:text=Posted%20On%3A%2029%20FEB%202024%207%3A46PM%20by%20PIB,on%20the%20lives%20of%20millions%20around%20the%20world.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2010362