Tag: consultancy
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Access Audits and Access Appraisals
Access audits and appraisals are both essential processes in ensuring the accessibility of environments and services. However, they serve different purposes and are conducted in different contexts.
Access Audits: These are typically conducted for existing buildings or environments to identify and improve accessibility. They are not a checklist but a detailed appraisal of the accessibility of an environment, its facilities, and any services delivered from it. Access audits are carried out by specialists such as architects, occupational therapists, access consultants, and people with disabilities.
Access Appraisals: These are usually part of the design process for new buildings or environments. They are more detailed and focus on the design and planning stages, ensuring that the principles of inclusive design are embedded within the project from the outset. Access appraisals are tailored to the unique context and requirements of the client, providing a detailed analysis of access improvements that can be fully integrated into a project.In summary, access audits are focused on existing environments to improve accessibility, while access appraisals are part of the design process for new environments to ensure inclusive design principles are met. Both processes are crucial for creating environments that are welcoming and accessible to all users.
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SEND
SEND is an award winning Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Consultancy, based in England and Wales.
The key principles of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice are centred around ensuring that children and young people with SEND are supported to achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes. These principles include:
Inclusive Practice: The focus is on removing barriers to learning and participation in all aspects of school life.
Participation: Children, young people, and their parents should be involved in decision-making about their support.
Collaboration: There should be close cooperation between education, health, and social care services to provide high-quality support.
Support: The system should enable children, young people, and their parents to participate fully in decisions and help them achieve their potential.
Preparation for Adulthood: Support should help young people to prepare for adulthood, including independent living, employment, and further education.
Outcomes: There should be a greater focus on the outcomes that will make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND.
These principles are designed to ensure that the SEND provision, respects the views, wishes, and feelings of the child or young person and their parents, and emphasizes the importance of them getting involved in the decision making process, as much as possible. The aim is to support them to achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes, preparing them effectively for adulthood.They empower and advocate for parents, carers and professionals who support children and young people with SEND.
The legislation and guidance for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in England are outlined in the SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years. This statutory code contains details of legal requirements that must be followed without exception, as well as statutory guidance that must be followed by law unless there’s a good reason not to. It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools, and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
The code is applicable to head teachers, principals, governing bodies, school and college staff, special educational needs (SEN) coordinators, early years providers, other education settings, local authorities, health, and social services staff. It was first published on 11 June 2014 and was last updated on 30 April 2020.
For parents and carers, there’s a guide that explains how the system that supports children and young people with SEND works, covering the law and guidance on which the system is based, places to go for help and further information, and details about changes to the system from 1 September 2014.
Additionally, the NHS England provides guidance to health and social care, education, and local authorities to ensure that children and young people with SEND are properly supported.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the official documents and resources provided by the UK government and NHS England.
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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)
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Accessibility Tools
Manningham House has introduced powerful Accessibility Tools to ensure an inclusive experience for everyone!
Colour ModesGrayscale for calm viewing.
High Contrast to make things pop.
Negative Contrast for cool clarity.
Enhanced ReadabilityLight 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!
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