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Role of the Access Officer

The role of the Access Officer is to raise awareness of accessibility issues, offering advice on how to improve access to the built, transport and rural environments. This encourages inclusivity and leads to full compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and current  building regulations.

Who can be affected by poor access ?

People who :

  • are wheelchair users
  • have learning difficulties
  • have visual and/or hearing impairments
  • are pregnant
  • are frail and elderly
  • need an Assistance Dog eg Guide Dog
  • might be laden with shopping
  • push a child in a buggy
  • have a temporary disability - eg: have a broken leg

 

The Access Officer promotes access to Council properties by:

  • Auditing existing buildings
  • Identifying restrictions to access
  • Prioritising access issues
  • Commissioning access improvements

 

The Access Officer promotes access to the wider community by:

  • Assessing Planning applications
  • Advising and collaborating with Building Control surveyors 
  • Working with the Highways department
  • Developing improvement programmes with local businesses
  • Working with local groups eg. Wokingham Area Access Group - WAAG
  • Developing new initiatives eg. disability awareness training for taxi drivers

 

The Access Officer provides advice and information on Legislation:

eg:

  • The Disability Discrimination Act - 1995 and 2005
  • The government proposed Single Equality Bill
  • The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act - 2001
  • Building Regulations - Approved Document M - 2004
  • British Standard  BS8300:2009 - a nationally recognised guideline

 

The Access Officer offers advice on general access enquiries to:

 

  • The General public
  • Employers
  • Service providers
  • Developers
  • Architects
  • Contractors

 

The Access Officer offers Disability Advice and Training for:

 

  • Any review or update of Council policies and procedures
  • Any employment issues
  • improvement of Disability awareness in any organisation
  • Schools and The Local Education Authority - LEA

 

Please contact the Access Officer with any queries related to access or any of the above areas.