Newcastle Disability Forum NDF web site

Providing Accessible Environments and Formats For People With Sensory Impairments

Update - version 5 - December 2005

This downloadable document "Guidelines for Service Providers, Employers, Planners, Architects, Designers, Educators, Building and Business Managers in respect of Environments that meet the needs of visually impaired, speech impaired & hard of hearing People" Has been compiled by the Forum at the request of Newcastle City Council during their consultations on planning submissions for public and commercial buildings.

The initial requirement was for access recommendations in respect of sensory disabled people which they could present to developers to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995 and 2005) but this document has been extended with guidance on suitable communication media where normal printed material is unsuitable as well as accessible Web Sites and is now recommended to all Businesses and Organisations.It included the important Clear Print Guidelines

There is emphasis on managers responsibility to maintain accessibility throughout the building's whole life.

The References at the end of the document identify many publications in this field. To eliminate delay whilst interested parties select books, wait for delivery and then search for the relevant clauses, it seemed better to produce a reasonably comprehensive document suitable for immediate electronic transmission.

This then is an amalgamation of several publications referred to with some revisions and additions agreed by the Forum members.

If you wish to receive any updates to the this document, please e-mail the forum to that effect.

Version 5 December 2005

Download Word 2000 Format 231 Kb .doc

Download Text Format 81 kb .txt