1. Working with children with special needs
Access, awareness, attitudes,
Monday 17th January 2011

2. Access

3. What does access mean?
Class discussion

4. Access Refers to a way into, or freedom to obtain or use something
Planners, architects and policy makers have a responsibility to design environments and create opportunities that are open and accessible to everyone

5. Access Children with special needs must have equal access to
The physical environment – indoors and outdoors
The learning environment – all levels of education and activity according to their needs and abilities
Appropriate health and social care provision
Training and employment opportunities when they are older
Information about services available to them, including financial benefits
Sport, leisure and holiday facilities

6. Physical access - legislation
Building Control Act 1990 and Building Regulations 1991 and 1997
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
Fire Services Act 1981

7. Building Control Act and Regs
Seeks to control standards of building design and construction for several purposes including that of providing for the needs of disabled persons
The Regulations in 1997 include Part M to provide for Access and facilities for disabled people

8. Part M requirements
Reasonable provision shall be made to enable disabled people to have safe and independent access to a building and to those parts of a building to which it is appropriate to have access
If sanitary conveniences are provided in a building, reasonable provision shall be made for disabled people
If a building contains fixed seating for audience or spectators, reasonable provision shall be made for disabled people
Does not apply to dwellings

9. Building for everyone: access and use for all
Document published in 2002
Includes 220 pages of text, checklists, drawings and illustrations, incorporating a comprehensive section on all aspects of accessibility in the landscape
Designing an accessible bathroom
Installing a ramp at home or in the office
Widening doors
Designing accessible lifts
Creating an accessible outdoor environment

10. Accessible information
Who needs it?
Everyone
Specifically 1 in 7 of the population
What makes information accessible?
Design
Format
Content availability
Why is accessible information so important to disabled people?
It’s a right not a privilege
It empowers people
It’s essential for making decisions and choices

11. Accessible information
Internet
All websites can now be checked for accessibility
Font
Spacing
Content
Colour contrast
Volume of information etc

12. Accessible sport Paralympics - ?inclusive Special Olympics
Local facilities
Leisure centre
Horse riding
Gym

13. Accessible recreation, arts and leisure
More than just for disabled people
More than just wheelchair access
Examples
beaches
boating
museums and art galleries
Entertainment
Sporting occasions
transportation

14. Attitudes Awareness

15. Exploring attitudes to disability
Case discussion

16. Disability awareness
Often we are so anxious not to offend people with disabilities that we become embarrassed or clumsy in our approach and as a result avoid disability issues altogether
E.g Big Brother

17. Disability awareness Exploring your own understanding of disability
Medical and social models of disability
Knowledge of different types of disability
Barriers and obstacles towards people with disability
Importance of equal opportunities
Facilitating social inclusion
Use of correct language