Advice for Businesses
Making your organisation access friendly
YOU need to get your business Access Friendly before 2004 - We are here to help and can offer an inexpensive advice service
What types of Organisations work with ANNA
Over the past seven years we have worked closely with both Norfolk County Council (Planning & Transportation Dept) and North Norfolk District Council (who support our group) looking at issues such as:
Disabled parking spaces: ensuring that there are sufficient spaces of the correct size for orange Badge Holders (these will shortly change to Blue Badges in line with Europe). All the car parks in the NNDC area have now been surveyed and we are now waiting for the repainting to take place, subject to finance.
North Norfolk Market Towns: This survey of all of the market towns in North Norfolk, both large and small, is looking at the problem of dropped kerbs and obstacles placed on the pavements. These obstacles consist of such things as advertising boards and displays placed on the pavements by shops and businesses. Poles for holding street lighting and road signs also cause a problem for the blind/partially sighted and for wheelchair users, especially where pavements are extremely narrow.
In addition ANNA have provided assistance and advice to various companies, organisations, village halls, churches and schools.
We were asked for advice by Norfolk Wildlife Trust when they were giving Cley Bird Reserve a face-lift. Our suggestions were taken on board and can now be seen by anyone who visits the reserve for themselves. We have also had input into projects at Hickling Broad and Horsey Mill to name but a few.
Other places of interest and relaxation that have asked for our advice are Fakenham Gas Museum, Fakenham Regeneration Scheme, Holkham Hall, various hotels, public houses and restaurants.
As we work towards a better quality of life for the disabled this automatically improves access for parents with prams and pushchairs. We also help to advise these people with any problems that they may have with accessibility.
Our Chairman and Vice Chairman sit on other committees concerning transport, Quiet Lanes, a new venture being tried out in North Norfolk, the new Norfolk and Norwich hospital and other disability related committees.
Getting ready for 2004
Things you might need to do!
- Is your business accessible to wheelchairs?
- Can wheelchairs get around your business without too much hassle?
- Are you and your staff able to deal with the deaf and the hard of hearing?
- Do you have a member of staff who can sign or even a loop system?
- Are you and your staff able to deal with the blind and partially sighted?
- Do you have tactile information or signs (prices) in Braille/raised print?
- Whatever your answers to the above, don't panic!
Contact: Access North Norfolk Action for advice on any problems that you might have.
Request an Accessibility Audit from ANNA
General Guidance
YOU NEED TO
- Provide Education & Training for all staff;
- Address acts of disability discrimination;
- Have a customer complaints procedure which is easy to use;
- Consult with disabled people;
- Have regular reviews:
Attitude Training
YOU NEED TO
- Inform all staff about the Disability Discrimination Act
- Establish positive policies
- Train staff on policies
- Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of such policies.
Reasonable Adjustments
YOU NEED TO
- Audit physical and non-physical barriers to access for disabled people;
- Provide training to staff which is relevant to the adjustments to be made;
- Draw the adjustments to the attention of disabled people;
- Let disabled people know how to request assistance; and
- Regularly review the effectiveness of adjustments and act on findings of that review.