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Contents:
Part M, S or R?
Access all areas in the workplace
Department store gives shoppers a lift
Launching the lift
In the News |
Editors Welcome
Welcome to the twelfth issue of our Stepping Out Newsletter, the second to be circulated in an electronic format. We hope you find this issue both interesting and informative.
As always our objective with Stepping Out is to provide technical and legislative guidance on disabled access. We regularly look at the Disability Discrimination Act, Part M of the UK Building Regulations and the other standards and codes of practice giving guidance on good practice in the design of domestic and non domestic buildings so they are suitable for use by the less able. In this issue you will find and article detailing the differences in the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish regulations.
The content of this eZine is featured on our web site, so here we only give you a feel for the article, click on the >>more link at the end of the piece to be taken to the full story on our web site.
All the back issues of Stepping Out can be found on our web site. The back issue library provides a valuable resource of information and advice relating to the application of platform lifts in public and commercial buildings.
We hope that you enjoy our eZine. Any comments or suggestions you have would be very welcome. If you have a colleague that you would like to be added to our circulation list please follow the link. Likewise if you no longer wish to receive this eZine follow the unsubscribe link.
We look forward to speaking to you again soon.
Best regards
MOVEMAN
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Part M, S or R, what's the difference?
Stepping Out 11 provoked much debate amongst readers on a variety of the topics covered. One particular subject kept arising so we felt it required further examination.
Several of our eagle eyed readers pointed out an error in our lead article - "We welcome Part M proposals" . Part M does not, as the article suggests, provide a UK wide standard for disabled access to the built environment as it applies only in England and Wales. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland do, of course, have their own building regulations. The specific sections relating to disabled access are called Part S, Part R and, funnily enough, Part M respectively.
We thought, by way of an apology to our Scottish and Irish subscribers, that we would point out the key differences between the various pieces of legislation, relating to the use of wheel chair lifts.
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SUBSCRIBE
If you had this eZine forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe click here. You will receive an email confirming your addition to the circulation list.
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Access all areas in the workplace
Most of the coverage surrounding the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) tackles the legislation from the point of view of public access to goods and services. What must a building owner or service provider do to ensure complete compliance? The DDA applies equally in the work place. Most employers should by now be aware of their duties towards their customers. Are they aware, however, that in relation to employment, the DDA makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against disabled people for a reason related to their health condition when, for example, selecting people for a job or deciding who to promote or give a wage rise?
Employers also have a duty under the DDA to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled people. Whilst employers are not obliged to make adjustments in anticipation of employing a disabled person, he or she would have to put forward a detailed justification should a disabled job applicant, or employee who becomes disabled, feel discriminated against. The costs involved are often put forward as being prohibitive. But they need not be. Under the Government's Access to Work scheme, many disabled employees may be eligible for a grant, which will meet some or all of the cost. New Platform lift for external applications.
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Department store gives disabled shoppers a lift.
Disabled visitors to Palmers Department Store in Dereham, Norfolk have, quite literally, been given a lift. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs and other less mobile people can now easily visit the stores’ three sales floors, following the installation of a Moveman Companion Prestige platform lift.
Palmers opened as a small drapery store on Great Yarmouth market 165 years ago. Today, with six department stores in several of East Anglia's largest towns, the company employs over four hundred staff and is one of the largest independent retailers in the region. Dereham is typical of the market towns in the area. It is a busy and bustling place with many shops both in the market square and in the adjoining streets. Palmers Department store, conveniently located on Norwich Road, is just one of several imposing landmarks in the town. St Nicholas Church has a history going back to 654 AD, whilst spanning the road high above High Street is probably the largest town sign in East Anglia.
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CONTACT:
Moveman
123 Abbey Lane
Leicester
LE4 5QZ
Tel; 0116 225 2100
Fax: 0116 261 0397
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Launching the Lift
Wednesday 15th October was a red-letter day for disability sports in the Borders region of Scotland and, in particular, registered charity The Borders Wheelchair Curling Club. Rhona Martin MBE, the skip of the Olympic Gold medal winning British women's curling team, officially launched a new wheelchair lift at Border ice rink in Kelso.
The new lift, supplied by Moveman, enables disabled curlers and other people with mobility problems to access the second floor clubrooms at the ice rink. Prior to the installation of the lift, the club's disabled members were unable to use the excellent facilities and socialise with each other, an important aspect of any sport. To mark the s.jpg) pecial day, wheelchair curlers from all over Scotland and the north of England joined members of the Borders club to play in a bonspiel. Kate Caithness, the World Curling Federation Disabled Project Leader and member of the International Paralympics Committee also attended the event. (follow the 'more' link for a hi-res' picture.)
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Show your support
The Borders Wheelchair Club is representing England at the next world disabled curling championships, which are being held in January 2004 at Sursee in Switzerland. Any offers of financial support would be hugely welcome. To find out more call Jim Buchanan on 01289 304022 or email jim.buchanan@ntlworld.com.
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In the News...
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Millions of pounds have been saved due to improvements in the way incapacity and disability benefit entitlements are assessed, spending watchdogs have said. Processing claims more quickly and reducing a backlog of incapacity benefit claims from nearly 300,000 in 2001 to under 40,000 had saved taxpayers £50 million. The backlog is expected to be cleared within six months.
Liverpool Echo
15th Oct 03
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More than 150 able-bodied drivers have received £60 fines for using disabled spaces at a shopping centre. So far, 50 drivers issued with fixed-penalty notices have coughed up the cash. The £60 fine drops to £40 if drivers pay within seven days. Profits will be donated to charities for disabled people.
Leicester Mercury
3rd Oct 03
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A new report, Are We Nearly There Yet?, is remarkable for its insights into what it is like to be a wheelchair-using teenager in a mainstream school. Copies are available from arewenearlythereyet @btopenworld.com
Education Guardian
21st Oct 03
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