Disability - Needs and Adjustments

Reasonable adjustment’s and provision’s made since the Disabled Discrimination Act 1995 came into force in the UK, to provide for politician’s who are visually or hearing impaired and/or physically disabled or have other types of disabilities. 

The Northern Ireland Assembly has continually tried to improve access and facilities for all building users and visitors to Parliament Buildings, when open to the public between 9.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.  Since 2006 the Assembly has carried out extensive work at Parliament Buildings to improve physical access to the building.

A programme of work was completed in 2006 to enable compliance with the DDA regulations.  Work included the provision of additional handrails, contrast strips on stairs, and additional lift and alterations to existing lifts.

Please see the table below for details of physical access / service improvements from 2005 – 2013.

Physical Access/Service Improvements 2005 – 2013

Physical Access Audit

In 2010 the Northern Ireland Assembly commissioned access audits by Disability Action and RNIB.  The audits looked at how physical access could be improved both internally and externally.  Following this they provided us with a range of recommendations which assisted the Assembly in developing a programme of work that could be undertaken in the short term as well as longer term projects.  As the Assembly is not responsible for the wider Stormont Estate the recommendations for these areas of responsibility were passed to the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) for consideration.  Working with DFP, we were able to install additional drop kerbs etc. within the Estate and alterations to the bus shelters to make them more accessible. 

Following the audits it was recommended that a changing places facility was provided and as such one was installed on the ground floor. This provides fully accessible public toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The changing places facility provides a safe, clean and spacious environment and includes an adult-sized, height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist, a centrally placed toilet with room either side for carers, a screen or curtain to allow the disabled person and carers some privacy, wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench, a large waste bin for disposable pads and a non-slip floor.  Working closely with MENCAP we were able to ensure that we met the needs of all building users and visitors within the facility and have advertised it’s available on the changing places website http://www.changing-places.org/

Working in conjunction with RNIB, the Assembly produced a tour guide which provides, in braille, historical and general information on Parliament Buildings and the Northern Ireland Assembly. It also includes a tactile map of the entrance, Great Hall, Assembly and Senate Chambers, and tactile images of the front of Parliament Buildings, the Assembly logo, the ceiling of the Great Hall, the linen damask wall covering of the Senate and an overview plan of the Assembly Chamber.  A copy of the braille guide can be borrowed from reception and the events team and education officers also hold copies.

In addition to this a ‘spend area’ has been created in the upper east car park for assistance dogs as the Northern Ireland Assembly welcomes assistance dogs onto the premises.

On 24 May 2011 the “Louder than Words” charter mark was awarded to the Northern Ireland Assembly following a lengthy audit process, during which the organisation was required to demonstrate a commitment to improving access and services to deaf and hard of hearing people. The Northern Ireland Assembly became the first legislature in the United Kingdom to be awarded the prestigious Action on Hearing Loss “Louder than Words” best practice charter mark. Some Assembly staff have undergone training in deaf awareness and communication tactics to ensure that they are able to recognise and facilitate the very particular needs of deaf and hard of hearing visitors. One of our tour guides is proficient in sign language and twenty members of staff recently attended basic sign language training. New equipment such as an upgrade to the hearing loop system, additional signage and the introduction of whispering tour equipment has been introduced. Deaf Alerter Fire Alarm Warning Messaging Systems are also available at the building.  Any visitor who requires the use of one should ask at Reception for more information.

In November 2011, the Northern Ireland Assembly began making the building more accessible and friendly for people with autism. This started with some physical changes to the building such as setting up a quiet room behind our reception area and looking at our signage for example, placing warning stickers on noisy hand dryers and symbols on toilet doors.  Autism awareness training was rolled out to front line staff in December 2011 and March 2012, with 90 staff attending training voluntarily. 10 Autism Champions were created and Champions received further training in September 2012.  Autism Champions act as points of contact if anyone with autism needs assistance.  The Assembly has also produced an access video showing what to expect when someone arrives at the entrance to the Stormont Estate and makes their way up to Parliament Buildings.  An autism consultation group helped with the content and direction of the video and their assistance was fantastic.  Although this video is on the autism webpage it is a useful guide for anyone visiting Parliament Buildings.  A page on the Assembly website providing information to visitors on the Autistic spectrum has been developed and includes useful contacts, links, the access video, guidance and information on sensory issues that may be encountered. The link to the webpage is here: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/Visit-and-Learning/Visiting/Autism-and-the-Assembly/ 

This work culminated in November 2011 with the Northern Ireland Assembly being the first public building to receive the NAS Access Award.  Following this, staff from the Assembly, have provided information and advice to other organisations and legislatures as to how they could achieve the accreditation.

The table above outlines all of the ‘physical works’ completed in and around  Parliament Buildings since 2006.  With the exception of the five large projects and the associated costs provided below, most of this work was completed as part of on-going maintenance work and it would be difficult to identify costs of individual items.  In addition, Stormont Estate is the responsibility of the Department of Finance & Personnel and therefore some external works completed within the estate including dropped kerbs etc. were completed in association with the Department of Finance and Personnel who paid for these works. 

Costs

DDA Project £1.05million

Chamber Project £280k

Changing Places £22k

Ramps £260k

Committee Rooms £88,434

Should you wish to contact the Department of Finance and Personnel directly with regards this issue, please forward your request to info.csd@dfpni.gov.uk