If the project involves designing a private home, Australian Standards AS 1428 parts 1 and 2 do not need to be complied with, but they are a good start for setting out dimensions and gradients etc to provide access to a particular person's needs.

Public buildings and amenities must be built according to the standards, which are available from SAI Global or call 13 12 42.

Checklists can also be useful to make sure that as many accessible design features as possible are incorporated in your plans. Two examples of access checklists that we have found are:

Development Control Plan: Design for Accessibility by the NSW Mid-western Regional Council and
Access Resource Kit by the Disability Services Commission of Western Australia.

Identify who is responsible for the facility and negotiate with them.

If a renovation is being or has recently been carried out to a shop or other public building and access is not provided, approach the local council or access committee to determine if access provisions were included in the Development Application. This includes lift access to the second story of a building if an essential service (ie a doctor’s surgery) is located on that floor.

Any access provisions need to comply with AS1428.1–4, (the Australian Standards for Access), Section D3, E3.6 and F2.4 of the Building Code of Australia 2010 and the Australian Human Rights Commission's (HREOC) Access to Premises Guidelines. Additional access provisions may also be required for compliance with the local Council Development Control Plans (DCP's).

Your local council access committee can provide advice about what modifications need to be made.

If you are not satisfied, you can lodge a complaint with HREOC. (Complaints Infoline 1300 656 419 or http://www.hreoc.gov.au/complaints_information/index.html).

Further advice, including locating an accredited access consultant, can be obtained from Association of Consultants in Access Australia.

Is this happening in your business? Your cashier is telling customers to buy elsewhere. Your receptionist isn't answering one out of every seven queries. You're refusing 14% of potential clients entrance to your premises. You're losing thousands of dollars because your business doesn't welcome new clients.

Impossible!!

No, it isn't. To some extent you're losing business if your premises are not accessible to people with disabilities.

Some Facts

Over 19% of the Australian population have a disability. That's more than 2.5 million people - people who require goods and services like anybody else. If these people encounter barriers to entering your premises they'll simply spend their money elsewhere. 

• Why should I spend good money making access?
• Because by doing so you'll open up new market opportunities.
• It's your legal obligation—Equal Access and Equal Opportunity are enshrined in a wide range of State and Federal laws: Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Acts, Building Codes and Australian Standards.

Changes that make sense 

• Ramped entrances and elevators as well as other modifications that will allow the maximum number of people to use your facilities
• Products that are well-designed and easy to use.
• Staff that is trained to communicate effectively with people who have disabilities.
• The development of a corporate culture of equity.

Some added bonuses

• A ramped entrance and elevator will not only allow access to people with physical disabilities; it will also be used by the elderly and by parents with children in prams.
• Occupational Health and Safety problems associated with the delivery and removal of goods will also be alleviated.
• Equal access will broaden your choices of prospective employees.
• Staff trained in the principles of communicating effectively with people who have disabilities will have improved communication skills with all customers.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia can help you improve access to your business premises.

We have extensive first-hand experience and knowledge of the day to day problems and challenges facing people with severe physical disabilities. These include such concerns as access to buildings and services, product usage and negative and obtrusive community/staff perceptions.

Further reading:

See the Missed Business Guide, a useful guide to help you to attract more customers by providing better access to your business.

The DDA requires equal access for people with disabilities to all buildings used by the general public—this includes heritage buildings.

Every opportunity must be taken to provide equal access. When conducting major renovations councils will require access provisions be made unless “unjustifiable hardship” can be demonstrated.

All efforts must be made to protect the heritage significance of the building.

Further information can be obtained from the Australian Heritage Commission. Improving Access to Heritage Buildings by Eric Martin.

Getting access to your home

There are a range of devices to enable everyone, regardless of their level of function, to independently access their front door and to allow others to enter. Read more....

Most major entertainment venues and tourist spots have good levels of access. For a venue to be classified as accessible for everyone it must have elements such as level entry, level paths and ramps and a wheelchair accessible toilet and facilities. The same things apply to indoor venues such as restaurants, theatres, museums and stadiums, and outdoors in parks and markets. Check websites or call venues to ask for specific details.

However there might be fewer needs to consider when planning for an individual. The starting point is to think about what you want to do and not to limit yourself to perfectly accessible places that are listed in a guidebook.

For many people the prime consideration is whether there is a wheelchair accessible toilet, either with the space to transfer onto it or with the privacy to selfcatheterise or use other equipment. The particular place you’d like to go might not have one, but there could be one nearby in a hotel, café, library, public toilet block etc. You may not need to use a toilet if you have a secure bowel program and use a catheter with large capacity bag or bottle that does not need to be emptied or can be emptied into a container or onto grass. People with quadriplegia might not be able to independently transfer out of their wheelchair and require a hoist, so a bowel or bladder accident could mean cutting the outing short even if there is an accessible toilet available.

If a venue has a step to get in to but everything else is suitable then you might not mind being helped in or you could take a portable ramp. Call SCInfo on 02 9661 8855 for a list of suppliers.

Transport to and from the venue will need to be considered. Unless you have your own vehicle that is appropriate the options are accessible taxis or public transport.

In Sydney call 8332 0200 to book a wheelchair accessible taxi and for information about accessible buses, trains and ferries call 131 500 or go to www.131500.info.

No. The role of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is to provide information concerning access and to encourage owners and developers of buildings to comply with the objectives of the DDA and the HREOC Access to Premises Guidelines.

Applications for exemptions up to five years can be made with HREOC, but HREOC does not have the power to grant unjustifiable hardship. A binding decision on what constitutes an unjustifiable hardship can only be made by the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court.

Issues of “unjustifiable hardship” are determined in the first instance by negotiation between the council and the owner undertaking the building or renovation. All relevant factors must be taken into account and may include the cost of eliminating barriers; any technical problems such as space availability; significant heritage issues; and the effect on all parties of removing the barriers.

Something may constitute an unjustifiable hardship for one organisation but not for another. For example, putting in a lift in a two storey building may constitute an unjustifiable hardship for a small family run business, but possibly not for a large commercial enterprise.

By building playground equipment that conforms to AS1428.3, Requirements for children and adolescents with physical disabilities. To obtain a copy of the standard, contact Standards Australia, ph 1300 65 46 46.

The National Centre on Accessibility (US) has information on inclusive playground design.

People working as access consultants generally have occupational therapy, architecture, building or engineering qualifications; or in some cases have used their own experiences as a person with a disability. Their professional ability has been developed by further study of the relevant legislation, codes and standards.

The Independent Living Centre of New South Wales offers a Professional Certificate in Accessible Buildings in association with the Master Builders Association of NSW and the Building Designers Association of NSW. The training is based on three competencies from the Access Consulting section of the Property Development and Management Training Package:

• Apply disability awareness to assessing access situations.
• Assess construction plans
• Apply building codes and standards to accessible large scale buildings

The Institute of Access Training Australia provides professional development and training in ‘Access for All’. This is aimed at people with responsibilities for ensuring equitable access is provided, to all services, facilities, communications, events, information, employment and the built environment, for people with disabilities and a range of access challenges.

Many friends and staff of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia belong and/or actively participate in their local communities through access related committees. Predominantly these are council based committees. The purpose of our involvement is to ensure that the built environment continues to be more accessible for all people.

For all access consultancy needs we recommend that you visit the official website of the Association of Consultants in Access, Australia and follow the links to search for an accredited Access Consultant. You should always ensure that the Access Consultant you use is an accredited member of this association.

Specific Information on barrier free housing

1. Housing For Life (published by The Master Builders Association of the ACT)
2. The Queensland Department of Housing have published a “Home access information checklist” and “Over 100 ways to improve access at home”. 
3. Center for Universal Design (USA)—a national research, information, and technical assistance center evaluating, developing and promoting universal design in housing, public and commercial facilities, and related products.
4. Flexhousing (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Canada, 2003).
5. Accessible Design, Universal Design, Barrier Free House Plans (B4UBuild.com Plan Center, US, 2002).

Advocacy groups for barrier free housing

1. Physical Disabilities Council of NSW, Housing position statement. 
2. Concrete Change: an international effort to make all homes visit-able, Georgia USA.
3. Accessible Housing Society, Canada.
4. Barrier free homes: Lessons from the three little pigs, by Occupational Therapist Adrian Good.

General Resources and Organisations

1. Housing and Accommodation Information, Physical Disability Council of NSW.
2. Australian Standards AS4299-1995: Adaptable housing and AS1428.1: Design for access and mobility. Parts 1-4, available from Standards Australia; ph 1300 65 46 46.
3. Welcome: design ideas for accessible homes. Building Commission Victoria.
4. Training programs: Fairhousing Accessibility first—fair housing instruction, resources, support, technical guidance. Bearing Point Inc., US, 2003.
5. Towards a common language for Functioning, Disability and Health—International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. World Health Organisation, Geneva, 2002.
6. Discrimination and Renting—information for NSW Real Estate Agents.  NSW Department of Fair Trading. 7. Guide to Planning Bathrooms and Kitchens, available from the Independent Living Centre NSW, 2003. Ph: 02 9808 2233.
8. Cash and cowboys: barriers for entry to private rental housing by disadvantaged consumers, Craig Johnston, NSW Council of Social Service, Surry Hills, NSW.
9. WA Disability Services Commission. Access Resource Kit. A guide to implementing your Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
10. The Right Door For Everyone. Universal design principles and resources (USA)

Organisations

1. Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales—investigates and conciliates complaints of discrimination, harassment and vilification.
2. Department of Housing New South Wales.
3. Shelter NSW—community-based, statewide, peak housing body, which aims to advance the housing interests of low-income and disadvantaged people in New South Wales on a non-party-political basis.
4. Real Estate Institute of New South Wales—the largest professional association for agents and other property professionals in Australia.

Demographics

1. Australian Social Trends, 4102.0 Australian Bureau of Statistics.
2. Disability, Ageing and Carers 4430.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics.
3. Fact sheet 1 – An Ageing Australia. Aged and Community Services Australia, Melbourne, VIC, 2011.