Access consultancy is a service that provides advice on how to make buildings and environments more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and other protected characteristics. Access Consultancy covers a wide range of areas like:
- Wheelchair Accessibility
- Digital Accessibility
- Web Accessibility
Welcome to The view from where I sit versus The view from where you sit!
DISABILITY RIGHTS:
There are different pieces of legislation that relate to access consultancy, such as: The Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers, employers, education providers and others to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people and to avoid discrimination based on protected characteristics.
Article 54 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 requires that a person with a disability to have: access and facilitation in educational institutions, reasonable access to all places, and access to device material. Additionally, at least 5% of elective and appointive positions are to be for PWDs.
I just recently found out that March 1st is International Wheelchair Day! International Wheelchair Day, is a global celebration of the profound impact wheelchairs have on the lives of millions around the world.
International Wheelchair Day 2024 promotes mobility, access, and inclusion. This is very important for access consultancy.
Key takeaways
- International Wheelchair Day was celebrated on March 1, 2024, to raise awareness of the challenges faced by wheelchair users and promote inclusion.
- The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Mobility, access and inclusion: Empowering independence’.
- United Spinal Association urged people to recognize the day and support disability inclusion.
The National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC), which is an independent accreditation service for individuals who provide access consultancy and access auditor services in the UK. The Information and Consultation Regulations, which require employers to establish arrangements for informing and consulting their employees on certain matters.
Kenya has not been able to meet the standards of this article due lack of political goodwill, ignorance of the law, and general and intentional overlook of the plight of PWD. Persons with Disabilities are still considered as people who should sit somewhere and wait for help and care.
In the few employment opportunities, is the work environment disability friendly to enable PWD thrive? The answer is NO!
1. What is the level of representation for PWD?
2. What is the level of accessibility?
3. What is the level of access to development and personal growth,
4. Are PWD considered for promotional opportunities?
5. What is the level of inclusivity in the organization or integration is the order of the day?
We must seek to answer these insightful questions to help us in identifying the gaps.
The Constitution under the Bill of Rights recognizes in Article 54 that persons with disabilities are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect and not to be referred to in a manner that is demeaning, to access educational institutions and facilities, to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information, to use sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication and to access materials and devices.
You can find more information about these and other relevant legislation on the websites of the sources I have referenced.
https://globaldisability.org/2016/04/01/review-kenya-persons-disabilities-act-2003-overdue#:~:text=The%20Constitution%20under%20the%20Bill%20of%20Rights%20recognizes,of%20communication%20and%20to%20access%20materials%20and%20devices.
https://www.evansjones.co.uk/services/access/access-audits.php
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2010362#:~:text=Posted%20On%3A%2029%20FEB%202024%207%3A46PM%20by%20PIB,on%20the%20lives%20of%20millions%20around%20the%20world.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2010362