| p>Our take on what an Access Audit should give to | | | | consultant for guidance and firm advice. |
| the client | | | | In my opinion the very term Consultant implies that |
| A DDA Audit should give the client clear, | | | | you are an expert and thus have sufficient |
| unambiguous advice to help the client to improve the | | | | knowledge to make firm recommendations to the |
| accessibility of their service to members of the public | | | | client. If you are not able to do so then I do not feel |
| and thus offer them protection under the DDA. | | | | that you should be calling yourself an Access |
| When dealing with buildings the DDA auditor should | | | | Consultant. |
| 'follow the journey' of a customer or visitor starting | | | | To give an example; if I broke my leg I would |
| from the site boundary (or even beyond) and then | | | | expect the Orthopaedic Surgeon to tell me exactly |
| working systematically through the building and | | | | how to repair it. I would not expect the Consultant |
| facilities as a member of the public would. Thus one | | | | to say 'Well we could bandage it up and see if it |
| would typically expect DDA audit headings to begin | | | | heals, we could put it in a cast or we could fix the |
| with Approach and Car Parking and then lead to | | | | bones together with screws and plates. Your choice?' |
| Entrances, Reception, Corridors, Vertical Circulation, | | | | This is of course a somewhat facetious example but |
| Toilets, Meeting Rooms etc etc. | | | | I do feel strongly that a competent Access |
| The DDA auditor should clearly identify barriers to | | | | Consultant should be making recommendations in a |
| access for all disabled users (not just wheelchair | | | | clear unambiguous fashion. In terms of how these |
| users) encountered along this route and then outline | | | | results are presented there are numerous different |
| options for their removal. I would expect the DDA | | | | formats but it presents best practice to list each |
| auditor or consultant to then discuss the | | | | recommendation and provide a priority rating and |
| 'reasonableness' of each option and make a firm | | | | cost banding or detailed budget cost for each item. |
| recommendation to the client as to which option to | | | | These recommendations should be allied to a detailed |
| implement and when to do so. | | | | discussion of each barrier and the options available |
| I have seen numerous DDA audits where the auditor | | | | for removing it which can then be used by the client |
| has simply identified the options without making a | | | | to justify actions taken (or even inactions) where |
| recommendation to the client. I consider this to be of | | | | challenged at a later date. |
| little value to the client who is usually paying the | | | | |