We have a wide range of Automated Solutions for the frail and disabled, giving the person in need their independence back and security to their homes.

Almost 4 million Australians have a disability. About 50% of people aged over 55 have difficulty with their mobility, hearing or vision. By 2050 more than 25% of the population will be over 65. If we add their families, friends and colleagues the number of people affected by disability is larger still.

Each of these people is a potential customer, client and employee.

So good access to the buildings from which you operate and the services you provide makes good business sense. Good access also benefits others including parents of young children in prams; people with temporary illness of injury; older Australians; delivery people and shoppers with heavy bags or trolleys.

Improving access also helps businesses and service providers to meet existing legal responsibilities under discrimination law.

These guidelines have been developed to assist people with limited knowledge of building and discrimination law who want to look at ways to provide the best access possible to their buildings and services.

Are these guidelines designed for you?

These guidelines are designed for:

Businesses and service providers (for example, a hardware store, shopping centre, Government agencies or dentist surgery) wanting to improve their access, looking for new premises or re-designing services
Property Management agencies looking for property for a prospective client
Local Councils wanting to provide local businesses or development applicants with additional information
Businesses or service providers (for example, financial institutions, employment agencies, Government Departments or consultant bodies) that are required to comply with discrimination laws as part of contractual arrangements or who require sub-contractors to comply with discrimination law
Access consultants and others in the design, construction and certification area wishing to work with clients to identify access difficulty or provide building suitability’ reports on premises being considered for lease.

DOORWAYS

  • Is there good circulation space to enable people using mobility aids such as a wheelchair or walking frame to open and go through all doorways?
  • Are the doors heavy and difficult to open?
  • Are the door handles easy to use such a ‘D-shaped’ handles or difficult to manipulate such as round knobs?
  • If the doorway and surrounds are glass is there a clearly distinguishable colour-contrasting strip across the full width so that people with a vision impairment can more easily identify the doorway?

TOILETS

  • Do all toilets have clear identification signs including raised tactile and Braille information?
  • Is there a unisex accessible toilet at or close to the location of other toilet facilities and does it have the international symbol for access as well as the tactile and Braille signage?
  • Is the door to the toilet easy to open and close with handles and locks that are easy to manipulate?

Access consultants and others in the design, construction and certification area wishing to work with clients to identify access difficulty or provide building suitability’ reports on premises being considered for lease.