09/12/2007

DCS News Alert for: Disability discrimination act

Ban stiles and kissing gates: a demand too far
Daelnet - Skipton,England,UK
... in the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act. This toughened up the already quite strict laws to allow disabled people, and particularly wheelchair users, ...
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What DCS Thinks about the Kissing Gates and Stiles issue.

The first thing that springs to mind is whether the original report was a rather exaggerated attempt by a news paper to create an eye stopping headline. Yes, we already know wheelchair users have problems accessing stiles (a bit obvious really) and kissing gates, but is there any point in doing something about them if they are in the middle of a muddy swamp or half way up a mountain and are either rarely or never going to be used by a wheelchair user?

Remember that the DDA only requires reasonable adjustments to be made?

Well, here is a simple but sensible solution, I know it is not new idea but it is a good one:-

Action for Better Access are already running a scheme which Star Rates service providers on the level of accessibility on offer and is designed to give a guideline to any disabled person as to whether the service is likely to be accessible for their level of disability.

Now wouldn't it be far better to change the stiles and kissing gates on the wheelchair accessible paths?

That is the ones where there is a reasonable chance of a wheelchair or ambulant disabled person being able to get from one end to the other and leave the rest as they are?

Then Star Rate all footpaths for accessibility so that disabled users can them check out before turning up with the expectation of using them, when clearly they would not be able to. That will avoid any disappointment and a wasted journey. The powers that be should speak to Action for Better Access and get the ball rolling or should I say the wheelchair?