Age Concern Wirral provides activities, training, information
and financial services for older people throughout Birkenhead
and Wirral. They provide services to over 1200 people
per week, Age Concern Wirral were particularly keen to
receive help from the Birkenhead Accessibility project
as 95% of their clients are over the age of 65 and a
high proportion (25.5%) have a disability. This compares
to 14% of the general population who have a disability.
Before the Inclusive Access project started,
a member of staff had been identified to co-ordinate the
organisation’s
response to the Disability Discrimination Act. She had
undertaken
research on the internet and instituted some improvements,
however she identified the need for further training and
help.
Age Concern Wirral received
access audits as well as disability awareness training
for 25 front line staff. In addition a further 6 supervisory/management
staff were trained to ensure access for disabled people
was considered at all levels in the organisation. This
has resulted in changes to management procedures, to
buildings and to staff attitudes.
Following the work, Age Concern Wirral are working
to integrate improved access into all their mainstream
activity. The organisation has attempted to build on
the impetus created by the training they received from
Inclusive Access to involve staff at all levels in taking
responsibility for improved access.
1. Staff are encouraged to report on any access barriers
they notice through an Access Incident Book. Taking part
in disability awareness training has given them the confidence
and knowledge to identify these issues.
2. Incidents are reported to the
Premises/Health & Safety
Committee, where actions are carried out as part of on-going
maintenance work this is authorised immediately.
3. Access for disabled people are now on the agenda at
the half-yearly meeting of the . This will allow more costly improvements to
be built into future financial and refurbishment plans,
as well as giving the Board an overview of access issues.
4. Improvements have been identified to
help a disabled member of staff to work more comfortably
and effectively.
5. Emergency procedures for evacuation
have been altered to take account of disabled people
A key part
of Age Concern Wirral’s
work is to provide information on issues such as health,
social services, fire safety and finance to help older
people live independently in the community. At a recent “Senior
Citizen’s Forum” five people of the 55 people
attending had severe hearing impairments. With the understanding
gained following disability awareness training staff reserved
seating at the front of the room for these visitors. Despite
this three people were still unable to hear the presentations.
Large print transcripts of the talks given at the Forum
were sent to these visitors to ensure they received the
information they needed. In the longer term it is planned
to provide a portable induction loop so that everyone at
meetings can have access to the information they need.
Reception staff
often have to take confidential details from clients, where
clients have
a hearing impairment it is difficult to keep these conversations
private. Induction loops which are to be installed at reception
counters will allow details to be taken without the need
for staff or clients to speak loudly.
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