What is Access Consulting?
Ensuring compliance with Australian Disability Access Regulations.
Access Consulting is a range of services that ensure the places in our community—including private property, public environments, workplaces, sports venues, and all kinds of other spaces—comply with Australian Disability Access Regulations.
These regulations ensure that our community is safe and accessible for people of all abilities, including people with low vision or blindness.
What type of access consulting services are available?
There are many ways individuals and businesses can improve accessibility.
This includes access consulting for physical spaces, but also training courses to improve the accessibility of your workplace practices and operating procedures. Our access and accessibility consulting services cover the following areas:
- Providing full access appraisals on existing buildings, new buildings, commercial and private property, public spaces, community facilities, and more.
- Providing consultation at the planning and early construction stage.
- Helping you understand and meet relevant legislation and Australian standards while focusing on the reality of day-to-day functionality and usability.
- Providing ‘walk-and-talk’ opportunities to establish whether a full access appraisal is needed.
- Helping other qualified Access Consultants to interpret the functional implications of access requirements and advising on best-practice for considerations of people with low vision or blindness.
- Considering all access factors: including but not limited to tactile ground surface indicators, pedestrian and wheelchair access, accessible signage, luminance contrast, and more.
- Providing professional reports and documented recommendations.
- Digital accessibility training: Our self-paced online courses will help you or your staff to create documents and emails that are accessible to everyone. Learn more about digital accessibility training
- Disability inclusion training: The training is suitable for any organisation or group who would like to make their service or venue more inclusive. It is particularly relevant for groups and organisations like public transport providers, taxi and rideshare services, hospitals, universities, local government, and hospitality and cultural institutions. Learn more about digital inclusion training
- Access and technology consulting for vision: We can advise on the development of new products and technologies, bringing both lived and learned experience to the design, prototyping and testing phases. We can also assist you to understand the technologies that people with blindness or low vision use to navigate the built environment, and access information in print and online. Learn more about access and technology consulting for vision
Who can benefit from access consulting?
Access consulting benefits everyone.
Everyone benefits from ensuring that a wide range of spaces are accessible and inclusive for people with all abilities. More specifically, an access appraisal can assist:
- Architects
- Property developers
- Body corporates
- Local governments
- Private business
- Sporting venues
- Educational institutions
- Shops and department stores
- Libraries
- Hospitals
Why do I need access consulting as a business owner or manager?
Access consulting contributes to a safe, inclusive community. Importantly, it also brings buildings and spaces into compliance with Disability Access Regulations.
These regulations ensure that public spaces, buildings, transportation and other services are accessible to people living with disabilities. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to complaints and legal action through the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Some of the regulations relating to disability access and accessibility include:
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- National Construction Code
- Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010
- The Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010
- The New South Wales Disability Inclusion Act 2014
- Queensland Development Code
- Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
- Northern Territory Building Act 1993
About our access consultants
All Guide Dogs Access Consultants are registered Associate Members of the Access Consultants Association.
The Access Consultants Association (ACA) is the peak Australian body for members working to achieve accessibility of the built environment. In addition to their membership with the ACA, Access Consultants have qualifications, rigorous training, and professional experience in assisting people with low vision or blindness to move through environments confidently and safely. At Guide Dogs, all Access Consultants have a professional background in one of the following roles.
-
1. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists
These highly trained specialists work alongside people with low vision and blindness, teaching practical, sophisticated skills for safe and independent travel. You can learn more about Orientation and Mobility here. -
2. Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists work with people with low vision and blindness. Their role involves adapting home environments and teaching skills and techniques that allow people to move through the world with confidence. You can learn more about Occupational Therapy here.
Ready to continue?
Seems like you have filled this form earlier. Let’s pick up where you left off.
