Accessing a business premises or workplace is more than just being able to get in the door. Once in, a person must be able to use all the facilities, including bathrooms, toilets, kitchen or tearoom areas.
For people with disabilities consideration must also be given to the accessibility of the workplace driveway, location of parking facilities in relation to the building, pathways and building signage (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 2007; Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2005).
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Being able to get to and from work is the first step in accessing the workplace. A number of transport options are available:
For people driving to the workplace, driveway access, parking facilities and clear and accessible walkways need to be considered.
Modifications to toilet and kitchen areas can be made to make them more accessible to people with disability. This could include widening doorways to allow a wheelchair to pass through, adjusting toilet or bench heights, installation of rails for increased safety or transfer assistance, tap modifications for easier operation, removal of small steps between rooms or installation of ramps. See links below for more information on modifications to toilet and kitchen areas:
Stairs can be difficult for people with physical disability to use, so many buildings install ramps, elevators, stair lifts and chair lifts to help people get from one floor to the next:
If you are employing a person who uses a service animal, you should make sure that the animal can access the area and that there are facilities available for the animal, including fresh drinking water.
To find out more about reasonable adjustments for people with disability, read:
Access auditors and consultants can also be consulted for specific disability access advice in your workplace (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 2007; VicRoads 2005; Association for the Blind of WA 2007; Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2005). For more information see:
In some situations where an individual with a disability requires building modifications that enable them to carry out their work they may be eligible to apply for funding assistance for these modifications through the Workplace Modifications Scheme:
Other job requirements or solutions
References
Association for the Blind of WA 2007, Guide Dogs in WA— Puppy Raising, Association for the Blind of WA, Perth, viewed 31 August 2007, http://www.abwa.asn.au/guidedogsinwa.htm
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 2007, Access to buildings and services: Guidelines and information, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney, viewed 31 August 2007, http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/buildings/guidelines.htm
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 2007, The good, the bad and the ugly: Design and construction for access, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney, viewed 31 August 2007, http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/buildings/good.htm
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia 2005, Access in the built environment, Sydney, viewed 31 August 2007, http://www.scia.org.au/faq/access_in_the_built_environment
VicRoads 2005, Disabled Persons Parking Schemes in Australia, VicRoads, Melbourne, viewed 31 August 2007, http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/BB2E3307-9AB0-48B9-9CEF-E03903A7E0EE/0/TR2005260v4.pdf