Services

Access Auditing & Consultancy

Making your services more accessible

Has your business, service or organisation responded to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)? Since October 1st 2004, Part III of the DDA has made it legally imperative to carry out “reasonable adjustments” to any physical feature that restricts disabled access. That means that all businesses now have a legal, as well as moral, obligation to respect the rights of disabled customers and to ensure that no aspect of their operation is overlooked which could be considered exclusive.

But this is not just a question of obligation. Approximately one sixth of the UK population has some form of disability. As a business, don’t you want to make sure that as many customers as possible can access your goods or services? LifeStyle’s Access Auditing service will ensure that your business is not shut off from this huge potential customer base, by conducting an expert assessment of your premises and operating practices and advising you on the best way to make your organisation accessible.

We can then supply you with any equipment you need, train you and your staff in disability awareness and equality issues, and ensure that all your business practices comply with all three parts of the Act.

Access Consultancy: 020 8752 9660

For a free initial consultation, to find out more about making your business more accessible, call LifeStyle Access & Mobility any time between 9:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday and 10:00am to 4:30pm, Saturday, or come and see us at 373-375 Uxbridge Road, London W3.

Disability Awareness and Equality Training

Providing greater understanding through training

Greater understanding of a wide range of disabilities, equality awareness, and good etiquette in dealing with disabled people, are essential for everyone. These skills enhance customer service, generate goodwill, and help to remove misunderstanding and discrimination

We are able to offer individuals, special interest groups, charities, businesses and other organisations a range of training aids to improve their awareness of and interaction with disabled people.

Staff equality training: the Interact training program

Developed by our associate company Configure in response to the needs of both large and small service providers, Interact consists of an equality training video, "Getting In On the Act", and a distance learning package focussed specifically at the providers of goods and services.

The video, available in VHS or DVD, clearly articulates the appropriate adjustments required to provide equal service to all customers, and the learning points are reinforced by a workbook and online equality training assessment. Staff are issued a certificate to show they have successfully completed the awareness training.

Interact “Train the Trainer” package

Configure’s detailed training modules enable larger organisations to deliver awareness and equality training in-house.

Awareness, Equality and Lifestyle seminars and workshops

Bespoke awareness and equality workshops, with themes on a range of issues, from accessible transport to access to work, from leisure pursuits to travel, can be developed, and presented by professionals experienced in all aspects of disabled people’s lifestyle.

For a full list of available seminars, contact LifeStyle on 020 8752 9660

Auxiliary Aids and Equipment

Support for people with sensory impairments

Auxiliary Aids are pieces of equipment or facilities that typically provide support for people with sensory impairments, such as sight or hearing loss. The requirement for all service providers to make appropriate auxiliary aids available to customers has been law since 1999.

Signage & Wayfinding

In addition to the 20,000 people in the UK who read Braille, and estimated 200,000 people can read embossed or tactile signs, with raised letters & symbols.

Good signage greatly improves the ease with which people of all abilities gain access to goods & services. In association with Configure Ltd, we are able to offer a vast range of bespoke tactile signs, employing clear colour contrast and a full range of character heights.