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DIAL Doncaster, Unit 9, Shaw Wood Business Park, Shaw Wood Way, Doncaster, DN2 5TB
Communications
Last updated on 14/03/08
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Requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

GENERAL SITUATION
This heading includes all means by which information may be provided to those having any form of sensory impairment which might necessitate some kind of special provision.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Telephones

  1. Display panels and the telephone controls should be at a height of between 750 and 1000mm above floor level. Where several telephones are located, a range of fixed heights could be provided, to suit either standing or seated users.
  2. Where possible, a fold-down seat should be provided, at a height of between 450 and 520mm. There should be a shelf for baggage or for use of a portable text phone, with a surface height of 750mm. Support rails should be provided adjacent to any seating in the booth.
  3. Ideally, there should be a Minicom or text telephone available in each public building. At least one accessible telephone in a bank of telephones should be fitted with induction couplers and they should be appropriately identified.

Induction Loops and Infrared Systems

  1. An induction loop in any place where information is given verbally can be of great use to anyone wearing a hearing aid. They allow the hearing aid to pick up and amplify sound and the quality of the sound received by the hearing aid user is much improved because extraneous background noise is excluded.
  2. An induction loop is, essentially, a wire or cable which encircles a room or audience area and, through the use of microphone and amplifier, enables a hearing-aid user to pick up a clear signal without the usual problems of background noise associated with normal use of a hearing aid.
  3. A problem with normal induction loops is that the sound can be picked up by hearing aid users in adjacent rooms. Where this could be a problem - because of different activities in the rooms or for confidentiality reasons - then an infrared system might be more appropriate. But special receiving headsets are required which would need to be made available for loan. Another alternative, for round-the-table or one-to-one meetings or conversations, is the use of a miniloop system having a limited range.

Alarms

  1. Fire alarms and other audible alarms should be supplemented by visual alarms - such as flashing beacons - sited where they can be easily seen - for people with hearing impairments: Individual vibratory devices may be appropriate in some cases.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)

  1. Where bank premises are not accessible, ATMs are of importance to disabled people as they can offer a range of services. Individual ATMs are now generally designed with the needs of disabled people in mind, but it is equally important that their needs as regards approach, reach and eye level are taken into consideration in the siting of a machine. A defined privacy area will help private transactions to remain confidential where other people could otherwise see over those in wheelchairs or of short stature.

Audio Information

  1. Wall-mounted boxes, that provide audible information when an infrared beam is crossed or a button pushed, are available. They can give audible directions or other information. Being battery operated, they can be fixed permanently or just for the duration of a particular event.

Other Means of Communication

  1. There are many other situations where it is important, for safety or for other reasons - apart from the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act - where special consideration should be given to the needs of disabled people, These include Signs, Lifts, etc., Controls and Security Systems, all of which are dealt with separately within this publication.

CHECKLIST

  1. Are telephones wheelchair-accessible and designed for use by others who may
    be disabled? ( )
  2. Are Minicom or text telephones available? ( )
  3. Is there an induction loop or other facility to assist hearing aid users? ( )
  4. Is there provision for both visible and audible alarms? ( )
  5. Are there other facilities which take account of the needs of disabled people in receiving information? ( )

DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press,
DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.

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