Access and its Complementations have?

_*Access*_

*Introduction*

_*Barriers*_

A lack of awareness and education exists among architects, designers and
service providers as to how to include people with a disability in the
provision of full accessibility in buildings.

_*Lack of accessible facilities.*_

Access sometimes focuses only on wheelchair users. However, visually
impaired people and others need to be included, too. Often there is
nowhere to socialise. An inability to full participate in activities is
often due to inappropriate access to the service. Frequently, there are
no subtitles in cinemas. People with hidden disabilities e.g. epilepsy,
are not always able to access facilities. The lack of audio facilities
for people who are visually impaired needs to be highlighted.
Spring-loaded doors in buildings should be replaced with automatic doors
for ease of access. It is a well-known fact that the most and best
facilities are Dublin- based with a drip feed to the rest of the country.

_*Swimming*_

In relation to swimming, it is a fact that public pools are not
available throughout the region and private hotel pools are not
accessible due to the high cost of membership. Pools that exist and have
a hoist system in place for access by disabled persons generally do not
have them in operation.

_*Schools*_

School gyms are not fully equipped to cater for young disabled people.
Disabled people have to adapt to the facilities available. Changing
rooms/toilets are not usually designed to include the needs of disabled
people.

_*Lack of information and communication barriers*_

People do not know how to communicate with those who are deaf or blind,
of who have autism or a learning disability. Many exhibitions, or other
public spaces, are not inclusive of the communication needs of people
with disabilities. There is too much high level English on signs,
information flyers, newspapers and government documents.

_*Funding*_

A lack of funding is often a barrier for individuals/service providers
to adapt their facilities.

_*Cost*_

Many people with disabilities face barriers of cost, due to having no
self-incomer and depend on carers, parents and others to pay bills. A
major problem is that if they are unable to get there, they cannot avail
of leisure facilities. Finance is a major barrier as many people with a
disability are living below the poverty line., again with parents
meeting the cost because of no self-income. Those living in the Border
region accessed facilities in Northern Ireland, which is better, but
often not available.

_*Support*_

A lack of support exists from organisations to gain access to activities
such as Arts and Crafts. There is not always the opportunity to
participate because of a lack of personal assistances or a lack of staff
as sometimes a high level of support is needed. Often there is a need to
ask for help as it is not always forthcoming and this reduces independence.

_*Fear*_

Fear is often a barrier for some in participating in activities and
having to admit they cannot take part

_*Society's attitude*_

Society's attitude can prevent the participation of people with a
disability in everyday activities. People's attitude to people in
restaurants etc, due to the lack of awareness and fear of doing wrong
things is a problem. If people have balance difficulties, they are
generally perceived as being intoxicated. The current travel pass is of
little use due to the non-existence of public transport in many rural areas.

_*Parking Bays*_

Parking facilities for people with a disability are still inadequate.
There is a lack of designated parking spaces in both public and private
areas.

_*Transport*_

Transport to schools, cinemas, leisure activities etc, is inadequate to
include full participation. There is a need for access to taxis for the
deaf, including mobile text facilities. There are no loops in taxis. CIE
has a poor awareness of the needs of people with disabilities; e.g.,
there are no signs on trains or buses to inform deaf people which stop
they are at.

_*Wheelchairs*_

The standard manually propelled wheelchair is 660mm wide and 1065mm
long. This standard is likely to change in time, to around
700mm-X-1200mm. However, many people use chairs which are either larger
or smaller than the standard dimensions, and it is unwise to rely on the
personal experience of an individual user when considering whether
building access or facilities are adequate in any particular situation.

A wide range of powered wheelchairs is available for indoor, outdoor or
combined use. Most require a minimum 1700mm diameter turning circle.
Electric scooters, generally for outdoor use but sometimes used indoors,
are bigger. Some people's feet extend beyond the wheelchair footpaths.
My own feet extend over 200mm.

"As people with disabilities, we must also accept the responsibilities
that are associated with the ups, as well as the downs, of life." "We do
not want to be singled out for special attention, just to be treated as
equals and to enjoy the benefits other citizens expect as a right".