Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Tom rolls out plans to open doors for all By: Michael GallagherThe age-old problem of access to buildings and parking spaces for disabled people still exists but a Newport man has been making great efforts to come up with solutions.Tom Chambers is the Access Officer with the PWDI (People with disabilities Ireland) and he’s revelling in the role. He has been a tireless campaigner for disabled rights over the years and believes that the message is slowly getting through“Many developers have provided excellent access for the disabled but there are a number still out there who would look the other way if they got away with it. A lack of awareness and education exists among some architects, designers and service providers as to how to include people with a disability in the provision of full accessibility in buildings. Their actions are very distressing and they have no excuse because all they have to do is contact me and I will fill them in on all the regulations. Access sometimes focuses only on wheelchair users, however visually impaired people and others need to be included too. Facilities must be designed with everyone in the community in mind and this has to be correctly implemented.”The concept of ‘design for all” was introduced after the BarcelonaDeclaration came into being in 1995. The declaration was designed to enable local authorities to introduce measures that make cities, towns and villages accessible for all.Tom is regularly consulted by the local authorities and private developers when buildings are being designed and this has helped the situation greatly, he believes.“Simple consultation with the PWDI can divert a lot of problems. There’s little sense in providing wheelchair accessible toilets if disabled people cannot get into the building. There’s little point providing access at the front door if the building has stairs and no lift. A little thought, planning and consultation can go a long way.”
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PWDI has been campaigning for disabled peopleís rights throughout the country and in Mayo the Public Relations Officer, Edel Cadden is a busywoman.“We try to inform people as to their rights and let then know what isavailable to them and as Mayo is such a large and diverse county it can be a busy but very rewarding job.”In Newport the work done by Tom and the PWDI is obvious for all to see. A number of disabled carparking bays are situated throughout the town.“Not only are these badly needed in all towns but they also attract people to Newport because it’s easier for them to come here, park up and go about their business. Of course we’re also asking that other drivers respect these spaces and not park in them if they’re not disabled drivers.We received great help from Dr. Lennon here in Newport in the provision of a disabled parking bay outside the Health Centre and from Eugene Connolly at the County Clinic and Seamus Mongan at St. Maryís Hospital. We have a lot of other projects in the pipeline and in conjunction with Cyril Aitken, Senior Executive Engineer and Simon Wall, Architect for the Westport Electoral area weíre working on other places in the area where access for the disabled can be improved. When we work as a team anything can be achieved.”Tom can be contacted on 098-41545 and Edel Cadden can be reached on 096-30174.