Friday, August 27, 2010

For info - will follow up again after ICGP meeting

Regards,

Laura

Laura Behan, Road Safety & Traffic Division, Department of Transport
Tel: 604 (1422) E-mail: laurabehan@transport.ie

-----Original Message-----
From: Press Office - Department of Transport
Sent: 09 July 2010 14:38
Subject: Dempsey publishes review of Disabled Parking Scheme 8 July 2010

Press release 8 July 2010

Dempsey publishes review of Disabled Parking Scheme

The Minister for Transport, Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D., today published the findings of his Department's review of the Disabled Parking Scheme. The Disabled Parking Scheme gives local authorities the power to designate special on-street parking bays for people with disabilities and to grant special parking permits to qualifying people with severely restricted mobility. The Scheme has been in operation since 1997 and the purpose of the review was to examine the existing operation of the Scheme, to make recommendations and suggest new measures to improve the Scheme. The overall outcome of the review is to ensure that more specific disabled parking bays are available to those most in need of them.

Key recommendations from the review include:

§ Changing the medical eligibility criteria for the Disabled Person's Parking permit

§ New measures to reduce the fraudulent use of permits

§ An increase in the size of some types of parking bays

§ The introduction of new types of disabled parking bays

§ Giving powers to local authorities to introduce time restricted parking spaces and

§ New set down and pick-up only disabled spaces.

Speaking today, Minister Dempsey said: "I have accepted the findings of the review and approved the proposed recommendations for amendment of the scheme. I wish to express my thanks to our colleagues in the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association, for their assistance in conducting the review."

The review of the Disabled Parking Scheme was carried out by the Department of Transport, in co-operation with the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association. Local Government and other disability interests were consulted, together with recommended consultants in the cardiac and respiratory fields. In addition, the Garda National Traffic Bureau was consulted on enforcement issues. The review also took into account the concerns that arose as a result of contacts with local authorities, Disability access groups and the general public.

The scheme was established to provide wider, longer parking bays close to services such as post offices, banks, pharmacies and shops for people for whom access to such services would be denied if they could not park and disembark either because of the size of a parking bay or because their limited mobility required that they park within a short distance of a service. The review examined the elements of the scheme and makes recommendations to secure the better functioning of the scheme with the positive objective being to ensure that more specific disabled parking bays are available to those most in need of them.

The Minister concluded: "These and the other recommendations of the review will be implemented by my Department and the issuing authorities between now and the end of 2010 through revised Regulations. The new Disabled Drivers Permits will also incorporate improved anti-fraud measures to ensure that disabled parking bays in our towns and cities are available to those most in need of them."

ENDS

Further information:

Department of Transport Press Office: (01) 604 1090 / (01) 604 1091.

Editors:

A series of FAQ's on the review of the Disabled Parking Permit Scheme is set out below.

FAQ's on the review of the Disabled Parking Permit Scheme

Why was there a review of the Disabled Parking Permit Scheme?

The review examined several aspects of the disabled parking scheme, including eligibility for the permit, enforcement, the issuing of permits and the designation of parking bays. The review makes a number of key recommendations. These are:

Eligibility

· The medical eligibility criteria should be revised to focus more on the level of mobility impairment rather than the type of disability and to tighten the cardiac/respiratory criterion to include only those for whom walking, even short distances, is extremely difficult, detrimental or impossible

· Continuation of the exemption of Primary Medical Certificate holders and those registered as blind from further medical assessment in qualifying for the permit;

· A change in the focus of the role of GPs from certification of eligibility to provision of medical information to decision makers within the issuing authorities;

· The introduction of a right of review of decisions on eligibility for the parking permit.

Designated parking bays

· Local authorities should be allowed to impose time restrictions on parking in some designated disabled bays to maximize efficient use of available bays;

· A new type of set down and pickup only disabled bay to be allowed;

· Increase in prescribed dimensions of some types of disabled parking bay;

Enforcement

· The permit should have improved anti-fraud measures.

Issuing of permits

· The Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland should remain the issuing authorities;

· The Issuing authorities should be permitted to charge a higher fee (currently EUR25), for the card to reflect higher card issuing costs incorporating improved anti-fraud measures.

How will these recommendations be implemented?

a) The preparation of revised regulations implementing the recommended statutory amendments;

b) The issuing to local authorities of an associated circular with the revised regulations setting out the relevant revised terms of the scheme (designated bay size, road markings and signage, potential for new time-based restrictions etc);

c) The approval by the Department of revised terms and conditions of the scheme and revised level of fee with the issuing authorities; and

d) Consulting with the Irish College of General Practitioners regarding information dissemination on the revised role of GPs and new medical eligibility criteria and on the establishment of an appeals panel.

When will the recommendations be implemented?

>Between now and the end of this year.

Will all existing parking permits need to be renewed immediately?

> It is intended that as and when permits come up for renewal, the holders will have to meet the new criteria in order to have their permits renewed.

So how do I apply for a parking permit now?

>The Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) will remain the issuing authorities for disabled drivers permits. Applicants should continue to apply to either of these bodies. An application currently involves:

* A declaration of personal details on request for an application form
* A GP assessment
* A form stamped by the Gardai to confirm the identity of the applicant.

Following the introduction of the proposed new criteria, the key difference will be that GPs will be requested to provide to the issuing authority (at the request of their patients) the required medical information by responding to a series of questions on the application form. The issuing authority (IWA or DDAI) will then take the decision regarding the appropriateness of granting a permit.

Why is the fee for a disabled parking permit being increased?

>The current charge for the issuing of a permit is EUR25, and the review recommends allowing the issuing authorities to charge a higher fee, up to a maximum of EUR35. This is being done to allow for the introduction of a new card format with improved anti-fraud measures built into the card, and in recognition that the number of cards issued by the issuing authorities will fall with, at least over the next two years, no corresponding reduction in administration and issuing costs.

Were disability organisations consulted in the conduct of this review?

>Yes. The review was carried out by the Department of Transport, in co-operation with the two permit issuing authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland. During the course of the review, local government and disability interests were consulted. Recommended medical/surgical consultants in the cardiac and respiratory fields assisted with the development of revised medical criteria. The Garda National Traffic Bureau was consulted on the enforcement issues. The review also took into account concerns arising regarding the scheme from contacts with local authorities, Disability Access Groups and correspondence from public representatives and the general public.

So how widespread is fraud?

>The disabled parking permit issuing authorities have observed, (particularly in more recent years), a significant increase in the incidence of fraudulent cards notified to them.

Types of offence can include forging or fraudulently altering or using a disabled parking permit, knowingly giving particulars that are false or misleading in connection with an application for a disabled parking permit, and fraudulently lending to, or allowing a disabled parking permit to be used by someone else.

The wider availability of colour photocopying and laminating machines has meant that production of fraudulent disabled parking cards has become easier and more common; despite the use of anti-fraud measures such as holographic images on the current card.

The review makes the point that current guidelines on eligibility focused on identifying particular conditions, rather than on the level of mobility impairment that those conditions involved.

The review recommends a refocusing of guidelines to emphasise that permits should be given only in the cases for which the scheme was originally designed. That is, people whose conditions lead to serious mobility impairment.

The recommendation of the review is that GPs should now certify that an applicant has a given level of mobility impairment. The final decision on granting a permit rests with the IWA or DDAI. This will create greater clarity and transparency in the system, as it will mean that GPs certify level of mobility impairment and IWA/DDAI check and approve it, rather than having one person do both. This is not a reflection on GPs, and should rather reduce some of the burden placed on them by the operation of the scheme.

Will local authorities have to devote more on-street parking spaces to disabled parking spaces?

>The level of provision of designated bays by local authorities is a matter for local authorities and beyond the scope of the statutory scheme.

Revisions to the Part M Technical Guidance Document of the Building Regulations (currently being considered for introduction) regarding access for people with disabilites to and use of facilities, which would be mandatory in new buildings and existing buildings when extended or materially altered from 1 July 2011 will potentially provide that where on-site car parking is provided, whether for residents, employees, visitors or others, a number of designated disabled car-parking spaces should be provided on a proportional basis. In general for new buildings (including apartment buildings), 5% of the total number of spaces would be designated disabled car-parking spaces, with a minimum provision of at least one such space.

This 5% provision is generally considered appropriate by planners for local authority and private construction, although it has no application in respect of on-street car parking except as a guideline minimum. However, it would provide a useful benchmark for local authorities to measure against.

How will the new 'set down and pick up' parking spaces work?

>The review recommends introducing a new type of parking space for setting down and picking up only. These spaces would be for the benefit of passengers with disabilities, and could be especially useful at accessible public transport stops or interchanges or at commercial areas with high parking demand. Such set down and pick up bays would enable improved access for people with disabilities, and would complement but not be a substitute for designated disabled parking bays.

Who is going to operate the appeal process for those refused a permit. How do I apply?

>The precise mechanism for handling appeals remains to be finalised. The review recommends that appeals against refusals of applications for permits be dealt with by qualified medical professionals. Proposals in this regard will be explored in more detail with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

Why is my gender and year of birth on my permit?

>It is an anti-fraud measure, designed to make it easier to verify, that the person using a disabled parking space is the person for whose benefit the permit was issued. It does not increase the possibility of personal identification by a casual passer-by.

What is changing about restricted or paid-on street parking and vehicles with a disabled parking permit?

>Currently parking regulations provide that in areas of restricted or paid on-street parking, a vehicle may only be parked for the indicated maximum length of time and may not be re-parked in that place within an hour after being removed. Holders of disabled parking permits had an exemption from that rule allowing them to re-park within an hour or remain parked in an on-street restricted parking space. Local authorities could not impose restrictions on the maximum duration of parking in those spaces.

This has had the unintended effect of exacerbating the difficulties experienced by some disabled person's parking permit holders in accessing bays close to high demand and necessary services, as some bays have in effect been occupied all day. It has also made it harder for local authorities to meet the parking needs of all. Removal of this exemption will allow local authorities more flexibility to impose maximum parking lengths of time or to allow all day parking depending on the demand and utilisation patterns for given bays and local circumstances.

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bheith mídhleathach.

The information in this email is confidential and may be legally
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If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying,
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***********************************************************

Cllr Austin Frances O Malley

Doughmakeon

Roonagh

Westport

Co. Mayo

7/7/2008

Dear Austin,

I would like to thank you for setting up the meeting with Padraic Philbin area engineer for Newport Town on July 2^nd 08,

We had a good walkabout of the town and Padraic and I agreed the areas that needed attention. He gave me a commitment subject to money being available to do certain remedial works this year.

The ramp to the viaduct was one area highlighted but unfortunately money that had being allocated for access has already been spent.

So unless funds can be found for these particular works it remains non accessible for people with disabilities and mothers with prams etc.

I request that you make a motion to Mayo County Council to make provision for a new access ramp to facilitate access to the Railway Viaduct at Newport as part of Mayo County Council's ongoing commitment to improve access for all throughout the county.

Looking forward to a reply from you

Yours truly,

………………………….

Tom Chambers

Miss Caroline Canny

Manager

Hotel Newport

New Antrim Street

Newport

Co. Mayo

7th August 2008

Dear Caroline,

Thank you for your enlarged letter dated 28th March 2008. I would have replied sooner but for reasons I was unable to do so as I was getting a feedback from some topics raised in your letter that complies with Part M of the Building Regulations 2000.

I would like to meet with you at the Hotel to discuss some of the matters raised in your letter. My overall concern is access to the Hotel from the customer car park and within the Hotel.

As you are probably aware I audited the Hotel with the kind permission of Martin Moran (shareholder) on the 2007 accompanied by John Loftus and feel that this an opportunity to improve access overall.

Would it be possible to meet with you at the Hotel on Thursday 21 st August 2008 at 11.00 am?.

Feel free to contact me if this does not suit.

Many Thanks

Yours sincerely

……………………………..

Tom Chambers

Irish Mothers

The Irish Mother is one of the greatest resources we have when we sustain a spinal injury. If you think back to when you had your accident, particularly if you were in your teens, your Mom’s role as career is re-established when you arrive in the Hospital. Very quickly after arriving in the hospital your mother’s maternal instincts kick in.

This is all very welcome and we probably abuse it as we did when we were younger. It is a very understandable reaction after having to deal with something as life changing as a spinal injury. The absolute fear that invades our very existence, the daily questions with either no answer, or worse, and answers we don’t want.

Your family becomes a daily resource that you feed off. We can get angry with them, no pretence is necessary and you can just be yourself. They become our punch bag, our cradle to cry in and a safe haven in the dark fear that invades our being.

At this stage you start to understandably become quite dependent on your mother, and naturally your Mom is a willing participant. However, there comes a time when we have to recognise that once again we must take responsibility for our life.

The difficulty arises when both of you have become entrenched in your new roles. Ask yourself, since returning home, how much do you let your mother do for you? It becomes so easy to let your mom make that cup of tea, or get you that book in your room.

Of course, maybe you were this way before your accident, but if you are honest with yourself and you can now see a pattern of dependency that was not there pre accident, and your level of injury is such that you are well capable of doing the tasks yourself, maybe it’s time to look at changing this.

Of course your Mom also has to take some responsibility for this stage of affairs. Your Mom has become comfortable at being needed, and while she may complain about having to run around after you, in reality, she has become comfortable with her role.

This is not a criticism of either you or your Mom; we all did it to some extent. But there comes a time when you have to start taking control of your life again. It is far too easy to just sit back.

And Irish Moms ask you, could your son or daughter do a little more for himself or herself? You are not doing them any favours running around after them.

I know what I am writing about, as I was that soldier.

Mr. Seamus Granaghan

Director of Services

Árás an Chontae

Castlebar

Co. Mayo

17^th November 2009

Re: Street Improvements to the Streets in Castlebar, Co. Mayo

I would like to stress how important it is that the disabled be kept informed and consulted in relation to all works affecting us. Our motto is “Nothing about us, without us!”

I welcome this public submission process and I would like to make the following points in relation to the project. Ensure all developments take into account all potential users including youths, schoolchildren, working people, families, elderly people and disabled people

Designated Parking Bays

A Designated Parking Bay should be located as near as possible to the Chemists on Main Street to facilitate people with disabilities especially wheelchair users if they wish to get their prescriptions. The bays can be installed when the path is widened (as we discussed). They can be arranged parallel to the dished kerb flush with the road so that wheelchair driver can transfer onto footpath from his/her car. Provide minimum 900mm clear space beside the designated bay so as to facilitate wheelchair transfer from car to footpath. Cars can be driven forward or reversed into the bay, so that the transfer space is at the right side. Provide a 900mm yellow box at back of Designated Bay painted with BLUE paint with a sign 2200mm high from ground level.

Designated Parking Bays should be firm, level and even. A 1.50 maximum gradient is acceptable where essential to remove surface water. An uneven surface or an inclined bay makes transfer from vehicle to wheelchair very difficult. Service covers to manholes should not be positioned on such bays and at dished crossings.

Bollards and Grills

Bollards are often used to stop vehicles mounting the footpaths. Unless positioned carefully they can form a barrier to wheelchair users and people with visual impairments. They should be identified by using contrasting colours, and be minimum 800mm high and 250mm wide and should be located no closer together than 900mm. Bollards should never be linked by ropes or chains. This is dangerous for people with impaired vision.

Grills should have a maximum gap of 12mm and are perpendicular to direction of pedestrian traffic. Kerb edges should be clearly defined, if necessary guardrails should be provided.

Lighting

Street lighting should be designed so as to avoid glare from surface. A good level of lighting should be provided at locations where changes of level and direction occur. Lampposts should be located in a consistent manner and should not impede circulation paths. They must be in a contrasting colour to their background.

Crossings:

Avoid covers or manholes at crossings. Dished kerbs to be 1200mm wide with maximum gradient of 1:20. Provide appropriate crossings with dished kerbs marked with tactile paving. The upstand between the dropped kerb and the road is an important issue for wheelchairs users. Even relatively small upstands can cause the front wheels of wheelchairs to turn and present users with difficulties. Ideally the road surface should be level with the kerb at the dished crossing but the maximum upstand should be 6mm.

Trees

Avoid planting which exacerbates asthma and other breathing difficulties. Scent even in trees is rarely evident except on warm days in the growing season. Trees can be used to provide shelter for visually impaired people to locate themselves in a space. Planting in public places should be carried out by people with proper training and knowledge. Insure that trees are located properly and that the lowest branches do not pose a problem to tall people. A tree that is encroaching onto the footpath may not always be detected by a person’s guide dog, and cannot be detected by a white cane.

Containers should be totally accessible so that people with mobility problems do not have to leave their rubbish outside the container.

In addition to the above, it should also be remembered that there are elements in the public streets and sidewalks which are privately owned – such as café terraces, shop awnings and doors to buildings – and therefore

Could you provide a Luminance or tactile strip preferably located in the centre of paths for visually impaired people?

Regards,

……………….

Tom Chambers

Dear Kevin,

Some observations made to proposed plans for Peter Street Ballina

Seating

Seating should be located in sheltered areas where people can have a good view. A 900mm square of firm paving beside a seat will allow a person in a wheelchair to sit with other people. A seat should be no less than 450mm high, although a perch 500-750mm will be easier to use for people with restricted power. I would recommend seats with backrests as they are useful for additional support, and arm rests are also recommended to lean against, as well as assisting in getting up and out of the seat.

Designated Parking Bays

A designated Parking Bay SHOULD is located as near as possible to Quinns Chemist and Dr. Acupuncture to facilitate people with disabilities especially wheelchair users if they wish to get their prescriptions or wish to visit the Dr. Perpendicular bays can be installed when the path is widened (as we discussed). Provide minimum 900mm clear space beside the designated bay so as to facilitate wheelchair transfer from car to footpath. Cars can be driven forward or reversed into the bay, so that the transfer space is at the right side. Provide a 900mm yellow box at back of bay and designated bay painted with BLUE paint with a sign 2200mm high from ground level.

Bollards and Grills

Grills should have a maximum gap- of 12mm and are perpendicular to direction of pedestrian traffic.

Bicycle Ranks.

Bicycle Ranks should be identified by using contrasting colours and protected from the glare of the sun.

Trees

If the work is carried out accordance with NDA “Building for Everyone” and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people’.

Footpaths

Could you provide a Luminance or tactile strip preferably located in the centre of paths for visually impaired people?

(“Nothing about Us without Us”)

Regards,

Tom

RE: Center for Independent Living Pre-Budget Submission 2009-10

Dear Dara,

The Center for Independent Living (CIL) is a grassroots organization whose main aim is to empower and enable people with disabilities to achieve Independent Living (IL) as a basic human right. Since its inception in 1992 twenty-three CILs have been established nationwide with my local CIL based in Church Street Castlebar.

As you are aware the McCarthy Report of An Board Snip Nua has been recently published. The report’s recommendations that billions of Euros be slashed from public expenditure are extremely worrying for CILs. Of primary concern are the proposals concerning cuts in the area of funding for voluntary disability organizations, funding for special needs assistants, and an overall cut of up to 5% in disability benefit. If the proposed recommendations are implemented major difficulties lie ahead for people with disabilities in Ireland.

CIL has met to discuss the current recessionary pressures and has produced a Pre-Budget Submission which calls on the Government to safeguard the people most susceptible to further income and service cuts. In advance of the forthcoming Budget 2009 we particularly highlight the impact of:

· Cuts in social welfare payments.

· Eligibility for social welfare payments and their affect on the Community Employment (CE) scheme and already spiralling Personal Assistant Service (PAS) waiting lists.

· Reductions in grant-aid.

· Proposed cuts in funding to voluntary organisations.

· The movement of the Office of Mental Health and Disability from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform into the Department of Health.

I understand that difficult decisions will have to be made over the coming months. However I believe that there are savings to be made in the disability sector and means to improve what has historically been a deficient area for the Irish Government without additional outlay. The cost savings of PAS in comparison to rehabilitation services cannot be overlooked. In addition the provision of a Direct Payment (DP) to people with disabilities would open up competition and offer people options, independence and empowerment.

In conclusion we request that cuts to services, social welfare and any tax changes are made without further burdening those people who never experienced the benefit of our so-called tiger economy.

Looking forward to a reply

Yours sincerely,

Thomas Chambers

Disability Campaigner

“The Billy Ranch”

Knocknageeha

Newport

Co. Mayo

Ireland’s first tourist kiosk launched in Westport 5/5/2009

8^th October 2009

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you to draw your attention to the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay.

The idea of an out-of-hours facility for visitors is a fantastic one which ensures that Westport does not miss out on potential tourism and makes staying in Westport easier than ever.

However there is an even greater potential for towns like Westport in the possibility of attracting an un-targeted 10% of the population who have a disability. By making Westport a disability-friendly tourism town there is a great potential for increased tourism even in this recession.

But first we need to work on making access to the town a priority and importantly we need to make the Tourist Information Kiosk at Westport Quay accessible.

Unfortunately there is no ramp adjacent to the Kiosk making it inaccessible for those of us in wheelchairs and those with mobility problems such as some senior citizens. It is over 100 metres to the nearest ramp and this cannot be called accessible.

Also the Kiosk needs some internal adjustments as the phone cannot be comfortably be used from a wheelchair, and there is no provision of a flip down seat for others. There is also a lack of tactile paving and it is not colour coded to make it easier for the visually impaired. To benefit visually impaired people, a telephone should be selected which have well lit keyboards, large embossed or raised numerals that contract in colour and luminance.

A tactile telephone symbol should be placed outside an accessible telephone kiosk. Instructions for using telephone should be clear and displayed in a large easy to read typeface. Induction couples should be fitted to enable people with hearing aids to use them. The telephone should be identified by the appropriate symbol adjacent to the telephone or outside the kiosk. Preferably, telephones for use by disabled people should be located to enable wheelchair users to approach and use the phone from the front and the side. If it it raining it is imposable to use the phone the front or side as there is no protection from the rain unlike the location of the able-bodied phone and a knee hole is needed at least 500mm deep to enter from the front.

A fold down seat 450mm-50mm high or a perch seat 650mm-800mm high should be provided for the convenience of ambulant people. Politicians and Communities who strive to make environment accessible to all are demonstrating their desire to offer the population a good quality of life and provide people their opportunities to develop, both social and personally. It should also be remembered that it is the Politicians who are responsible for public spending. In this respect, making environment accessible has a direct effect on public spending. But it is a great start and with a bit of work it could be the first step in a Westport which welcomes tourists from all over the world to a disability-friendly Westport.

Finally, proper accessibility makes towns more attractive for the people who live in them and for potential visitors (tourism) I have followed the discussions about accessibility since the late eighties, many enthusiastic and passionate things have been said and written. The fact remains that we still cannot claim that the town of Westport is accessible for all. Representatives of those in our community with issues such as mobility and access are only too delighted to work with councils and organisations in making our community accessible for all. We are entitled to be consulted and our motto is “Nothing about us, without us!”

Sincerely Yours

Thomas Chambers

Access Campaigner

Knocknageeha

Newport

Co. Mayo

“PRE-Draft Consultation: Newport Local Area Plan”

To whom it may concern,

I would like to make the following points in relation to the Local Area Plan for Newport

Provide Designated Parking Bays in areas that would best suit disabled drivers/passengers and appropriate signs and correct identification
Provide appropriate crossings with dished kerbs marked with tactile paving
Ensure that the wheelchair ramp on Main Street complies with Part M of the Building Regulations
Provide wheelchair access on the viaduct bridge
Extend footpath from the National School to local GAA Pitch
Improve general quality of footpaths, remove cobbled crossings in Seaview Pk area and provide appropriate widths for wheelchair users and buggies
Ensure stricter parking regulations are in place on Main Street

All works should be designed in accordance with BS 8300:2001 ‘Code of Practice – Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people’.

I would also like to ask that the following principles be adhered to in drawing up this plan.

The Principle of Consultation means that no disability works, programmes or debates take place without consulting with the disabled. It is the principle of nothing about us, without us. The Disabled know our needs more so than any other individual.

The Principle of Equality recognises that people with a disability are citizens who have the right to be respected and the right to have equal opportunities to participate in the social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual life of society.

As citizens, people with a disability also have equal responsibilities towards Victorian society and should be supported to exercise these.

The Principle of Dignity and Self-Determination (Choice) is about respecting and valuing the knowledge, abilities and experiences that people with a disability possess, supporting them to make choices about their lives, and enabling each person to live the life they want to live.

The Principle of Diversity is about recognising and valuing individual difference. Inclusive societies are strengthened by the diversity of their populations and by the contribution that each person makes to the social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual life of society.

The Principle of Non-Discrimination implies that all people have the right to live their lives free from discrimination. This means that society must set right all forms of discrimination – including both active and passive forms of discrimination, and unfair and outdated standards, laws, policies and practices.

Regards,

Thomas Chambers

Access Campaigner

“The Billy Ranch”

Knocknageeha

Newport

Co. Mayo

Mark Rissen

Manager

Ballina Cineplex

Mercey Road

Ballina

Co. Mayo

10th May 2004.

Dear Mark,

Many thanks for letting me have a look at the inside of the Cinema on the 7^th April 2004. As you will agree there were a few things that I brought to your attention for wheelchair users.

Here is a list of items that would need attention:

1) The exterior door bell would need to be located between 900-1100mm from ground level to facilitate wheelchair users.

2) Many people, particularly those with visual impairments, have difficulty in recognising a see-through door. Where a door is mostly glazed or comprises a single pane of glass, it should be marked permanently within the 1200 – 1500mm range above the floor level, as to indicate its presence visually. The lower 400mm of such doors should, however, be of a solid material, so as to avoid possible damage from wheelchair footplates.

3) A kick panel at the foot of all doors leading to the 3 screens. It would be placed at the foot of each door running the full length of the door 200mm from bottom of door so as to avoid possible damage from wheelchair footplates.

4) Pull handles should be placed for closing the door placed opposite the door handle beginning at 8 inches from the hinge. Make sure it is about 2 inches wide and 8 inches long to suit everyone.

5) Some people, including older people who use wheelchairs only some of the time, will want to transfer to a seat. It is a management issue that the wheelchair is kept nearby and delivered if requested at an interval and at the end of a show.

6) Numbers and proportions of wheelchair accessible seats depend on the capacity of a particular venue. In premises with less than 1000 seats, six wheelchair accessible seats, or 1/50^th of the capacity, whichever is the greater, are required by regulation. Where there are a number of venues in a particular building, e.g. a multi-screen cinema, the standards apply to each venue independently of the others. A person with a guide dog will need additional space beside the seat for the dog.

7) Disabled Parking. The following guidelines are: Minimum one space of appropriate dimensions in every 25 standard spaces, minimum three in 25-50 standard spaces, minimum five in 50-100 standard spaces.

8) Counters should facilitate both people standing and those in wheelchairs. A minimum 900m long section of counter, 750mm over floor level, will facilitate wheelchair users and children.

9) The design of the Disabled toilet needs alterations.

If you need any further information regarding the above feel free to contact me.

I await a reply.

With kindest regards,

…………………

Tom Chambers,

“The Billy Ranch”

Knocknageeha,

Newport,

Co. Mayo,

Access Officer for PwDI,

Mayo Network,

Thomas Chambers' website

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RE: Center for Independent Living Pre-Budget Submission 2009-10

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