Hi Virginia
I have to say I was a bit stunned to get your e mail. My son (age 8) has
recently been diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome, so I have a very
personal as well as professional interest in this area as you can
imagine. (By the way, we have recently joined NAS, and have found your
information resources invaluable).
As far as access issues are concerned for disabled people with autism,
as you may be aware cognitive impairment as an impairment category has
either been very low or off the access agenda until quite recently. The
DDA has obviously started to look at this imbalance, but because older
regulations like Part M of the Building Regs does not cover cognitive
impairments, I suspect that we will need to educate policymakers about
inclusive design perspectives that take account of the needs of
cognitively-impaired people. For example, the use of information format
by service-providers would seem to be one area that needs further
research. Unfortunately there is no history of best practice to tap
into, so I think it will be a matter of adopting a pioneering approach!
One thing is clear though - the DDA 2004 duties will include "mental
impairment" under the DDA definition of disability, so removal of
barriers to services must address the needs of disabled people with
autism.
This is an area that does need tackling - the Americans seem to be ahead
of the UK on thinking about inclusive design, but like us tend to be
focused on physical mobility barriers rather than sensory barriers to
the built environment when it comes to implementing design solutions.
Other organisations like MIND and MENCAP have been fairly active in
lobbying for the DDA to take account of sensory barriers however, though
I am sure you have been in contact with them. Like you, I don't know of
any single "expert" in this area.
Was there any specific issue you had in mind re: access issues. ie case
studies/personal experiences of discrimination? Perhaps you could flag
up some examples and see how we go from there.
I hope we can keep in touch
Best wishes
Graham
---Original Message-----
From: Virginia Harvey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 3:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: New member - Graham Findlay, Disability Wales
Dear Graham,
Do you have any experience of access issues for people with autism? I
am
constantly searching for anyone who does.
I am the Parliamentary officer of the National Autistic Society for
Westminster (primarily) though I do some Wales work as well.
Regards
Virginia
Virginia Harvey - NAS Parliamentary Officer
& contact for the APPG on Autism
tel. 0207- 903 3769 / fax. 0207- 923 5769
The National Autistic Society,
393, City Road,
London. EC1V 1NG
-----Original Message-----
From: graham findlay [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 6 October 2000 15:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New member - Graham Findlay, Disability Wales
Just a few lines to introduce myself - I am the Access Officer for
Disability Wales, based in Caerphilly, S Wales; however, my job covers
the whole country. I am a disabled person, and have taken an active
interest in civil rights issues for the past ten years or so. Prior to
this post I worked for the Housing Access Project in Cardiff where we
were trying to push for accessible housing in all its manifestations.
One of the projects I developed there was the Cardiff Accessible Housing
Register, which was an attempt (largely successful) at encouraging
estate agents to publicise adapted and/or accessible houses going
through their system.
What am I doing now? My job involves the following:
* Supporting, training and developing access groups in Wales
* Encouraging networking of access groups in Wales
* Policy development, influencing and consultation work
* Conferences
* Ad hoc projects (!)
Some of the major projects in Wales include the new Richard Rogers
designed National Assembly for Wales building (which has appointed an
access consultant and will have input from an Access Advisory Group)
and hopefully the setting up of a Welsh version of CABE (Design
Commission for Wales). I am very keen on ensuring that inclusive design
theory and practice is promoted and implemented if and when the Design
Commission is set up.
I've had the pleasure of meeting most of the SURFACE team recently (Hi
Marcus, Andy, Judith, Adrian) at one of the DELPHI sessions at the Dome
. I should have become a member this useful resource ages ago.
I can be contacted at:
Disability Wales/Anabledd Cymru, Wernddu Court, Caerphilly Business
Park, CAERPHILLY, CF83 3ED
Tel: 02920 887325 Fax 02920888702
Bye for now
Graham
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