Training and Consultancy

RNIB Access Consultancy Services

Summary: Information about the work of RNIB Access Consultancy Services and how you can contact them.

• Consultancy
• Training
• Publications
• Research and policy
• Contact us

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RNIB's new Access Consultancy Services aims to help create an inclusive society through improved access for disabled people to physical environments, signage, websites, information and products.

Formerly known as JMU Access Partnership, the accessible environments team focuses on improving access for disabled people to buildings, streets, transport and signage. This is achieved through a range of consultancy services, training courses, publications, research and policy activities.

Consultancy

We work with building owners, architects, developers, transport operators, local authorities and anyone involved in managing or developing physical environments. Our consultancy services include:

• Expert design advice on anything relating to accessibility of physical environments.
• Access audits of existing environments to identify barriers to access and recommend solutions for improvement.
• Design appraisals of proposed environments to identify potential barriers to access, offer solutions and advise design teams.
• Access statements (or input to Design and Access Statements) at any or all stages of a project to help show how inclusive design is being considered.
• Signage assessments of existing signage, development of new strategies, design appraisals, costings and samples.
• Visual contrast assessments of finishes such as rail vehicle livery and fittings in buildings.
• Consultation with user groups.
• Enquiry Line - advice provided by telephone or email on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Training

We provide a range of introductory and technical training courses, either in-house or as open courses around the UK. We provide courses for customer-facing staff on disability and visual awareness and a range of technical courses, many of which are accredited by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Visit our training page to find out more or contact us for details on upcoming open courses.

Publications

Our publications are listed below and are all available from the RNIB online shop.

• Sign Design Guide - the industry standard on accessible signage design, co-written by the Sign Design Society.
• The Accessible Office - written for designers, managers and staff, in association with the British Council for Offices.
• Building Sight - a handbook of building and interior design solutions to meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people.
• Housing Sight - a best practice guide to designing and building accessible homes for blind and partially sighted people.
• Access - the quarterly inclusive design journal of RNIB and the Access Association, offering up-to-date news and features.

Research and policy

We are actively involved with government, industry and disability organisations to formulate policy, strategy and standards. This keeps us at the cutting edge of current best practice and feeds directly into our consultancy advice.

We were a founding member of the National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) and are actively involved in the Joint Committee on the Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People (JCMBPS) and the Access Association.

We have undertaken several large research projects on subjects such as shared space, tactile paving, signage, access to air travel and access to large passenger ships. This has involved working with organisations such as the Department for Transport, the former Disability Rights Commission, Transport for London, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Contact us

If you have any queries or would like further information, please contact us at our nearest office.

London:

RNIB Access Consultancy Services

105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Telephone: 020 7391 2002
Fax: 020 7387 7109
Email: jmu@rnib.org.uk

Edinburgh:

RNIB Access Consultancy Services

12-14 Hillside Crescent

Edinburgh

EH7 5EA
Telephone: 0131 652 3194

Fax: 0131 652 3199
Email: JMUScot@rnib.org.uk

Leeds:

RNIB Access Consultancy Services

Grosvenor House

Grosvenor Road

Leeds

LS6 2DZ
Telephone: 0113 239 9412 and 0113 239 9429
Email: JMULeeds@rnib.org.uk

Content author: info@jmuaccess.org.uk

Last updated: 25/06/2009 16:07