Championing the Cause for Disabled

A registered charity based in Gainsford Street, London, the Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) has been providing a much needed information and training resource on accessibility for the construction industry, the care professions and disabled for the past 30 years.

The core philosophy of the charity is a commitment to promote the provision of buildings and environments that are accessible to all users, including disabled and older people, and to the general enhancement of quality in design. Another priority of the CAE is to ensure that people not only gain access to the building, but also to all the facilities available inside.

The CAE provides a wide range of services which include:

• technical information and advice by telephone and letter.
• advice on compliance with Part M of the Building Regulations.
• access audits of buildings and places.
• access appraisals - assessment of access provision in architects' drawings.
• a comprehensive training programme on topics of current concern to the construction industry and care professions.
• the journal Access by Design.
• design guides, specifiers' handbooks, and other publications.
• a register of member professionals with experience of access issues.

Members of the CAE include government departments, high street retailers, financial service providers, health providers, schools and colleges and those involved with arts and community projects.

Laura Matthews, Information Officer at CAE says: "Since the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) required service providers from October last year to start making "reasonable adjustments" to their services and from 2004 to the physical features of the premises; property developers, owners and managers of buildings are becoming increasingly concerned that their premises should be accessible to all users, including disabled staff and visitors. By joining the CAE" continues Laura Matthews "members have access to a wealth of information, are kept informed about all the latest technical and legislative changes and can tap into the facilities we provide such as our access auditing and appraisal services or our comprehensive training programmes."

Training is one of the core services provided by the CAE. Laura explains: "Training can now be undertaken by our team who carry out access audits and consultancy work generally."

Another key initiative recently undertaken by the CAE is a project to launch a National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC). Laura Matthews says: "After extensive initial research we submitted a detailed report to the DfEE and DETR, who are jointly funding the project. The report highlighted the current state of the access consultancy/auditing market and the need for such a Register. On 13th December last year, Margaret Hodge MP formally launched the Register at the Centre's AGM."

For further information about the CAE contact Laura Matthews, Centre for Accessible Environments, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY. Tel: 0171-357 8182, Fax: 0171-357 8183 or visit the Centre's website at www.cae.org.uk