The Access all Areas award, run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), was launched on 15 May and gave service providers with under 50 employees the chance to demonstrate how they had made changes to their business to enable disabled people to use their services. The award winners, by region, were:

• Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre, South West
• Mouzer, Employment Consultancy, West Midlands
• Willow Farm Riding School, East Midlands
• Carlisle Council for Voluntary Service, North West
• The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, London and South East

- Source; NRAC Newsletter; 15 December 2003

Habinteg and ASRA Greater London housing associations have been awarded £80,000 by the Housing Corporation to find housing solutions for disabled people from ethnic minorities - Source; Housing Today, In Brief; page 8

The Building Regulations Division, part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), has issued the following documents:

• The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2692)
• Approved Document M - Access to and use of buildings, 2004 Edition
• ODPM Circular 11/2003
  

The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2692) were made on 17 October 2003. The main provisions in SI 2003/2692, relating to the new Part M of the Building Regulations 2000, come into force on 1 May 2004. An amendment to the Building Regulations 2000, removing one category of exemption from the need to give a building notice or deposit full plans, comes into force on 1 December 2004 - Source; NRAC Newsletter; 15 December 2003

The chair of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), Bert Massie, has warned that 'rogue' access consultants will attempt to cash in on businesses' new duties to make premises accessible. The comments came as the (DRC) launched its year long Open4All campaign to  make companies aware of the need to make reasonabe adjustments to overcome physical barriers to acess by 1 October 2004. A website, http://www.open4all.org/, has also been launched to provide advice on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Source; Disability Now, News; page 5

The draft Disability Bill to be published later this year will include positive duties which will force local councils and local authorities to actively promote disability equality. Caroline Gooding, special adviser to the (DRC), said the duties could cover local authorities, NHS trusts and government departments and agencies - Source; Disability Now, News; page 10

The top rugby grounds in the country are being surveyed to see how accessible they are to disabled people. Former England rugby international Alastair Hignell, who has multiple sclerosis and is now a BBC commentator, is part of the team carrying out research at the 12 Zurich Premiership grounds. The research, commissioned by Premier Rugby, which represents the 12 Premiership clubs, and sponsors Zurich, will be completed by the end of the year - Source; Disability Now, Sport; page 14

More than 80 per cent of the public believe that learning disabled people should be able to choose where they live, according to a new survey. Mencap commissioned the NOP poll as part of a campaign to see more housing provided for the 29,000 severely learning disabled people who currently live their elderly parents. MenMencap's Golden Lane and ethical bank Triodos launched an investment bond earlier this year to try to raise £4 million to tackle the shortage of homes for learning disabled people  - Source; Disability Now, News; page 9

The Spinal Injuries Association is leaving London for a more accessible location. The charity said moving its national headquarters to Milton Keynes next June would also allow it to employ more people with spinal cord injuries, many of whom live in the area. And it said Milton Keynes had more accessible transport likns and suitable land for constrcution - Source; Disability Now, In Brief; page 6

Young disabled people from 22 European countries are to give their opinions on education to MEP's and representatives od ther European institutions. The event on 3 November, at the European Parliament in Brussels, is part of the European Year of the Disabled - Source; Disability Now, In Brief; page 6

Disabled actor Christopher Reeve will deliver the first keynote speech at an international conference on assistive technology in Manchester next year. Transform 2004 (http://www.transform2004.org/) will take place at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, from 7 to 10 July 2004 - Source; Disability Now, News; page 9

An 80 year old disabled woman has become a prisoner in her won flat because she has been allowed to install a stairlift, to assist a deteriorating hip problem. Fears of the properties saleability have led to the combined decision upheld by other residents and property agents at Burlington Court Flats, Altrincham, despite having the backing from the freeholder and the local fire officer. The report further confirms that she cannot challenge the ruling because of a loop-hole in disability law which means common areas of private buildings do not have to be adapted - Source; Disability Now, News; page 8

Focuses on commercial property rent reviews and factors that can affect the outcome from the landlord and teneant perspective. Includes areas on repair covenants, the Act and insurance. From the tenants perspective, considers the Canary Wharf and Telegraph rent review - Source; Property Week, page 38-39

Discusses how listed buildings can comply with Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Concludes that although some progress has been made towards the adaptation of these buildings to the needs of the disabled, there are still improvements which can be made - Source; Architect's Journal, page 20-21

A new "talking lampposts" system to help visually impaired people find their way around was unveiled in London's Golders Green. The system sponsored by the Royal  National Institute for the Blind, uses message units mounted on wall or posts that make announcements when card-carrying users walk past - Source; Disability Now, Regional News; page 11

A new law that would strip contracts from public service providers if they didn't meet the needs of disabled people has been given the go-ahead by European MP's. The European Parliament has voted to revise EU legislation on public procurement which would make local authorities include access requirements in public services contracts for services, supplies and transport - Source; Disability Now, News; page 8

Inaccessible houses are still being built because designers and builders are ignoring legislation, new research shows. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation research  found a high proportion of new housing does not incorporate Part M Building Regulations, which state that new houses must be accessible. The research found that regulations were ofthen disregarded and, when taken into account, were often done in a half hearted and tokenistic way - Source; Disability Now, News; page 6

Notes that all businesses providing a service through their website need to ensure that those websites are accessible for people with visual impairments in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Source; RICS Facilities Management Faculty, 3 page feature

A blind man was thrown out of a bookshop in Wales, because he was accompanied by his guide dog, but has since lost his case when he took action under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Source; Disability Now, Exclusive News; page 4

One third of university websites fail to meet accessibility guidelines, according to research undertaken by design company Nomensa, which tested the sites of 100 top UK universities - Source; Disability Now, News; page 4

Aims to clarifty the misunderstandings that arise about how compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will affect rent reviews.  Sets out the key points of the Act and how various duties will impact on rent reviews - Source; Estates Gazette, page 100-111

Young disabled people are being forced to live with their parents or in homes for older people because there is no suitable accommodation a new report shows.  The report follows a two year inquiry by the disability charity John Grooms into health care, housing and social services for disabled. If found that more than 8,000 young disabled adults are living in unsuitable homes. Th charity is now calling on the government to work more closely with local authorities and the voluntary sector - Source; Disability Now, News; page 7

Results disclosed in the 2001 Census report confirm that almost 9.5 million people in England and Wales have some form of disability, significantly more than previously thought - Source; Disability Now, News; page 8

Minister for Disabled People; Maria Eagle, has launched "Access All Areas", an awards scheme for small firms that  "go the extra mile" for disabled customers. She has also launched Act Now, a video explaining the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to businesses - Source; Disability Now, News; page 5

Examines issues that commercial buildings and landlords must employ creative solutions by 2004 if they are to avoid costly alterations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - Source; Estates Gazette, page 127

Examines the UK standards that relate to the evacuation of disabled people from buildings in the event of fire. The guidelines which cover this include the Building Regulations 1991 approved Document B (2000 Edition) and BS 5588-8:1999 Fire orecautions in the design and constrcution of buildings: Code of Practice for means of escape for disabled people. Concludes that evacuation plans for disabled people by building and facility managers should never rely on the fire service but should be planned to facilitate the escape of all building occupants within three minutes of an alarm being activated - Source; Fire Engineers' Journal 62(232), page 40-42

Research paper the describes and evaluates the reactions and responses of housebuilders in England and Wales to government regulation concerning disabled people's physical access to new housing. Considers the unrecognised needs of disabled people for good quality, accesible, housing - Source; Housing Studies, Vol18 (3), page 387-408

Disabled athletes are to benefit from a new multi-million pound stadium with state of the art wheelchair facilities. The national wheelchair stadium in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, repoenss this month after two years of renovations. Reports also confimr that an accessible hotel next to the hotel has also been refurbished - Source; Disability Now, Sport; page 12

Reports confirm that campaigners have welcomed two major new initatives in London, launched by London Mayor, Ken Livingstone. Disability Capital aims to highlight the experience of disabled Londoners and will focus on civil rights. It includes a consultation to discover major barriers to and an investigation into how far disabled people are excluded from mainstream life. Livingstone has also launched the Greater London Initiative for Disabled Entrepreneurs (GLIDE), a major joint venture between his London Development Agency (LDA) and the Association of Disabled Professionals. GLIDEVwill offer support to help disabled people set up and develop their own businesses, contact http://www.glideonline.org/ - Source; Disability Now, News; page 7

Access to sports facilities across Europe must be improved according to a statement by Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP and vice chair of the All Party Intergroup on Disability. "Despite the paving of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which called for all buildings open to the public to be fully accessible to disabled people, there remains a lot of room for improvement. The European Parliament has designated 2004 as the European Year of Education through Sport, to encourage schools and other sporting organisations to use sport as a way of promoting the inclusion of disabled people - Source; Disability Now, Sport; page 12

 Code of Practice - Rights of Access to Goods and Services (Revised)

LIBERTY - London's Disability Rights Festival
Trafalgar Square, Sunday 7 September 2003
See http://www.london.gov.uk/

GIANTS - Disabled People Reaching for Equality
City Hall, The Queens Walk, London SE1, 1 - 30 September 2003
See http://www.london.gov.uk/

INDEPENDENT LIVING SHOW (LONDON)
Wembley, 25 - 25 September 2003
See http://www.independentlivingenvents.co.uk/

Accessable Advice welcome the European Year of the Disabled and look forward to a year of progress and ethical awareness as we approach the final phase of historic legisation, likely to affect business, the built environment and society at large - Source; in-house delivery