Stepped entrances, narrow doorways and upstairs toilet facilities - design necessities or a wheelchair users' nightmare? Mike O'Halloran, managing director of Cheshire-based OP Building Maintenance tells B&E how Local Authorities and Housing Assoications are addressing the problem of disabled access.

We all  want to live in communities where we can participate fully and equally, without feeling segregated. For many disabled people, this hasn’t yet happened and there remains considerable work to be done, particularly to housing. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 makes treating disabled people less favourably than others, without justification,  unlawful in activities such as finding somewhere to live.

Historically, the way in which houses have been built has failed to address the needs of disabled people, resulting in disabled people being cared for by “special” services, finding themselves trapped in poor housing conditions grouped together with other disabled people. The English House Conditions survey 2003/2004 showed that 1.5m people were in need of accessible accommodation, with 329,000 living in completely unsuitable housing.

Personal financial circumstances mean that many disabled people rely on accommodation provided by local authorities and housing associations. “The English House Survey indicated that 42% of housing association households in England contain a member with a long term illness or disability, and of these people, one in seven use a wheelchair,” says OP Building Maintenance Services managing director Mike O’Halloran. “However, despite a growing demand that is likely to increase due to an ageing population, there has previously been a lack of investment in building homes that incorporate the necessary design features.

“Service providers are under a duty not to discriminate against disabled people. In October 2004, additional rules came into force to make designers take reasonable steps to ensure that a buildings design or construction does not make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of the services provided.” These new rules include all new housing, which has to meet certain requirements as specified within the Approved Document for Part M of the Building Regulations.

“Alongside meeting the everyday mobility needs of tenants,” O’Halloran adds, “many housing associations are now working hard to help residents to maintain their independence and remain within the community.” Adaptations  ndertaken to help maintain independence are in many cases stipulated by an Occupational Therapist, who will assess the tenants’ needs and advise the organisation responsible. In both existing and new housing, these needs can range from the very minor where building and maintenance work is straightforward, to major work which usually follows the assessment by the therapist.

O’Halloran says: “When maintenance contractors are working on bathroom adaptations, to ensure all the work is carried out as efficiently as possible, all materials are planned prior to attending the site. Residents are informed of work requirements and constraints two weeks before commencement of works. If the resident will have to live without a shower for a week, for example, this will allow alternative arrangements to be made.”
Many vulnerable tenants are unable to undertake small household jobs due to their disability or age. For these tasks that do not require building or adaptation activity, maintenance firms can operate a handyman scheme, which proves invaluable to such tenants. Jobs with which the scheme is able to assist include fitting smoke detectors, fitting spy holes, hanging shelves and curtain rails, moving furniture, fitting locks and bolts, cleaning leaves from drains and assembling
flat pack furniture. Even though all necessary adaptations may have been made to the home, this additional service helps them to continue living in comfort and safety.

Minor adaptations include:
• Re-securing grab rails
• Minor access ramps
• Removing external thresholds for level access
• Renewal and repair of existing shower seats
• Fixing stair rails
• Supply and fitting of lever taps and window winders
• Relocation of electrical sockets
• Security lights
• Effective control measures at access points

Major adaptations include:
• Positioning grab and drop down rails
• Replacing bath to low level shower or vice-versa
• Door widening
• Raising/lowering kitchen units to suit wheelchair users
• Slip resistant flooring