need some help
i am opening a social club for young people between 12-17 with its aims being to get young people off the streets and tackle issues such as binge drinking anti social behaviour and drug misuse. The premise i have choosen is an old nightclub and it is on first and second floors of a 3 storey building. It has no access for lifts or stair lifts. This is all new to me so need some advice, am i breaking the law? am i discriminating against others ?
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A lot of this will come down to costs and the terms of the lease.
you need to look at
how much you have to spend
how much you are allowed to change the building
how much would it cost
look at any lease conditions
and document this.
also check with the building owner about it, what they are doing as they will have some responsibility towards this
IF in any doubt over issues like this get proper legal advice
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Moved to "Accessibility Off The Web"
Where are you based Diane (i.e. which country)? That could effect what is and isn't against the law...
James Coltham - Local gov web manager by day, web and accessibility blogger at lunchtime, freelancer by night. Tweets at @prettysimple.
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Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, 2005 as a provider of goods and services you are responsible for making reasonable adjustments to make your facilities accessible.
The landlord is not responsible which is bonkers if you ask me.
If you are working as a not for profit, voluntary project you might get support from funding sources to help. If in the UK go to Council for Voluntary Services they have software system called funderfinder. Also look at publications by Directory of Social Change who do a range of funding guides.
Do an access audit to identify what access requirements you need. If the ground floor is accessible then make sure you have flexible arrangements for projects to happen there. Basically there are building regulations (called Part M) which layout door widths, gradients for ramps and so on. Talk to the council planning department and also the Equalities Department.
Find out if there are local young people's disability projects in your area. Get the young people involved as advisors.
In a nutshell if a young disabled person wants to use your project and you do not make 'reasonable adjustments' you could be sued if not providing the service.
The law is rarely tested but look at your legal obligations under directgov website and the Equalities Commission.
I do access audits and advise organisation on making their events accessible.
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| peskypeople wrote: |
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The landlord is not responsible which is bonkers if you ask me. |
Legally but
It is in the landlords commercial interest to make the building as suitable as they can for the client, within reason. if it is not suitable the client will move and they will lose the rent with all the problems of an empty property. so you should certainly talk to them.
| peskypeople wrote: |
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In a nutshell if a young disabled person wants to use your project and you do not make 'reasonable adjustments' you could be sued if not providing the service. |
this is why you should document things. to show what is reasonable and what is not.
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