Creating disability inclusive services and public spaces in

Creating disability inclusive services and public spaces in a local council Selina Bonnie MA Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer 12 October 2015

Creating an Accessible County Council • Creation of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in 1995 • Establishment of Social Inclusion Unit 2002 • Adoption of Barcelona Declaration 2002 • Enactment of Disability Act 2005 • National Disability Strategy funding programme 2005 – 2010 • Significant programme of access audits and public consultation process during 2007 • ‘Enabling Access, Ensuring Equality of Opportunity’, SDCC Disability Act Implementation Plan 2008 -2010

Commitment to Mainstreaming • Council’s Senior Management Team committed to providing inclusive and accessible public services • Commitment and actions detailed in the Council’s Corporate Plan and the County Development Plan • Flows through PMDS, work programmes, action plans • Extended Management Team are key drivers in the Council for mainstreaming • Supported by ‘Access Champions’ across organisation • Support of Elected Members is vital • Key step to providing inclusive services - create inclusive work environment for staff

Commitment to Mainstreaming • Staff understanding of, and buy in to, mainstreaming policies and practices is essential • Methods to secure staff buy in: - ‘South Circular’ newsletter - Intranet - Presentations at monthly staff meetings - Series of talks for all staff -Targeted events on significant days - Access webpage on Intranet and so on • Facilitate inclusive consultation with disabled people on policies and services

Internal Policies and Processes • Policy for the Employment of Disabled People • Equal Opportunities Policy • Disability Act Implementation Team to ensure the Council is meeting its obligations under the Disability Act • South Dublin County Disability Advisory and Consultative Panel • Forward Planning Multi Disciplinary Grouping • Elected Members Disability Proofing Toolkit – developed in collaboration with the Members and available online through Membersnet • Literacy Friendly Action Plan and Team • South Dublin County Housing and Disability Steering Group • Use of ICTs and Social Media – Communications Action Plan

Challenges • Maintaining access both internal and external - testing induction hearing loops - keeping floor spaces clear - ensuring that accessible external surfaces are not impaired by utilities works • Ensuring literacy friendly communications through supporting and encouraging staff to write in plain English - offering training - circulating basic tips to empower individuals and take the fear out of ‘proofing’

External Policies and Processes • Actions to achieve universal access • Recognising that people have individual access needs: - Designing a variety of house types - Braille, tactile and pictorial signage - Plain English proofing - Inclusive libraries - Facilitating disabled performers and sports people • Council’s Customer Service Action Plan - commitments to accessible and inclusive customer service including the use of plain English. • All customer service points have hearing loops installed

External Policies and Processes • Requests for information in alternative formats can be met • Strong commitment to and understanding of universal design within SDCC - Universal access playspaces, - Building access into new works and upgrades, - Local Area Plans, - Age Friendly County Plan.

Internal Support Structures • Staff training identified by the organisation and by individual staff members. Staff training provided in: - Disability Equality - Mental Health Awareness - Literacy Awareness - Dealing with challenging behaviour for frontline staff - Access auditing - LAMH and Irish Sign Language • Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer • Participation in IRIS pilot • Disability Act Implementation Team • Social Inclusion Unit

Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer • Internally supports line managers to facilitate and accommodate the needs of disabled staff • Point of contact and support for disabled staff members • Supports HR in responding to work experience requests: - Linking individuals with suitable work experience positions - Meeting with individual applicants to discuss their needs. • Council policy to ensure work experience is meaningful to both the department and the applicant. • Internally supports Council staff to provide and / or plan accessible facilities and services.

Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer • Externally supports members of the public to access services provided by the Council. • Represents Council on: - Irish Disability Studies Association - National Access and Equality Officers Networks • Brings examples of good practice into the County

Mainstream Services • Mind. R - a comprehensive directory of Mental Health services and resources for South Dublin County. • People can quickly access information and contact details on mental health services using the smartphone technology and the Mind. R app • Hearing Loops at all customer service points and participated in IRIS pilot • Fix your Street http: //www. fixyourstreet. ie/. Website and app People can report issues with their street online. Fast response time

Mainstream Services • Ground floor access provided to three listed buildings Importance of providing secondary egress • Jobot’s Access All Areas – accessibility awareness game and access guide videos made available online and in multiple formats • Participates in the annual National Accessibility Week • National and International recognition of commitment – Chambers Ireland, EU Access City Award • Camac Valley Caravan and Camping Park and Rua Red

Access City Award 2013 - Tallaght Special Mention - Accessibility of Public Facilities and Services

Selina Bonnie MA Disability Liaison, Access and Equality Officer Corporate Performance and Change Management Department Tel: 01 414 9041 Mobile: 087 270 8918 Skype Id: selina. bonnie oo. Voo Id: accessiblesouthdublin Email: sbonnie@sdublincoco. ie Web: http: //accessible. southdublin. ie Twitter: www. twitter. com/sdublincoco