We are a committee of people who face barriers in daily life - people who have a disability or care for someone whose life is affected by access.
Our committee is supported by non-voting professionals who advise us.
All of us have knowledge and experience which we wish to share so that people in our community who provide services are better equipped to give improved access to buildings and information to people who live or visit here.
We aim to work with people by listening, discussing ideas, offering advice, giving appropriate information and promoting good practice.
We hold regular monthly meetings in Portree and Kyle of Lochalsh and sub-group meetings with the planning department.
The Access Panel aims to establish contact between carers, disabled people and building designers, service providers and planners. We believe that this will lead to a greater awareness of people’s needs and will assist with compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Disabled people have equal rights of access and participation in society. Designers have a duty to ensure that the built environment promotes rather than restricts the rights of disabled people.
All of us, at some point in our lives may suffer from some condition or disability which affects our needs in relation to the built environment. It is therefore in all our interests that people are as aware and supportive of others' needs as possible.
Access to information—examples
For hard of hearing and deaf people:
For people with visual impairments:
Access to the environment—examples:
This project was funded by the Scottish Disability Equality Forum.
Information contained in the website is neither a guarantee of quality nor does it imply recommendation and no liability is accepted by the authors.