Include Office Accessibility Details on your Website
How accessible are your offices and is this information available on your website? Your offices should be accessible to your staff, clients and other visitors.
Building regulations and guidance on accessibility were reasonable in meeting most needs of disabled people but it is important to acknowledge that they might not meet the needs of all disabled users. Additionally, for someone visiting your office who is not familiar with it (for example for someone attending a meeting or event, or even an interview) planning ahead can be key – which is why you should include this information on your website. Particularly if your office is in an older building.
Include information on how to get to the building (including the reception) and including information about local public transport and its accessibility.
Physical Disabilities
Is your office accessible to people in a wheelchair and/or who have other physical disabilities? For example, someone in a wheelchair wants the comfort of knowing that they can easily access your office without additional assistance. If they are going to need to let you know in advance and/or use a separate of different entrance this should be made clear. However, these little things – for example using a side gate to get into an office or being forced onto a scissor lift when everyone else uses the front entrance – do make a difference to how included people feel in their environment.
You should also include information on accessible facilities such as lifts (and highlight if there are none) and accessible parking spaces.
There are also different tech options available that you may be using and should make known.
Invisible disabilities
It is important to not forget about invisible disabilities. For example you should have installed an induction loop system which helps the hard of hearing communicate more effectively with staff and other people at the office. Again, this is something that you can make clear to visitors (and it is also make sure that your staff know how to work the system).
There continues to be new smart tech solutions that improve accessibility in your office for helping people with specific disabilities overcome everyday challenges. Use them and offer them.
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