Why is accessibility important?
Improved and equitable access to the built environment enhances opportunities for social connection, safety, dignity and harmony for people of all abilities.
It is a legal requirement, under the Disabilities Discrimination Act 1992, to consider and provide dignified and equitable access to buildings and facilities and services within the premises for people with a disability. A premises includes the surrounding services and structures.
People with a disability include those with low vision, hearing difficulties, limited mobility due to age or injury, people who are neurodiverse and people who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids. A disability may be permanent or it may be a temporary condition due to illness or injury.
Our Mission
Our strength is in our extensive knowledge of building design and construction, especially for people with a disability.
Access First Consulting ensures quality professional services across a range of disability access disciplines in a timely, cost-efficient manner.
We ensure our clients receive excellent service through practical and focused communication during all stages of their projects.
Our clients are provided with outcomes that are sensible, fit for purpose and compliant with the intent of the requirements of the various Acts, Codes and Standards that inform the broad range of aspects for disability access in the built environment.
What makes us different?
Access First Consulting is unique because we come from a long-standing design and construction background, mainly focused on disability access.
Access First Constructions Pty Ltd recently stopped trading after 41 years of continuous business, allowing us to focus more on providing disability access advice.
During the last 12 years we have also provided professional access consulting design advice and compliance statements for our clients.
We have an experienced, practical approach to identifying and solving problems when it comes to disability access compliance.
We don’t just tell you what the problems may be, we partner with you to resolve them.
What guides compliance?
The Disability Discrimination Act -1992 (DDA) is a Commonwealth Government Act. The objectives of the DDA makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone with a disability in relation to access to premises or the provision of goods and services, transport, education and employment.
The National Construction Code (NCC) is a set of technical design and construction provisions for the built environment. The NCC is a performance-based code and sets out the minimum required levels of safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of buildings.
The Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards -2010 (DAPS) sets out detailed information to align the NCC building code with the DDA to inform building professionals of the requirements for the provision of non-discriminatory access to premises. The DAPS also details when, where and to what extent the DAPS applies. The DAPS is intended to provide building professionals with certainty that if they meet the Standards they will meet the intent of the DDA.
There are various Australian standards and codes referenced in the NCC to provide detailed minimum specifications and dimensions for specific parts of buildings based on their use and occupancy.
There are a number of additional housing standards for people with a disability, including older people. The standards include AS 1428.1 -1995-Adaptable Housing, Liveable Housing Design (LHD) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
There are also various State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPP), local councils Development Control Plans (DCP) and Local Environmental Plans (LEP). These Plans and Policies are used to inform councils and developers about the appropriate use of land to ensure, amongst other things, the type and design of developments to meet the needs and rights of the community.