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  1. Surveys
  2. 2006
  3. June
  4. A
  5. A SURVEY OF DISABILITY AND ACCESS ISSUES - ONLINE
 

Dear Respondent
You are invited to participate in my survey 'Creating Accessible Built Environments:Planning for an Aging Population'.In this survey,you will be asked a series of questions about disability and aging issues in your community.Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. All survey responses will be stricly confidential.If you have questions at any time about the survey please contact me.

Thank you very much for your time and support.
 
 
 
1. Name of Council
   
 
 
2. Position of Respondent
   
 
 
 
3. The New Zealand Disability Strategy 2001 is designed to present a long-term framework for creating a fully inclusive society. What initiatives, if any, has your Council established in response to this strategy?
   
 
 

4. Does your Council have a policy or strategy statement on improving access for disabled people (apart from what is required under the Building Act)?
 
Yes (Please send a copy of your policy or statement)
 
No
 
Currently working on one
 
 
 
5. When was it adopted?
   
 
 

6. Please rank in order of priority (where 1 is the most important) what the policy/strategy hopes to achieve.
To improve physical access to buildings and facilities open to the public
Ensure that all services provided by,or on behalf of Council,are accessible to people with disabilities
Ensure all Councillors and Council staff have opportunities to build awareness and understanding of disability issues
Encourage greater disability awareness and attitudinal change amongst private sector developers
Improve communication methods and provision of information to people with disabilities
Remove barriers to people with disabilities in transport provision across the city
Improve access to education and employment of disabled people
Develop partnerships with the disability sector
Develop improved community consultation with disabled people
 
 
Other priorities ( please state )
   
 
 

7. Do you have a working definition of ` disability', which is used to inform the development of access/disability policies?
 
Yes
 
No
 
 
 
   
 
 
PART B: COUNCIL PRACTICES
1.In the past 5 years, has your Council undertaken any formal training in disability awareness?
 
Yes
 
No
 
It is planned for the future
 
 
Councillors?
   
Staff( from which departments?)
   
 
 

If NO please indicate what is the main reason
 
Lack of time and insufficient resources within Council which makes it difficult to promote barrier free access
 
Limited understanding and support from Councillors of access needs
 
Perception that barrier free access is a building regulations issue only rather than about responding to the needs of disabled people
 
Other

 
 

2.Are all Council buildings and community facilities accessible to people with disabilities?
 
Yes
 
No
 
No,but have an active programme for upgrading buildings and facilities
 
 

 
 

3.Please indicate what measures have been implemented in the past 5 years to improve physical access to Council buildings and facilities.What proportion of buildings and facilities have these features?
 
 
All buildings and facilities More than 50% Less than 50% Planned for the future
Designated parking which is close to entrance of buildings/facilities
Good access route from carpark to buildings/facilities
Ramped (with reasonable gradient) or level access to buildings
Handrails on ramps,steps,stairs
Automatic sliding doors
Accessible toilets ( with good directional signage and location)
Service counters are within reach for wheelchair users
Clear and legible signage( including tactile forms of information)
Wide internal doors that are easy to open
 
 
 
   
 
 

4. Are all parks and reserves accessible to people with disabilities?
 
Yes
 
No
 
No, but have an active programme for upgrading parks and reserves
 
 

5. Please indicate what measures have been implemented in the past 5 years to improve physical access to parks and reserves.What proportion of parks and reserves have these features?
 
 
All parks and reserves More than 50% Less than 50% Planned for the future
Designated parking
Good access route from carpark to parks and reserves
Accessible toilets ( with good directional signage and location)
Clear and legible signage at entrance/exit points and in the parks
Pathways are wide enough for wheelchair users
Pathways are reasonably smooth, continuous and clear of obstacles
 
 
 
   
 
 

6. In planning new footpaths and walkways or, when upgrading existing ones, does your Council have a policy or strategy statement for implementing the following accessibility features? (Please send a copy of this statement when you return the questionnaire)
 
Tactile Paving
 
Audible Traffic Signals at busy intersections
 
Colour contrasting surfaces
 
Bins,poles,shop signage and other obstacles are kept clear of main pathway
 
Other features(please state what these are)

 
 
PART C : BUILDING CONTROLS AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS
As you are aware, the requirement for ‘reasonable and adequate’ access to buildings and amenities for people with disabilities is included in the Building Act, Building Code and NZS 4121:2001.These deal only with minimum standards of design.
 

In your experience, on a scale of 1 (‘ very effective’) to 5 (‘very ineffective’) how effective are the building controls in securing barrier free access?
 
 
Very effective Effective Somewhat effective Ineffective Very Ineffective
EFFECTIVENESS
 


 
 

2. In your experience, on a scale of 1 (‘ very willing ‘) to 5 (‘ very unwilling’ ) how willing are developers in the private sector to go beyond meeting the minimum requirements of the Building Act?( ie: by 'going beyond' this means being pro-active and recognising that disabled access involves more than just doing what the legislation requires)
 
 
Very Willing Willing Neutral Unwilling Very Unwilling
WILLINGNESS
 
 

3. In your opinion what is required to encourage more developers to incorporate accessible design features beyond the minimum standards required by the Building Act?
 
Educate developers about the benefits of accessible buildings
 
Issue pre-consent guidelines that inform the developer of the need to consider access as part of their design
 
Produce design guides that assist developers about good practice
 
Ensure that developers and local council liaise with third parties such as disability groups
 
Incentives such as rates relief
 
Other(please state)

 
 
PART D : PLANNING ACCESSIBLE BUILT ENVIRONMENTS FOR AN AGING POPULATION

 
 

Planning for an aging society will require understanding the changes associated with the aging process and how these changes affect a person’s ability to negotiate the built environment.
 
 
1. Does your Council have a policy or strategy statement that refers to 'planning for an aging population'?
 
Yes (If Yes,please send a copy of your policy or statement)
 
No
 
Currently working on one
 
 
 
2. For communities in your area what issues need to be addressed in planning accessible built environments for an aging population. (Please rank in order of priority).
Improving physical access to council buildings and community facilities
Supporting the mobility and transportation needs of older people
Improving locational accessibility between services, facilities and residential areas
Improving safety and security in the pedestrian environment
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
1. Which organisations, if any, do you consult for guidelines on access/disability issues (e.g.: Royal Foundation of the Blind; local disability group, Age Concern)
   
 
 
 
2. In the last 3 years how often has the Council consulted these groups and what was the purpose of this consultation?
   
 
 

3. What does your Council do to facilitate participation by disabled people and older adults in the planning process?
 
Provide information in a range of accessible formats (i.e.: large print, Braille, audiotapes, CDs)
 
Improve physical access to meeting places
 
Establish an advisory group
 
Have regular meetings between Council and people with disabilities and older people
 
Other(please state)

 
Please contact [email protected] or click here if you have any questions regarding this survey.
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