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A wide range of disabled access matters needs to be properly considered in a disability access audit.
Some barriers for people with certain disabilities, such as staircases, are often easily identifiable. Many are not readily identifiable to the untrained eye.
Sufficient circulation space is required for travel and manoeuvring of wheelchairs and electric scooters, and for the use of features such as doorways, walkways, hallways, hand basins, toilets, automatic teller machines and telephones. The provision of adequate hinge and latch side door margins at doorways is important.
Balance and transfer support is required by people who are unsteady as they walk, or who tire easily. Handrails on ramps and stairs, for example, fulfil this function. Such supports are also useful at doorways. Public seating design should include armrests. Transfer support is required, in the form of grabrails, at features such as showers and toilets.
Ease of reach and operation is required by wheelchair users, people of short stature, those with dexterity impairment, limited body strength and so on to be able to operate and use such things as door handles, light switches key-pads, telephones, office equipment machines, power points, filing systems, counter-tops, reception desks and bookshelves.
People, especially those with vision, aural or cognitive impairment, require good way finding and communication aids to more readily find their way to within and buildings and facilities.
Floor surface treatments, luminance contrast characteristics, ramp gradients, path crossovers, hazard warnings, emergency warning systems, lift controls, audio loop facilities, doorway clearances and glazing hazards are just a few of matters that need to be addressed.
Careful integration of accessibility features is vital.