Accessibility - General Policy
South Lakeland District Council will ensure that it complies
with the legislation relating to disability, especially the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
In addition to its legislative requirements, the Council is
committed, wherever practical, to implementing and adhering to
Codes of Practice issued by various bodies such as the Disabled
Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
The Council will make necessary and reasonable adjustments to
its services in order to accommodate the needs of its customers,
and these may include making adjustments to premises to improve
physical accessibility or undertaking home visits where this would
be appropriate.
The Council has made it an objective of its Corporate Plan
2005-2008, to ensure that new buildings are accessible to people
with disabilities
Access Policy Statement
South Lakeland District Council will follow the principles of
Equality and Integration by:
- Working to ensure that no one is denied access to the Council
Services because their needs may be specialised;
- Complying with the law relating to disability, especially
the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;
- Consulting disabled users to establish their needs and
levels of service;
- Improving access for disabled people to Council Buildings
and other buildings used by the Council;
- Promoting access for disabled people to public and
community buildings generally; e.g. providing specific information,
advice, grant aid etc.;
- Working to ensure that service providers, which the
Council uses, are also complying with the legislation relating to
disability;
- Identifying, removing or overcoming barriers to
communications e.g. providing qualified sign language interpreter
for appropriate occasions;
- Providing clear, understandable information/application
forms in a variety of formats e.g. audiotape, large print, Braille
etc. in accordance with the Councils Communication
Strategy;
- Ensuring that all meetings and events involving members
of the public comply with the requirements of people with all kinds
of disabilities, enabling full participation in public life and the
democratic process.
Website Accessibility
Information about the steps we are taking to try and make
the website accessible to all visitors can be found on our
Website
Accessibility page.
South Lakeland Direct
Policy and Performance Group
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
Cumbria LA9 4UD
0845 050 4434