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Disability access resources

Issue date

Introduction

Trade unions are required by law to offer the same service to disabled as to non-disabled members. Frequently, this will involve offering information and services in alternative formats, in order that all members are able to access them, and ensuring that meetings and venues are fully accessible to all members.

This list of resources for disability access in its various forms has been on the TUC website since requested by the TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference in 2009.

What the list is, and is not

Below are listed the providers of services currently used by the TUC or by individual trade unions.

Inclusion in the list does not in any way constitute a recommendation, nor does it represent a comment about service providers who are not listed. At all times, it is the responsibility of the union commissioning the service to establish that it properly meets their needs.

Similarly, inclusion in the list is not a guarantee that the services offered by each provider are still available: it is the responsibility of the union to establish that their chosen provider can still deliver what they require. The list was updated in March 2015. 

Updating and improving the list

This list will be amended if unions come across additional service providers who they believe should be included, or have useful comments about providers listed. Please send such information to ppurton@tuc.org.uk for inclusion.

This list is divided into the following sections:

  1. Audio transcriptions
  2. BSL/sign language interpretation
  3. Furniture (etc)
  4. Mobility scooter hire
  5. Speech to text/palantype
  6. Transcriptions
  7. Disability equality training
  8. Meeting venues
  9. Access consultant accreditation

Audio transcriptions

Talking Newspapers                      

National Talking Newspapers and Magazines
National Recording Centre
Heathfield
E Sussex TN21 8DB                                                            
Tel: 01435 866102
Fax: 01435 865422
E: info@tnauk.org.uk                                                           

Soundtalking is part of Talking Newspapers
Tel: 01435 862737
http://www.soundtalking.co.uk                                                      

BSL/Sign Language interpretation - Disability access resource

National register

There is a national register of qualified BSL interpreters - the National Register of Communication Professionals for working with Deaf and Blind People - at http://portal.nrcpd.org.uk/search.

The Scottish national register is at
The Scottish National Register
SASLI
www.sasli.co.uk
Tel: 0141 248 8159
Text/SMS: 0797 014 6251
E: mail@sasli.co.uk

Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID)                  

19-23 Featherstone Street,
London EC1Y 8SL
Tel: 0845 6858000
Text/SMS: 0845 6858001
E:​communication.services@hearingloss.org.uk

Aditus

Tel: 0800 756 6573
Fax: 0207 681 2773
Text/SMS: 07766 004375
E: office@aditus-partnership.com

Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD)        

Head Office,
18 Westside Centre,
London Road, Stanway,
Colchester, Essex
CO3 8PH
Tel: 0845 688 2525
Fax: 0845 688 2526
Texphone: 0845 688 2527
SMS: 07851 423866
E: info@royaldeaf.org.uk
www.royaldeaf.org.uk
(covers London, the east and south-east of England).

Sign Solutions                                

Rectory Court, Old Rectory Lane
Birmingham B48 7SX
Tel. 0843 178 0773 (Call costs 7p per minute plus your telephone company's access charge)
Fax: 0843 178 0782
SMS: 07816 217228
E: office@signsolutions.uk.com
www.signsolutions.uk.com

SLIC (sign language interpreters)

6 Hazeldean Terrace,
Edinburgh
EH16 6RU
Tel: 0131 664 2858
E: office@slic.co.uk
http://www.slic.co.uk

BSL training resource

The Centre for Deaf Studies at Bristol University, working with TUC and union involvement, and the DWP, created an interactive website including advice for union reps, a BSL dictionary and an on-line sign language training course in 2004. The website is at www.signstation.org.uk.

Furniture (etc.)

ONCE  

Barry Grubb,                                                            
Office Needs Company (environmental)
128 Caversham Road, Reading, Berks RG1 8AY
Tel: 01189 505 707

The Hire Business     

http://www.thehirebusiness.com                                                            
E: sales@officeneedsonline.co.uk

Mobility scooter hire

Rent a Scoota

Tel: 02392 240335
0844 800 7074
www.rentascoota.com
E: sales@rentascoota.com

Speech-to-text/palantype

STTRs Direct    

5 Cross Gate Close, Martins Heron,
Bracknell RG12 9TY
Tel: 01707 642307
Mob. 07835 389576
Fax: 0870 706 2777
www.sttrsdirect.co.uk
e: enquiries@sttrsdirect.co.uk

Norma White 

13 Heatherfold Way, Pinner,
Middx HA5 2LG
Tel/SMS: 07967 362501
E: enquiries@normawhite.co.uk
www.normawhite.co.uk

Ubiqus                                              

Ubiqus UK
Professional Meeting and Document Services
61 Southwark Street
London SE1 0HL
http://www.ubiqus.co.uk
Tel: 020 7269 0370
Fax: 020 7405 9884
E: infouk@ubiqus.com

Transcriptions (including Braille, audio, large print etc)

A2i Transcription Services

Unit 4 Montpelier Central, Station Road,
Bristol BS6 5EE
Tel. 01179 440044
http://www.a2i.co.uk
E: info@a2i.co.uk

Disability Resource Team             

Maurice Press, DRT                                                            
2nd floor, 6 Park Road,
Teddington,
Middx TW11 0AA                                                            
Tel: 0208 943 0022
E: Maurice@disabilityresourceteam.com
www.disabilityresourceteam.com

PIA                                                     

Victoria Street,
Cwmbran,
NP44 3YT                                                            
Tel: 0844 500 6450
Fax: 0844 500 6451
www.pia.co.uk
e: post@pia.com

RNIB

Transcription Services,
105 Judd Street,
London WC1H 9NE
Tel: 01733 375370
E: businesslink@rnib.org.uk

Technovision Systems

Technovision Systems Ltd
76 Bunting Road Industrial Estate
Northants NN2 6EE
Tel: 01604 792777
Fax: 01604 792726
E: info@techno-vision.co.uk

Disability equality training

Organisations that specifically offer training based on the social model of disability.

Susan Archibald                             

Archibald Foundation
1 Kelthyhill avenue
Kelthy, Fife KY4 0LH                                 
Tel: 01383 831562
E: susanas4321@hotmail.com

Disability Resource Team             

Maurice Press, DRT
2nd floor, 6 Park Road,
Teddington,
Middx TW11 0AA
Tel: 0181 943 0022
maurice@disabilityresourceteam.com
www.disabilityresourceteam.com

Equality Works                                

Offices in London and Manchester
Tel. 0207 953 1010
www.theewgroup.com
E: office@theewgroup.com

World of Inclusion                          

Richard Rieser
Unit 4X, Leroy House, 436 Essex Road,
London N1 3QP
Tel. 020 7359 2855
Fax. 020 7354 3372
Mob. 07715 420727
www.worldofinclusion.com

Meeting venues

Cautionary note: very few buildings offer complete access. It is therefore essential that unions check carefully all aspects of access before deciding on a venue, including those listed here. This should include a visit to the facility as a matter of course: it is unwise to make firm arrangements only on trust, as it may then be too late to resolve problems that arise when the event is underway.

The following union organisations have accessible meeting facilities and enquiries should be directed to them directly:

CSP 

14 Bedford Row,
London
WC1R 4ED
Tel: 0207 7306 6666

NUT

Hamilton House, Mabledon Place,
London
WC1H 9BD
Tel: 020 7388 6191

Prospect

New Prospect House, 8 Leake Street,
London SE1 7NN
Tel: 020 7902 6600

Congress Centre

TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street,
London WC1B 3LS
Tel: 020 7467 1318
Fax: 020 7467 1313
Congress.centre@tuc.org.uk
www.congresscentre.co.uk

Hotels      

Comments about the facilities, provided by unions, are given after each reference.

Midlands                                    

Hilton Metropole, Birmingham
Union comment: most meeting rooms ground floor; some adapted bedrooms, lift access
Hilton, Bromsgrove
Union comment: all meeting rooms and 80 bedrooms on ground floor
Holiday Inn, Bromsgrove/Birmingham
Union comment: all meeting rooms on ground floor, bedrooms accessible by lift
ICC, Birmingham

​Access consultant accreditation                                       

If engaging the services of an access consultant to carry out a disability audit, it is important to check that the consultant is suitably qualified and/or accredited. There is a national register of consultants who have been accredited by NRAC:

www.nrac.org.uk/index/htm

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