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Campaigns
DDA Activities Leaflet & poster Access survey results Inclusive design for education

DDA October 2004
Act Now or Pay Later!

Manchester Disabled People's Access Group are campaigning for businesses and organisations to take action following the implementation of part of the Disability Discrimination Act relating to reasonable adjustments to buildings from 1st October 2004. We also work with other disabled people's organisations and individuals to campaign for equality for disabled people.
  • Leaflet with information about the DDA requirements
    We delivered stickers and posters around Manchester, particularly to places which were not accessible on 1st and 2nd October and have continued to do this during during 2004 and 2005.
  • Stickers and Posters
    We delivered stickers and posters around Manchester, particularly to places which were not accessible on 1st and 2nd October and have continued to do this during during 2004 and 2005.
  • Yellow and Red cards
    We have issued and will continue to issue yellow cards to businesses and organisations where there are clear barriers to disabled people, identifying key issues, advising them of their responsibilities and providing information and advice on making adjustments.
    After 6 months, if these businesses or organisations have not taken action to remove barriers, we issue red cards warning them that if they continue to exclude disabled people from their services, we will support individuals who wish to take legal action under the DDA and advising them of the action they should be taking.
  • Local newspaper advert
    We placed an ad in the Manchester Evening News and Metro, focusing on the need to improve access everywhere.
 red no entry symbol with wheelchair user, act now or pay later, October 2004, buildings must be accessible for disabled people now! MDPAG details





Download a Word version of the poster in A4
Images of our leaflet are available to download in PDF format. Link to Adobe website for Acrobat Reader 6.0

Check Adobe Acrobat's accessibility features and the specific new accessibility features of Acrobat Reader 6.0

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Access Surveys 2002 - 2004 (Manchester retail, tourist and hotel venues)
Access survey results

In 2002, we carried out a series of surveys in Manchester, covering hotels and tourist venues, selected by Manchester City Council (MCC), and shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs along "key routes" in Manchester City Centre. Hardly anything has changed since then. In 2003, we carried out access surveys of banks and cinemas.

The surveys were carried out to minimum access criteria, agreed jointly by MCC and MDPAG for the projects, but many places may have to make more adjustments to meet the requirements of disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act, from 1st October 2004.

For more details of individual venues, contact MDPAG at admin@mdpag.org.uk

Key problems that were identified, which generally excluded premises from gaining an access symbol, in venues, shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, banks and tourist venues included:
  • steps and no ramps or poorly designed or steep ramps;
  • poorly designed toilets, which were not accessible;
  • split levels with stairs and no lift access, which excluded visitors from services and products;
  • lack of circulation space in aisles and other public areas;
  • obstacles in routes, such as advertising boards, display units and storage facilities;
  • fixed or inappropriate seating which don't allow people to sit with friends or family or are inaccessible
There were many other access issues noted, which would have to be adjusted by service providers to ensure that their services are accessible and meet requirements of disabled people under the Disability Discrimination Act, including:
  • no nearby parking and drop off areas and parking areas not clearly marked with spaces wide enough to meet regulations;
  • heavy doors;
  • unclear or inappropriate signage and wayfinding;
  • poor lighting;
  • reflective surfaces;
  • use of artificial floor coverings and some with confusing patterns;
  • lack of information in alternative formats;
  • many lifts too small for scooter users and some power chair users;
  • no independent lift access in some areas, requiring staff assistance;
  • very few accessible baby changing facilities;
  • doors and equipment not highlighted;
  • poor layout of rooms, bathrooms and toilets;
  • no induction loops or other hearing enhancement systems;
  • poor reception and payment facilities, or help desks, including very few low level payment desks in shops and banks;
  • small changing rooms in shops;
  • few confidential meeting rooms in banks with access for assistance dogs and wheelchair users and with induction loops;
  • no accessible fire exits
  • street furniture not highlighted, creating barriers;
  • Hotels
    26 hotels were visited at the request of MCC, 16 were accessible, 10 were not accessible.

    only 61.5% were accessible

  • Tourist Venues
    19 tourist venues were requested and surveyed, 14 were accessible, 5 were not accessible.

    only 73.7% were accessible

  • Cafes, pubs & restaurants
    255 venues, only 60 were accessible, 195 were not accessible

    only 23.5% accessible

  • Shops
    Excluding the Arndale Centre, of 433 shops visited, 166 were accessible, 267 were not accessible.

    only 38.3% accessible

  • Banks
    20 banks were visited, 5 were accessible, 15 were not accessible.

    only 25% accessible

  • Arndale Centre shops Common problems identified in some shops:
    • no level access from Market Street;
    • split level facilities to products, with steps and no lift;
    • fixed seating in cafes and restaurants;
    • obstacles in doorways and aisles;
      poor signage.
For more information, our section on access standards provides more details

or contact us for details of our surveys.

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Community Network for Manchester & Disabled People's Network

Manchester Disabled People's Access Group (MDPAG) is the link organisation for and an active member of the Disabled People's Network, a network of organisations of disabled people in Manchester which is part of the Community Network for Manchester. We campaign to improve policies and practices for disabled people and work with the Manchester Partnership (Local Strategic Partnership), and with other voluntary, community and neighbourhood organisations.

We were co-authors of the Guidelines for Accessible Meetings and Events and members of the Access Review Forum, a consultative group of disabled people's organisations, which are consulted by Manchester City Council.

We have produced a response to the Bulletin 77 consultation on the design of
Currently, we are working within the Disabled People's Network to develop guidelines on identifying specific design specifications for fully inclusive schools and colleges, based on the specific issues and requirements of disabled people.

This will feed into the designs and development of new schools and colleges within Manchester and contribute to improving the design of accessible buildings and environments for inclusive learning. It will form part of the process towards the integration of all disabled pupils and students into mainstream education.

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last updated 09.1.2007