• Access audits & access surveys
  
  
• Access Statements & Design and Access Statements
  
  
• Consultancy & contributions to consultations
  
  
• Advice on consulting with disabled people
  
  
• Training and information for organisations & companies & training on access auditing for disabled people
  
  
• Publications
  
  
• Provision of information on the Disability Discrimination Act, Building Regulation, planning guidance and best practice access standards, including developing materials on writing Design and Access Statements
  
  
• Projects and joint activities with local authorities, regeneration projects & the voluntary & community sector
  
  
• Providing information, advice and consultancy to other infrastructure organisations in the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester
  
  
• Active involvement with other disabled people's organisations and with the voluntary and community sector in Greater Manchester
  
  
• Support for the development of Disability Equality Schemes, including impact assessment, information gathering, consulting with disabled people, access audits,disability equality training
  
  
• Campaigns
  
  We are involved in a number of campaigns. For more information, contact us. We meet the second Monday of every month, 6.00pm - 8.00pm in Manchester City Centre.

Becoming a member

• Access audits and access surveys

  We have carried out access surveys and access audits for local, regional and national organisations including the Disability Rights Commission, Manchester City Council, North West Tourist Board, Manchester Careers Partnership, Tameside Council, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, Trafford Housing Trust, Cornerhouse, Chinese Arts Centre, Pankhurst Centre, Manchester University, Manchester Community Network, Salford New Deal for Communities, Chinese Arts Centre, NHS Trusts in Greater Manchester including large PFI projects, Victoria Baths and other local and regional organisations.
  
  We have experience of audits and consultancy in general, office and specialist areas such as offices, hotels, hospitals, prisons, universities, tourist information centres, tourist venues, visual & performing arts venues, cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops and supermarkets, taxis, health centres, leisure centres, careers offices, conservation areas and listed buildings, community buildings, transport, highways & tunnels, parks and on various information formats, including websites.
  
  We also provide responses to government consultations on policies related to disabled people's issues, planning and construction, including the design of schools, Bulletin 77 and on design and access statements at planning and building control stages.
  
  For more information on our services, contact us on 0161 273 5033 or email us at admin@mdpag.org.uk
  
  

• Access Statements and Design and Access Statements

  We can help to write Statements and to support consultation with a wide range of disabled people and their organisations
  
  

• Access consultancy projects and consultations

  We also provide customised access consultancy services for public and private sector clients.
  
  We also participate in a range of local and national consultations, covering all aspects of access, covering buildings, transport, information, the environment, policies and procedures, heritage and listed buildings and access standards in all sectors.
  
  

• Advice on consulting with disabled people

  We have worked with various organisations, including the Community Network for Manchester, Consultation Institute and the Disability Rights Commission and can advise on community engagement strategies and issues around consulting with, and involving disabled people. We are the link organisation for the Disabled People's Network in Manchester.
  
  We also participate in a range of local and national consultations, covering all aspects of access, covering buildings, transport, information, the environment, policies and procedures, heritage and listed buildings and access standards in all sectors.
  
  

• Training and information for organisations, companies and training on access auditing for disabled people

  We have provided customised training and briefing sessions for local voluntary and communty organisations, Manchester City Council, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and other local authorities, Prison Service, health workers and for other private, public, voluntary and neighbourhood organisations, including North West Arts and for local businesses. We have also worked closely with architects, designers, engineers and surveyors.
  
  This includes training on legislation, including the DDA and Building Regulations and Planning legislation and guidance, development of design and access statements at planning and building control stages, good practice in designing for disabled people's access, disability awareness and disability action and applying the social model of disability.
  
  We also provide training for disabled people on access standards, access audits, access statements and disabled people's access issues, using the social model of disability.
  
  

• Information and publications on access issues and access standards

  We publish leaflets, posters, checklists and information on access for specific projects and for training and are joint partners with Manchester City Council in the development of the Design for Access 2 Manual.
  
  We are also participants in the Disabled People's Network (Community Network for Manchester) and co-produced the "Guidelines for Accessible Meetings and Events".
  
  We have produced "Better Access: Image and Reality", funded by the European Year of Disabled People, which is a collection of images explaining good and bad practice in access design and standards.
  
  We also publish occasional newsletters on access issues. For more information or to be added to our mailing list, please email us.