BB ACCESSIBILITY ASSESSMENTS

BARRIER BREAKER RATINGS
SLOGAN: Accessibility with Pride & Dignity

Through the BB Ratings system people with physical disabilities will be able to see which buildings comply with their basic accessibility needs.

Apart from clearly identifiable plaques at the entrances of such buildings, a list of all these structures - as well as the shops

and businesses within such a structure which support the principle that pwd’s should be able to move around with dignity – will be published on BB’s web site.

Both on our web site and through a comprehensive PR campaign we will encourage pwd’s to avoid embarrassment by avoiding establishments not displaying the BB Ratings sign.

GOALS
  1. To improve accessibility conditions for pwd’s
  2. To have a visible indicator of the accessibility of a structure for pwd’s
  3. To give recognition to companies which are addressing the issue of accessibility
  4. To resolve accessibility complaints from pwd’s
  5. To generate funds for service delivery to pwd’s
  6. To create new employment opportunities for pwd’s

METHODOLOGY
The project entails the awarding of a Barrier Breaker Rating to owners/managers/tenants of any structure/venue which is open to members of the public.

It must be stressed that the ratings will not be linked to any existing legislation or building regulations. Participants will have to pass the most difficult test of them all – a practical accessibility test (Accessibility with Pride and Dignity test) conducted by people with physical disabilities.

Based on membership principles, participants who have qualified will pay an annual membership fee. Upon registration, members will receive a plaque for public display at every point of entry, as well as a membership certificate. Facilities with more than one entrance will obviously have to purchase additional plaques.

The membership/ratings will be renewable annually, subject to compliance with the relevant accessibility criteria.

CATEGORIES
The ratings will be awarded in two categories:
  1. STANDARD
  Will apply to all non-residential venues/structures where day-to-day business transactions take place or which people visit for   leisure and entertainment; eg shopping centres, office buildings, public sector buildings, casinos, movie theatres, restaurants   and conference facilities.

  A certificate will be awarded if specific criteria are met with regard to:
  · Parking
  · Toilets
  · General common-use areas (entrances, passages, foyers)
  · Lifts/Ramps vs Stairs/Escalators
  · Emergency Exits

  2. ASSISTED ACCESSIBILITY
  For those establishments where accessibility changes are not possible because of architectural realities, but where the people   responsible are prepared to facilitate pwd’s by ensuring that the necessary assistance is available to them.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

  1. RECOGNITION: You receive public recognition for what you have done to accommodate people with physical disabilities.
  2. ARBRITATION: You can call on us to investigate any accessibility complaint leveled against your structure by a person   with a physical disability. As a Ratings member you will receive our services at a 20% discount.
  3. DISCOUNTS: As a Ratings member you will automatically qualify for a 10% discount should you require any of BB’s   awareness, sensitisation or training services.
  4. CLIENT LIAISON: How much goodwill can you buy for R100 per month? As an astute businessperson you know that the   accessibility issues we look at not only facilitate people with permanent physical disabilities, but also your able-bodied   customers experiencing temporary mobility impairments (eg a broken leg) as well as mothers with a pram/push-cart and,   very importantly, all your shoppers moving around with shopping carts!
  5. CSI: You can rightfully claim that you are contributing to the overall benefits of the project:
  · The hands-on assistance the APD renders to thousands of people with physical disabilities.
  · The creation of new employment opportunities for pwd’s.
  · Educating hundreds of thousands of South Africans – both adults and children - about the world of the physically disabled.
  · Providing for the care of everybody associated with your organisation – employees and their family members as well as all   your clients and their family members – should they ever have need of the services provided by the APD.
  · The removal of discrimination against a minority group.
  6. BRANDING RIGHTS: You share in the proud 70+-year history of the Association for the Physically Disabled every time   you use this logo on a letterhead, newsletter or on your web site.
  7. PR & PUBLICITY: How much publicity can you generate for R100 per month? By becoming a member, you buy into a   unique product backed by a comprehensive marketing campaign that promotes you in a very positive light as a caring   company. Your company gets personal recognition on the BB web site and benefits from all the publicity generated around   the campaign. And you can incorporate the logo on all your stationery and promotional material.

BENEFITS TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

  1. Visible affirmation of accessibility with pride and dignity.
  2. Greater awareness of the basic needs of pwd’s.
  3. Funds to sustain and hopefully expand the services provided to pwd’s.
  4. Desperately needed employment opportunities. Nearly nine out of every 10 pwd’s in South Africa are unemployed!   Depending on the support of the industry, hundreds of jobs could be created through:
   Manufacture (plaques) Canvassing of new members Evaluations Inspections Administration
  Updating of web site é Production of planned quarterly newsletter éAdvice centre/information bureau
  5. Centre Managers will be encouraged to introduce a wheel-clamping rule for disability parking bays and to donate the   proposed R500 fine to Barrier Breakers.
  6. Centre Managers will be approached for permission to introduce the Barrier Breaker Supporters system (see below) to the   centre/building.

BARRIER BREAKER SUPPORTERS
SLOGAN: Against Prejudice & Discrimination

Aimed mainly at individual shops/businesses within shopping centres/office blocks. This is not dependant on an accessibility assessment, but merely an attitudinal indicator.

Also based on a membership principle, participants will pay an annual membership fee of either R120 (individual shop owners) or R360 (franchises and chain-stores), and receive a Barrier Breaker Supporters’ window sticker.

ENQUIRIES:

ALL INCOME GENERATED IN AID OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.