Adept Access Audit software - What is it?... How does it work?
It delivers a summary planning report for decision makers and stakeholders, and a detailed information & action report for implementers. Photographs, Part-M and BS8300 information is incorporated automatically by the software.
Additionally, an accumulation report can be produced from many audits to provide an organisational view of their accessibility.
The audit software runs in MS Windows, and uses MS Word and Excel to produce its reports. It is completely usable by screen-reader and large-print software. Keyboard or mouse can be used to navigate the screens.
How does the audit software work? Take us through the process.
The software takes away the work of writing reports. It incorporates all relevant information such as necessary standards (Part M and BS 8300) and provides easy to use templates for all types of access audit.
Not just physical barriers but also information, organisational, attitudinal and environmental barriers.
So we are talking about things such as doors and steps (physical barriers), size of print on documents (information), procedures such as hand written application forms (organisational), the idea that disabled people are not capable (attitudinal) and poor lighting and fire alarms that do not give a visual signal (environmental).
Once the barriers are identified,
what is Adept’s role?
We can provide different levels / types of service depending on the individual
organisation’s requirements – this might include strategic
planning and consultancy.
As well as identifying barriers we provide a plan to remove them. This can include recommendations and priorities as part of a plan of action. If required we can also provide training and consultancy as a follow-up to the audit.
What has been the take-up of the
audits? How much does it cost?
Audits took off with SENDA legislation in 2001. Take up has accelerated
with the introduction of the October legislation.
Is the accessibility audit software
usable outside the UK or would it need to be modified for different legal
requirements?
Yes. But it would need to incorporate the individual country’s standards.
When you carry out an audit, are there sometimes delays in companies introducing the required changes and does Adept have a role to play in speeding up the process? Some things can be done immediately at little or no cost. Others involve longer term planning and investment. This is usually in the client’s hands but we do assist if the client has specific queries.
For more information on the Audit Tool
please click
here or contact Mike by email mosulivan@adept-uk.org.
January
2005