The Australian Diabetes Council and Diabetes Australia NSW headquarters is located in Forest Lodge in Sydney’s inner-western suburbs, and is an old 2-storey house converted to professional offices.

The Australian Diabetes Council and Diabetes Australia NSW contacted Australian Disabled Access Consultants expressing concern that the narrow front yard entry pathway and front main entry doorway threshold step might not provide acceptable access for people with disabilities, special needs and wheelchair users.

Australian Disabled Access Consultants offered advised on the situation according to information received from the Diabetes Council that the existing building entry conditions might not provide accessibility and could discriminate against people with disabilities, special needs and wheelchair users, contrary to the principles of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Part D3 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standards AS1428.1–2001 (Design for Access and Mobility).

Australian Disabled Access Consultants advised that premises should provide:

  • BCA and AS1428.1 compliant pathway of travel between the front boundary to the main entry doorway:
    • 1000mm minimum width unobstructed level pathway of travel with a slip resistant pavement; or
    • 1:14 gradient x 1000mm minimum width ramp and landings with handrails and slip resistant pavement materials and AS1428.4 compliant tactile ground surface indicators at each landing. 
  • BCA and AS1428.1 compliant 800mm minimum clear opening width front main entry doorway with 900mm-1100mm high door handles and hardware and door leaf and frame 30% colour contrast to the adjacent wall colour. 
  • No doorway threshold step.

They also recommended that the work be properly designed before commencing construction work and offered to certify the completed work for BCA and AS1428.1 compliance.

Australian Disabled Access Consultants congratulates Australian Diabetes Council and Diabetes Australia NSW for improving disabled access within its NSW headquarters to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, special needs and wheelchair users and promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs.