Donald Trumps Can-Do does it for the Disability Vote A reader asked me why people with disability appear vocal in their support of Trump? Firstly we need to understand the difference in US and Australian disability policy development. And second, we need to see how Trump might end the rhetoric and actually make a difference. In the USA, disability rights have traditionally been championed as a patriot movement about treating returned veterans with respect, that traces back to the Civil War and civil rights amendment to the constitution. Whereas in Australia, policy tends to...
No.2 baffled by Tactiles, Truncated Domes, pavement markers In at No.2 of 5, the baffling inclusion of ‘Tactiles’ in our building codes is the worlds largest -unapproved- human-trial of a therapeutic intervention, never conducted. The Science; There is no valid peer review research anywhere in the world to support tactiles and truncated domes in our building codes. By ‘valid’ we mean research that has, at a minimum; a control, a placebo, and a sample group that reflects the nature and risks of the intervention strategy. For example: tactiles are required in childcare...
5 insanely disabled access standards: 1 of 5 Braille Signage Growing acceptance around building law is key to improving compliance outcomes, but its a hard task to get acceptance when a law baffles logic, costs money, time and reduces our capacity to get the job done. Let’s tackle the top 5 codes that undermine all good intentions to improve project outcomes for people with disabilities. No. 1 Braille signage on toilet doors Braille signage ranks as the number one defunct access standard for reason of its prevalence and financial cost for no known community benefit. The science Best...
The projects near completion, costs have peaked, and the Certifier is insisting on minute detailed compliance and Alternative Solutions report from in-house consultants. What’s going on? Is it a corrupt PCA? Corrupt PCA, Buildng Certifier Access Consultant A building Certifier/ Surveyor, Principle Certifying Authority (PCA) engage in corrupt conduct when they; improperly uses the knowledge, power or resources of their position for personal gain or the advantage of others. a public official dishonestly exercises his official functions in a partial manner and breaches public...
Arqua Urban Health and Disability Access Consultants are innovators in the field of building and construction services, offering advice on access to premises for people with disabilities and Urban Health planning. Arqua are looking for qualified career oriented candidates for access consulting jobs across Australia. Access consulting Jobs We are looking for motivated architects to join our Melbourne Sydney and Brisbane offices and firms seeking franchise opportunities, to take the Arqua brand national and international. If you have a degree in architecture, planning, law or similar and...
Cold call Access Consulting Career inquiries climbed again in 2015, and although the applicants are keen and we wish we had positions, the truth is its a saturated market and their prospects are slim. Adding to an already difficult career start for graduates is an emerging decline in jobs within Building Surveying and Local Government leaving many applicants holding vocational certificates in disability access, but not much else. The growth in Access Consulting Careers followed the introduction of the long anticipated DDA Access to Premises Standard in 2010 (APS). The APS created a...
D-t-S or Performance Solutions - it's your choice! There has been a spate of misinformation about Performance Based Solutions and Building Surveyors overextending their field of influence in so far as the exercise of their duty. It’s important not to be bullied into doing something you just do not have to do. You might also consider legal action to recoup the costs and any delays for being forced to do something you DO NOT HAVE TO DO. Here's some useful links and info from the horse’s mouth:- The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Performance or Prescriptive Solution...
Prior to 2013 the BCA referenced the AS 1735 suite of standards for lifts, yet as the standards were not progressively revised to reflect the diversity of new lift products coming from the EU, the AS 1735 suite of standards were eventually dropped from the BCA in 2014, except part 12 for disability access and usability features for lifts, elevators, escalators and moving walks. Ad interim, in the absence of a relevant and meaningful lift standard, the default test of lift suitability is ‘is it safe and accessible?’ The question of safe is taken up by the OHS/WHS authorities in each...
Somewhere in the world today a government official will download a free copy of Annex, the World's first affordable home standard; Annex Home Standard. Governments that want to uphold the UDHR adopt Annex. It's what you do to take action on housing. Key to tackling the global housing crisis is to first address corruption in housing supply and planning. It doesn't matter if you live in Manila, Soweto or Woy Woy, corruption affects the supply of housing. The first thing architects notice about Annex is Housing is foremost considered a human right an objective. Excessive taxation is...
A performance-based solution to the BCA is an alternative solution or alternate method of meeting building law. The ABCB has launched the following two new YouTube clips on Performance Based Design and BCA Performance AKA Alternative Solutions. At Arqua, we are regularly asked to prepare alternate solutions for situations where standard compliance solutions are not structurally possible or necessary given the anticipated use or population demand. Based on prior work, alternative solutions provide and economic and spatial advantage. Logically if it didn't the building owner wouldn't...