Disability

Woking Borough Council has produced their Disability Equality Scheme and Action plan. The scheme is available in full, as a summary version or as an easy read version. The scheme aims to further develop and mainstream the rights of disabled people and access to council services for disabled people in Woking.

Woking Borough Council's Disability Equality Scheme and Action plan has been in place for three years.

A number of key steps towards disability equality have been achieved since the scheme was devised, some of which are listed below:

  • Woking Borough Council's Chief Executive Ray Morgan has been appointed Equalities Champion, to ensure support at the highest level. The Council also has a Member Equalities Champion, with an opposition equalities representative.

  • All Woking Borough Council staff receive disability training.

  • Equality Impact Assessments, including disability, have been used widely throughout council procedures, for example in the annual service planning process, committee reports and project management procedures.

  • Engagement with local disability groups has improved, for example officers work closely to support Woking Access Group, North West Surrey Association of Disabled People and North West Surrey Empowerment Board.

  • Alternative formats are available on request, for example large print is available on all Housing letters and Housing fact sheets were reviewed and simplified into plain English.

  • Benefits take-up campaigns have been launched in partnership with North West Association of Disabled People and Surrey County Council.

  • A benefits visiting service has been made available for vulnerable adults in liaison with hostels for vulnerable adults, alongside promotion of sheltered and supported accommodation for vulnerable adults.

  • Woking has been recognised for its website accessibility through being awarded the Shaw Trust Accessibility Plus.

  • Assisted services have been provided for disabled and vulnerable people where required, for example assistance with bin collections, Hometrak bidding.

  • Woking's car park refurbishments have been completed to ensure that they are all Disability Discrimination Act compliant.

  • Sign language interpreters are available on request and a portable hearing loop is available in the Council's One-Stop-Shop and Council meeting rooms.

  • An annual mental health fair has been hosted at HG Wells Conference and Events Centre.

  • Additional Needs Coordinators have been placed on summer play schemes and at the leisure centre.

  • Access audits of HG Wells Conference and Events Centre have taken place to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, with all high priority items addressed and others built into improvement plans.

  • The Leisure Centre underwent an Inclusive Fitness Initiative audit and achieved the IFI mark.

  • An access and social audit of sheltered facilities and polling stations took place.

  • A Quality Mark inspection took place for the home improvement agency, with accessibility a key component.

  • A review of the Disabled Facility Grant process took place.

  • A `Design and Access Statement' has been devised for planning.

  • An `Access to Open Spaces' programme for improvement has been developed, which tackles issues such as physical and cultural access relating to recreation grounds and play areas.

  • Efforts have been made to ensure that accessible taxis are available - all hackney carriages should be Disability Discrimination Act compliant.

In 2010, we are carried out a review to see what has been achieved so far and what needs to be done in the future. Following the announcement of the Equality Act 2010 we will continue to review our Disability Equality Scheme and provide further information at a later date. Please email refeia.zaman@woking.gov.uk if you would like further information.

If you would like information about the accessibility of venues in Woking, why not try looking at Disabled Go. If you would like to find out more about the accessibility of WokingTown Centre please see the Council's Welcome to Woking, the accessible town leaflet.