Monday 08 September 2008

Services for people with disabilities

North Wiltshire District Council is committed to providing services that can be accessed by everyone.

The council can help people with disabilities by offering:-
  • Appointments can be made to see a customer services officer on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, 2pm until 4.15 (last appointment)
  • Hearing loop in reception
  • Induction loops fitted to three interview booths
  • Typetalk in call centre
  • Large buttons at main entrance which open doors when entering and exiting which allows for easy wheelchair access.  
  • Disabled parking bays
  • Braille signage in reception
  • Portable seating Aid
  • Wheelchair available
  • Accessible toilet facilities in reception
  • DWP leaflets are available in alternative formats to assist customers with visual impairments.
  • Applied Language - Translation services which offer braille and easy read formats.
  • Reception sign in red to make it easier for a partially sighted person to read
  • Welcome signage for all assisted guide dogs
  • Dedicated line for customers with learning difficulties.
  • extra help with weekly rubbish collections. See Assisted Collections
  • home visits to help complete and submit housing benefit or council tax benefit claim forms.
  • disabled facilities grants, up to a maximum of £25,000, to make essential home adaptations such as widening doors or installing stairlifts*. See Disabled Facilities Grants
  • decent homes grants, up to £10,000, to make homes wind and weather tight, warm or to create modern facilities*. See Decent Homes Grants
  • free planning applications for anyone carrying out work to properties that improves access for disabled people.
  • some building regulation applications are free including alterations to improve facilities for disabled people.
  • browsealoud software on the council’s website, which is a speech tool that reads aloud the contents of each page. Visit the Browsealoud website for more information.
*Subject to eligibility

Did you Know?
  • The Council contributed £15,000 towards a £107,000 scheme to refurbish Brinkworth Village Hall, which included improvements to disabled access and toilet facilities.
  • The Council has contributed community funding toward holiday schemes for children with special needs.
  • Disability Access Audits are carried out at the Council offices to identify and address any access problems that visitors and employees may face.
  • Disability awarenesss training is provided to all front line employees.
  • The Council has an Internal Equalities and Diversity Group that focuses on these issues across the whole organisation.
A full colour brochure containing the above information is available to download by clicking the link below.

Services for people with disabilities (PDF 365Kb)