Emma McAuley

2nd International Hearing Loop ConferenceWashington DC, June 2011

Strategies for Success -The Irish Perspective

Emma McAuley

2nd International Hearing Loop Conference - June 2011 2

Summary• This presentation is a follow-on from the

previous panel’s presentation “Consumer Advocacy Around the World: The Irish Perspective” in which I looked at DeafHear’s & the Irish Hard Hearing Association’s involvement to-date in their role as consumer advocates.

• Here I will be looking briefly at some of the Irish Legislation that will be coming into force on 1st January 2012 which will make public buildings more accessible.


But first…• DeafHear is a unique organisation in the

Deaf sector. It combines provision of services to over 32,500 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and their families annually, with a wider impact on the lives of all Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Ireland through advocacy and campaigning for improved health and education services, and for better access to society for all.


Campaigns• While DeafHear services provided every

day make a difference to the individual service user, campaigns may take years of persistence before they are realised; but when this is achieved the impact is felt by all.


Path to Success• Evidence Based on Survey/Research and

individual service user feedback• Case for Change• Submissions• Result = Legislation• Implementation• Monitoring that legislation is being

conformed to


Access

This is a fundamental aspect of social policy and DeafHear is actively involved in advocating for improvements across a wide spectrum of areas. We work closely with government departments to improve their Access and Deaf Awareness through their sectoral plans.


AccessSimilar work is undertaken with local authorities and other public bodies and transport authorities, ranging from the Luas to the Taxi Regulator. One exciting piece of work [has been] with the new Lansdowne Road stadium – the Aviva Stadium. Through representations by DeafHear, the new stadium [has been] fitted out with loop systems in most areas. DeafHear [assisted] this project in an advisory capacity


Loop Snoop• In 2009 DeafHear launched a ‘Loop Snoop’

project to ‘check out’ places where loops were installed to see if they were working sufficiently and being correctly maintained. However, as soon as it became apparent the Part M of the Building Regulations was being updated, a decision was made to put this project on hold until the new Part M came in to force, when there would be legislation to back-up our findings.


The Rights of a Deaf/HoH personA person who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing is

recognised under legislation as a person with a disability, and reasonable accommodation must be made to ensure their access to services and buildings on an equal basis.

Relevant Legislation:• The Equal Status Act• The Disability Act• The Education of People with Special

Educational Needs Act (EPSEN)• Part M of the Building Regulations


What the Law Says:

In broad terms, there is a legal obligation on all service providers, public bodies and employers to ensure that the services they provide, their buildings and their employment practices are equal and fair to all citizens. It is deemed to be discrimination if this does not occur.


What does this mean?

Buildings: All buildings must be accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. This means public buildings, cinemas, banks, churches, schools, theatres, hospitals etc. The law suggests loop systems, but many other access features, such as being contactable by text messages, are also implied.


What does this mean?Services: The definition of services is very

broad, including public services, transport, health, education, leisure, broadcasting and local authorities. The provision to be made for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people includes (but is not limited to):– Loop Systems– Irish Sign Language (ISL) Interpreters– Visual Information


Submissions made to:• National Disability Authority (NDA)• Disability Act 2005 – Part 3 “Access to

Buildings and Services and Sectoral Plans”.

• Building Regulations 2010 – Technical Guidance Document M otherwise known as ‘Part M’


Sectoral PlansThe above requirements of the Disability Act 2005

meant that various ‘Disability User Groups’ (DUG) were set up to allow representatives to meet with the relevant government agencies and bring to the table what the needs and requirements of each of the groups .

DeafHear had representatives on a number of DUGs of transport bodies like: Luas, Bus Eireann, Irish Rail etc, and would also have given submissions to each of the Ministers as detailed in the Act.


Building Regulations 2010 – Technical Guidance Document M

otherwise known as ‘Part M’• The following slides are just a small

selection of phrases taken from Building Regulations 2010 Part M (Access & Use) Technical Guidance Document which can be found on the website here:

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,24773,en.pdf





Building Regulations 2010Part M (Access & Use)

• Signed in to law on 5th November 2010

• To come into effect on 1st January 2012


Introduction

• 1st January 2012• “In general, this document applies to

works, or buildings in which certain material changes of use take place, where the works commence or the change of use takes place, as the case may be on or after 1st January 2012.”

• There are some exceptions though…


Some of the following slides are shown because they specifically

make references to the word ‘loop’ and ‘hearing’ in the Building

Regulations 2010 document…

To find relevant information in the online PDF document, enter words like ‘hearing’ or

‘loop’ in to the find tool


Part M - The Requirement (cont.)

0.3 Buildings other than dwellings• In the case of buildings other than dwellings, the building

should also be designed and constructed so that:• (a) people can circulate within the building and use the

building’s facilities;• (b) where sanitary facilities are provided, adequate sanitary

facilities are available and accessible to people with a range of abilities;

• (c) where relevant facilities such as fixed/ unfixed seating for audience or spectators, refreshment facilities, sleeping accommodation and the like are provided, adequate provision is made for people with a range of abilities;

• (d) suitable aids to communication are available for people with vision, hearing or mobility impairments.


Part M - The Requirement (cont.)

0.12 Management“Key issues which are generally the

responsibility of the management and or maintenance teams include:…

• …conducting staff training and awareness campaigns on peoples specific needs and the use of assistive equipment in buildings e.g. maintenance of induction loops, hoists and other assistive devices;”


Section 1.3Circulation within buildingsother than dwellings (cont.)

1.3.3.1 Reception area in entrance halls• As the entrance hall is the first point of contact

with a buildings activities and resources, the reception area should not only be accessible but also convenient to use. Where a reception area is provided in an entrance hall:…(i) it should have a hearing enhancement system

e.g. an audio frequency induction loop system and clear signage should be provided to indicate its presence (refer to 1.6);


Section 1.3Circulation within buildingsother than dwellings (cont.)

1.3.4.2 Passenger lift detailsWhere an accessible passenger lift is provided:• a suitable emergency communication system

should be installed. Systems should be easy to use for example intercom and push button activation and contain inductive couplers. Rationale: So that people using hearing aids can make use of them;


Section 1.5Other facilities in buildingsother than dwellings (cont.)

1.5.3 Audience and spectator facilities with fixed seating (cont.)

(k) a hearing enhancement system in accordance with Section 1.6 should be provided for people with hearing impairment in all audience and spectator facilities;


Section 1.5Other facilities in buildingsother than dwellings (cont.)

1.5.4 Audience and spectator facilities without fixed seating

Where audience and spectator facilities without fixed seating are provided:

• (b) a hearing enhancement system in accordance with Section 1.6 should be provided for people with hearing impairment in all audience and spectator facilities. This does not include classrooms in primary and post primary schools or standard meeting rooms in offices.


Section 1.6Aids to communication

1.6.1 Objective• The objective is to provide adequate aids to

communication to ensure people can independently access and use a building and its facilities.

1.6.2 Introduction• Signage, visual contrast, lighting and audible aids assist

people, especially those people with vision or hearing impairment or people with intellectual disabilities, in accessing a building and fully utilising the relevant facilities in and around a building. People will benefit most if there is an integrated approach to the design of way finding, public address and hearing enhancements within a building.


Section 1.6Aids to communication (cont.)

• There are several types of audible aids, including:

• (a) Public address systems: These should be coupled with audio frequency induction loops and should be supplemented with visual information;

• (b) Audio frequency induction loop systems: These can provide assistance to users of personal hearing aids incorporating an induction pick-up facility (T setting);



• (c) Infra red systems: These offer line-of-sight wireless communication to specific personal receiver units;

• (d) Radio systems: These offer wireless communication without the need for a clear line-of-sight to receiver units.



• References to:1.6.3: Signage– (f) standard symbols in accordance with BS

8501:2002 should be used to indicate the presence of an induction loop or an infrared hearing enhancement system;

1.6.4: Visual Contrast1.6.5: Lighting1.6.6: Audible Aids



1.6.6 Audible aidsWhere audible aids are provided:• (a) the system should enhance sound communicated to

the user, whether received directly through a personal hearing aid, through additional equipment supplied as part of the system or other means;

• (b) it should preserve the characteristics of the source, whilst suppressing reverberation and extraneous noise and should not be affected by environmental interference such as from lighting or other electrical installations;

• (c) the presence and type of hearing enhancement system installed should be indicated with clear signage;



1.6.6 Audible aidsCont…• (d) a clearly audible public address system should be

supplemented by visual information;• (e) an inductive coupler and additional volume control to

adjust amplification should be fitted into the circuitry of all public or visitor payphones, entry phones and emergency phones in lifts;

• (f) induction loops should be designed, installed and commissioned to comply with the International Standard IEC 60118-4


• Please note that the references to the above mentioned Building Regulations is not exhaustive and it is strongly advised to refer to the document concerned for further clarification.


And so…

• DeafHear.ie (& the Irish Hard of Hearing Association) will be closely monitoring whether the above requirements are being implemented, and will continue as always to advocate on behalf of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in Ireland thus ensuring that they can have equal access in all areas of their lives.


Any Questions????

Documents

Emma McAuley