Six workplaces gain disability accreditation

Wednesday 01 September 2021

Six workplaces have become the first recipients of a new accreditation evidencing their commitment to improve access for people with disabilities.

The first recipients of the equality charity Liberate’s Accès accreditation are: Standard Bank Jersey, Romerils, Jersey Library, the Household Recycling Centre, Parking Control at Sand Street car park and the Channel Islands Co-Operative Society.

Over the past year, Liberate has audited more than 60 buildings.

The Accès audit includes a report containing recommendations for adjustments the organisation could make to improve access for people with disabilities, employee training on welcoming people with disabilities as customers or colleagues, and a mystery shopper visit. The team of auditors includes people with different disabilities.

“Our auditors have really enjoyed testing the buildings they’ve audited. We have audited some of Jersey’s most iconic public buildings, schools, shops, offices, as well as really difficult small spaces where reasonable adjustments become less about physical changes and more about how you assist one another as individuals, which is why the training we offer is so vital,” Paddy Haversham-Quaid, CXO of Liberate, said.

“For our auditors with disabilities the experience has been about making a difference for other people with disabilities, and rather than being about finding barriers, it has been about finding out where they can access. It is important that there are organisations making a public statement by displaying the Accès logo, and that want people with disabilities to be able to fully engage with them. We hope that the kitemark will become a trusted symbol for people with disabilities in Jersey that guarantees a positive experience and friendly welcome.”