European Social Fund in England

Accessing auditing qualifications for disabled people

Essex Disabled People's Association (EDPA) researched the availability of accredited training, for disabled people, to achieve qualification as Access Auditors. Virtually all of the courses were post-graduate only, clearly unsuitable for disabled people, on benefit, who had no previous formal training in building or architectural services.

EDPA created a partnership with Chelmsford College and Chelmsford Borough Council and a two year pilot project was funded by a partnership of Essex Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Essex County Council (ECC) and ESF funding.

The course was designed to cater for students, from wide range of impairment groups, and was modular to provide bespoke training, to match individual's needs and previous experience. Training room facilities and equipment to handle a wide range of needs were created in partnership with the College.

Between 2002 - 4 (the pilot scheme) 32 mature students enrolled (ages 36-61). All were disabled, with a range of impairments including:

• Profound deafness
• Blind and visual impairments
• MS
• Breathing and Pulmonary (one student on oxygen)
• Cardio Vascular
• Arthritis and walking restriction (7 wheelchair users)

Twenty-four students (75%) completed the 13 week course and achieved the standard (level 1) of the NRAC for Access Auditors. 22 students (70%) went on to sustainable employment (25% full time paid; 25% self-employed; 20% to post-training mentorship, part-time employed) with an average annual income of £14,000 p. a.

The course assumed that the student had no prior knowledge of the build environment or the DDA. Modules addressed:

• IT Skills and Report Writing
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Building Regulations, Health and Safety, Emergency Egress
• Reading Plans, and architectural drawings
• Disability Discrimination Act, and Employment Law
• Bookkeeping and time management

The course has now developed and has been awarded a Vocation Level 3 certificate by NCFE the national awarding body. It is the only academically approved course for access auditors available to non-graduates.

From 2005 the course will continue, from various locations across Essex, funded by Jobcentre Plus and ESF.

Post academic mentorship to take students to professional registration at NRAC is provided by Essex Disability Access Services Ltd (EDAS). That company is a wholly owned subsidiary of EDPA, is supported by ESF co-financing from ExDRA (Essex Development and Regeneration Agency).

EDAS provides business skills training and practical marketing. This enables part-qualified students to obtain the professional commercial contracts examples of which are assessed by NRAC. Successful assessment leads to NRAC level 2 (professionally qualified) accreditation. This aspect of the student's development can be part-time, or full time, and usually takes 3-6 months. EDAS provides the equipment, specialised transport, professional insurance and office base to allow part-qualified students to work, pending full professional accreditation and the income level that applies.

For more information, please contact

Andrew Duncan

Programme Manager

European Social Fund

E-mail: andrew.duncan@exdra.co.uk

Direct tel: 01245 702475

Direct fax: 01245 702401