Built Environment Accessibility Audits

Being accessible makes sense for everyone. Ensuring your organization provides a welcoming environment for all individuals, including those with disabilities, is not only a moral obligation and a smart financial decision but also a legal requirement. An important first step toward accessibility is a Built Environment Accessibility Audit.

What is a built environment accessibility audit?

An accessibility audit is a review of your facility to determine its usability for the full range of users in your community. It’s not just about accessibility for those with a disability, it’s about everyone such as children, older adults or an employee with an armful of boxes. The audit will identify fundamental elements that can bring you ‘up to code’ as well as simple operational items that can be quickly and easily addressed.

What is provided in an audit?

Although the term ‘audit’ can sound intimidating, our approach is not. We take an interactive approach to help you understand what applies to your facility along with the barriers and how to address them. Each audit is tailored to the client and the facility but generally includes the following:

• Review and explanation of the accessibility legislation that applies to your building
• Understanding your accessibility goals as well as your clients and staff and their experience
• An onsite assessment of the building
• Brief interviews with selected staff that are familiar with barriers related to operations or concerns that have been expressed by staff or visitors
• A comprehensive report identifying barriers along with images and recommendations for addressing them
• Follow-up meeting to discuss audit results

What areas will the audit cover?

The audit will cover all aspects of the staff and visitor experience to the facility. This includes the full experience from arriving on site through to entering the building and using the facilities within it. This includes exterior elements such as parking, exterior paths, and outdoor spaces. Interior elements include entrances, corridors, washrooms, office spaces, systems and controls as well as facility-specific areas.

What are the benefits of an accessibility audit?

An accessibility audit brings a number of benefits and most importantly is an important first step in realizing the benefits of being accessible:

• Understanding those fundamental features of your building that are not code compliant
• Identifying items that can be quickly and easily addressed with little or no cost
• Having a summarized report of recommended changes that can be used for planning and prioritizing
• Demonstrating your organization’s commitment to being inclusive
• Fulfill legal requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and minimize the possibility of human rights complaints
• Beginning the process of opening up to a broader customer base as well as maintaining existing loyal customers as they age. Also reaching into an untapped labor pool and easily accommodating existing employees that may experience a disability

How much does a built environment audit cost?

Cost of an accessibility audit is geared to the size and complexity of a building as well as the scope of accessibility standards that the building will be measured against. A small simple building measured against basic building code will be less costly than a large, complicated facility measured against universal design and best practices. Contact us for a quote.

How long does an audit usually take?

Although it depends on the building, most audits take one day of onsite measurements and photos. The comprehensive written report is typically delivered a couple of weeks afterwards.