Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Paragraph: 17
Task Disability and Access Ambassadors to engage businesses on inclusive design best practice
Recommendation
The Government should task the Disability and Access Ambassadors with engaging with businesses on inclusive design, to seek out and share best practice and to identify the barriers to making products and services in their sectors accessible to disabled people. The Government should then work with each sector to discuss relevant interventions and develop guidance on best practice.
Government Response Summary
The government explains that Disability Access Ambassadors (DAAs) are senior business leaders who already identify accessibility barriers and encourage improvements in their sectors. It details how DAAs meet regularly with ministers and work with other government departments, providing various examples of their existing initiatives, reports, and guides.
Paragraph Reference:
17
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Disability Access Ambassadors are also called DAAs. DAAs are 20 senior business leaders from different business areas. ● They look at examples of where products and services are not accessible to disabled people in their area. ● Then they encourage improvements in the accessibility and quality of products and services. Month Month ● DAAs meet the Minister for Disabled Month People, Health and Work every 3 months. ● DAAs also talk with junior ministers of other government departments called Ministerial Disability Champions. ● Disability Access Ambassadors use their skills to understand barriers to people with disabilities and look for practical ways to include disabled people. Examples of how DAAs work ● The DAA for Aviation helped the Department for Transport set up 25% Discount ways for neurodivergent people to avoid the airport’s Duty Free section. Report ● The DAA for Banking wrote a report about including d/Deaf people in banking and credit. ● The DAA for Recruitment looked at practical ways to include people with disability in the workforce. ● The Heritage DAA made a guide for helping tourists with dementia. Report ● The University DAA wrote a report about ways to support disabled university students. ● The Aviation DAA made a film to show baggage handlers how to care for powered wheelchairs in air travel. ● The DAA for the Built Environment looked at ways to design buildings for people who are neurodiverse. ● The Tourism DAA made a toolkit about making accessible buildings, employing disabled people and making information accessible.