Happy Tourist
Colour Schemes
Careful use of colour and tonal contrast within a building (ie. distinguishing floors, walls, ceilings and door frames using contrasting colours or light and dark tones of the same colour), can help people with disabilities to:
- orientate themselves (ie. all walls within core areas containing stairs, lifts and WCs could be painted a particular colour)
- locate goods or service points (ie. strong contrast to be used for items that project out from their supports, such as telephones and literature displays)
- move around safely (ie. free-standing obstacles, such as tables and chairs, should be clearly visible and contrast sufficiently with the surrounding floor and wall furnishings against which they are seen).
The kinds of adjustments that you could make include:
Handrails
- All handrails to be of contrasting colour/tone to the framework
or building.
Ramps
- Top and bottom of ramp to be easily distinguished by contrasting texture
and colour/tone e.g. a contrast strip.
- A continuous handrail on both sides of ramp of contrasting colour/tone
where practical (a handrail must be provided on at least one side).
Steps
- Establishments to consider using a contrasting colour/tone for stairs
compared to the approaching floor finish.
Entrances
- Door handles must be of contrasting colour to the door.
- Doors and their surround must contrast in colour and tone to the walls.
Interior
- High gloss finishes must be avoided as reflections
of both natural and artificial light can distort images.
- Avoid complicated patterns.
- Interior decor must incorporate contrast between critical surfaces. Skirting
boards, flooring and doors can be colour contrasted to aid orientation.
- Visually impaired guests may find it difficult to locate the table when
putting things down or their crockery when trying to eat if the table
and crockery match.
- Consideration could also be given to non-patterned tableware and the colour
of food items and their contrast to the plate for reasons outlined above.
- It is useful if the furniture is of contrasting luminance and colour to
the floor.
Parking, Roadways and External Paths
- Where speed bumps or other speed limiting devises are installed these
must be clearly defined and in contrasting colour to the roadway.
Internal Passageways and Corridors
- The end of the corridor must be highlighted for example by good colour
and tone contrast between walls and flooring and a change of light.
Lifts
- The colour and tone of the lift doors must contrast with the surrounding
wall finish to assist their location.
- Where an emergency phone is provided it must be colour contrasted.
Bedrooms
- Interior décor - high gloss finishes must be avoided as reflections
of both natural and artificial light can distort images.
- Avoid complicated patterns.
- Interior decor must incorporate contrast between critical surfaces. Skirting
boards, flooring and doors can be colour contrasted to aid orientation.
Bath, Shower and Toilets
- Where possible a contrasting background colour of taps.
- Pull
alarm cords must be in reach from the floor and coloured red.
Toilets, Washrooms and Bathrooms
- Avoid an 'all white' finish to bathrooms and public WC's i.e. coloured
towels, will assist where there are white fittings.
Enterntainment Facilities
- Using coloured glassware and water jugs and contrasting coloured crockery to surfaces makes it easier for visually impaired guests to see what they are using.
Acknowledgement
The above information was collected from the following source:
Legislation
Further information:
- Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings Ltd (n.d.) Empowering with colour - creating safe, functional environments for the visually impaired. [accessed 24/10/07].
- BSI (2008) PAS 88:2008 Guidance on accessibility of large hotel premises and hotel chains. [accessed 15/08/08].
- Bright, K. Cook, G. & Harris, J. (1997) Colour, Contrast and Perception - Design Guidance for Internal Built Environments. London: Brooker Publications
- Cook, G. & Bright, K. Colour and Luminance Contrast - What, Why, How and When? Access Journal, 18, 16-18, Spring 2005.
- Department of Transport (2003) Access to Air Travel for Disabled People - Code of Practice. [accessed 24/10/07].
- ICI Plc (n.d.) A design guide for the use of colour and contrast to improve the built environment for visually impaired people. [accessed 24/10/07].
- National Council for the Blind of Ireland (2005) Guidelines for Accessibility of the Built Environment. [accessed 25/10/07].
Other information:
- Barker, P. Barrick, J. & Wilson, R. (1995) Building Sight - How the needs of blind and partially sighted people can be met in the design of buildings and the environment. London: RNIB. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Bright, K. Flanagan, S. Embleton, J. Selbekk, L. & Cook, G. (2004) Buildings for all to use - improving the accessibility of public buildings and environments. London: CIRIA. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Casserley, C. (2000) Tourism and the DDA: your guide to understanding the Disability Discrimination Act. London: RNIB.
- Centre for Accessible Environments (2005) Specifiers' Handbooks for Inclusive Design Series. [accessed 08/10/07].
- Communities and Local Governement (2003) Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Department for Transport (2005) Inclusive Mobility. [accessed 16/10/07].
- EuCAN (European Concept for Accessibility Network) (2003) The European Concept For Accessibility. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (2001) FOCUS 7: Creating an Inclusive Environment.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (2004) Making access to goods and services easier for disabled customers - A practical guide for small businesses and other small service providers. [accessed 24/10/07].
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (2005) The Duty to Promote Disability Equality - Statutory Code of Practice.
- Equality and Human Rights Commission (2006) Code of Practice - Rights of Access: services to the public, public authority functions, private clubs and premises. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (2007 ) The good, the bad and the ugly – design and construction for access. [accessed 16/10/07].
- JMU Access Partnership (n.d.) Buildings and Internal Environments. London: RNIB.
- Lacey, A. (2004) Good Loo Design Guide. London: Centre for Accessible Environments. [accessed 08/10/07].
- Merseytravel (2006) Code of Practice on Access and Mobility. [accessed 16/10/07].
- National Disability Authority (2002) Building for Everyone. [accessed 16/10/07].
- RNIB (2000) Welcoming your visually impaired customers, leisure industry pack. [accessed 16/10/07].
- RNIB (2003) The Talking Images Guide - Museums, galleries and heritage sites: improving access for blind and partially sighted people.
- Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [n.d.] Accessibility for the Disabled - A Design Manual for a Barrier Free Environment. [accessed 16/10/07].
- Sport England (2002) Access for Disabled People. [accessed 16/10/07].
Last updated:
02.10.2008
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