Alterations and adaptations are commonly required to improve disabled access to property and in some cases more specific adaptations are required.

This was recently the case when Basildon District Council installed Deaf Alerter plc’s Emergency Voice Communication (EVC) system, known as Refuge Alerter® RA1000, at The Basildon Centre, St Martins Square.  

Building managers have a duty of care to provide everyone with a means of escape; this includes disabled people or people with mobility difficulties.   Refuge Alerter® enables two way communications from a safe waiting area to the rescue team.

Refuge Alerter® is a unique wireless communication system operating on an OFCOM licensed frequency. Designed to cater for people with various disabilities, it is user friendly and fully equipped with an induction loop, Braille, visual call recognition, two way voice communication and a photo luminescent panel as standard.
The Council are also making use of the additional features of the system including the added flexibility of the portable refuge communicator, which allows communications between the refuge area and the rescue team whilst on the move.

Basildon District Council are extremely forward thinking and proactive when it comes to improving access for disabled people.  Particularly impressive is the fact that Basildon District Council even has a dedicated department called Basildon Building Consultancy, an agency offered by the Building Control Service, to help guide people seeking grants to make alterations to their properties for disabled use. 

In Basildon, special events to celebrate this year's International Day of Disabled People will take place in St Martin's Square.

The International Day of Disabled People (December 3) is an international observance which has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992.

The theme of this year’s International Day of Disabled People is "Dignity and justice for all of us". For further information please visit the United Nations website.

ITV’s X-Factor finalist Austin Drage will be there to support Basildon's celebration of the International Day of Disabled People, performing live in St Martin’s Square from 2pm and also helping out at a balloon release by local disabled school children.