Disabled People

Manchester City Council's aim is for Manchester to be recognised as the most accessible city in Europe and we are committed to improving access for disabled people to all our services.

In January 2000, the first Design for Access Manual was launched by Manchester City Council. This provided a practical approach to inclusive design and was adopted as policy by Manchester City Council as part of the City's Access 2000 Strategy.

Our approach to this strategy has been to work closely and in partnership with disabled people's organisations in the city to ensure that we draw on the invaluable experience and expertise that exists within our communities. This approach also ensures that we correctly identify the barriers that disabled people face and work together to remove them.

We are proud to be producing this, our second edition of Design for Access, in European Year of Disabled People.

Design for Access 2 (PDF 1.14Mb)

The manual sets out aspirational standards which will, we believe, help to promote exciting, vibrant and creative accessible design. It is also intended that these standards will be pro-active in the national debate concerning the statutory framework needed to secure access for all.

The Council is committed to working with our partners to use these standards as best practice for projects undertaken in the city.

This manual presents a challenge to the designers of tomorrow. Inclusive design - an accessible environment for everyone - can you meet that challenge?

Councillor Martin Pagel, Manchester City Council