Further changes were also made to the Building Standards, including to the accessibility elements, following a consultation on the standards in 2015. Disabled people and organisations were very concerned that the review preceding these changes was going to lead to a back’ ‘pulling from the levels of accessibility introduced in 2007. Recommendation 6 The impact, if any, on disabled people of the changes to the Scottish Building Standards in 2015 should be researched at an appropriate time, and steps taken to ensure that any issues are addressed. Story Heather: No suitable house in sight Heather has mobility issues resulting from long-term conditions. She feels that because she is not a wheelchair user her local council are their heels’ in relation to finding her suitable housing. ‘dragging Home is currently a middle-floor flat with eight steps to get into her stairway. Heather needs a car to go anywhere and relies on significant amounts of medication to relieve the pain of going out and about. Quote from Heather the time I take my painkillers and get down the stairs I’m done. I ‘By can’t go any further I can’t walk any further. I have to go back into – the house and forget it.’ Heather’s disability ensured she was priority’ for rehousing by her ‘gold local authority nearly two years ago. Despite this, she has yet to find a new accessible home. She’s aware that, in her area alone, there are 5,000 people with priority’ trying to find a ground-floor or adapted house. ‘gold Three new housing estates have been built in her local area recently. However, the only adapted houses have been one-bedroom houses, with a small bedroom. She has told the developers that they’re forgetting that
Further changes were also made to the Building Standards, including to the accessibility elements, following a consultation on the standards in 2015. Disabled people and organisations were very concerned that the review preceding these changes was going to lead to a ‘pulling back’ from the levels of accessibility introduced in 2007. Recommendation 6 The impact, if any, on disabled people of the changes to the Scottish Building Standards in 2015 should be researched at an appropriate time, and steps taken to ensure that any issues are addressed. Story Heather: No suitable house in sight Heather has mobility issues resulting from long-term conditions. She feels that because she is not a wheelchair user her local council are ‘dragging their heels’ in relation to finding her suitable housing. Home is currently a middle-floor flat with eight steps to get into her stairway. Heather needs a car to go anywhere and relies on significant amounts of medication to relieve the pain of going out and about. Quote from Heather ‘By the time I take my painkillers and get down the stairs I’m done. I can’t go any further – I can’t walk any further. I have to go back into the house and forget it.’ Heather’s disability ensured she was ‘gold priority’ for rehousing by her local authority nearly two years ago. Despite this, she has yet to find a new accessible home. She’s aware that, in her area alone, there are 5,000 people with ‘gold priority’ trying to find a ground-floor or adapted house. Three new housing estates have been built in her local area recently. However, the only adapted houses have been one-bedroom houses, with a small bedroom. She has told the developers that they’re forgetting that
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