Barrier Free New Zealand Trust has three key focus areas. All of which are designed to encourage the understanding of accessibility issues within the building sector.
Education
The Trust provides an education programme which comprises of two-day Barrier Free Seminars, 1 day in-house seminars, short courses for designers and architects, a pathway to Barrier Free Advisor accreditation which includes assessments and audits, In addition to tailored workshops of any length from 1 hour to a full day.
Each of the seminars cover four main topics:
- Experience of the Accessible Journey;
- The Law, Access and the Accessible Journey;
- Designing the Accessible Journey;
- and Assessment of the Accessible Journey.
Completion of Barrier Free seminars qualify for Continuing Professional Development points (CPD), recognised by BOINZ, the NZ Institute of Architects, and Department of Building and Housing Licensed Building Practitioner scheme.
Seminars are conducted throughout New Zealand and more information is available on our Training and Education page.
Technical Advice and Guidance
The Trust provides a Barrier Free NZ Trust Handbook which describes the specific access requirements in a context of Universal Access design.
Included in the Barrier Free NZ Trust Handbook are comprehensive checklists of design specifications required to make a building approachable, accessible and usable for all people.
The Barrier Free NZ Trust continues to partner with others in the disability sector and construction industry, including the Department of Housing, to produce flyers, tips and recommendations on how to create a Universally Accessisible built environment.
Research and Initiatives
The Trust works to ensure legislation controlling the built environment is drafted to ensure universal accessibility, design information is made available to all those involved and the specification process and Building Consent Authorities empowered to enforce Building Controls do so consistently and with appropriate knowledge.
Youth - ensuring knowledge of accessibility continues
The Trust is currently prioritising the increase of those knowledgeable about access issues to ensure progress towards universal accessibility continues in the future.
