SPELTHORNE COMMITTEE FOR ACCESS NOW
THE BEGINNINGS OF SCAN
From the introduction of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons
Act 1970 a group of disabled people in Spelthorne was active and originally
worked under the title the “Spelthorne Joint Committee for the Disabled”.
In 1991 Elisabeth Berrisford launched a new initiative to seek public support
for the establishment of a new Access Action Group.
The Steering Committee, under her Chairmanship, set out terms of reference that
were put to a public meeting in 1992.
The proposal was:-
“The Access Action Group will comprise of volunteers experienced and qualified
to represent the views of people with disabilities on matters of accessibility
to transport, the outdoor environment, buildings and facilities”.
The Steering Committee received its mandate and thus the organisation Spelthorne
Committee for Access Now (SCAN) was established.
Lis became the first chairperson of SCAN and its elected membership of disabled
people is very broad based and its concerns have resulted in action in
attempting to achieve a barrier free environment for people.
In responding to individual and corporate needs SCAN has been encouraged by
elected Borough Council members and assisted by the Access Officer of Spelthorne
Borough Council.
Planning applications are consistently reviewed by SCAN. Matters related to the
outside environment have been incorporated into a comprehensive way-finding
programme to improve parking, pavements, road junctions, crossings and lighting.
The provision of transport services for people with disabilities is kept under
review and has seen the introduction of Spelride as part of the Spelthorne
Accessible Transport System.
The location and design of Railway and Bus Stations is also of concern to
members.
Positive influence has been manifest in operating a Schools Programme where
pupils in schools share in ‘hands on’ programmes of disability awareness carried
out by visiting SCAN members.
Access to shops and banks has been identified in the audits undertaken to be
used in the new Spelthorne Access Guide. Shopmobility, which assists the
disabled shopper, has been a very successful enterprise. SCAN is represented in
the annual
Spelthorne Design Awards Programme.
SCAN is a member of The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR)and participates in the work of the Surrey Access Forum and the Physical and
Sensory Disability Forum.
There is still much to be done by SCAN.
Finally there is a growing recognition that disability is not an attitude of
some people being unable to meet the demands of society but rather it is the
failure of society to recognise its own disabling potential.
To know more about the work of SCAN see its Newsletter.
The current version of the Access Guide is dedicated to the Memory of Elisabeth
Berrisford who died on March 22nd 2003. We are confident that her work and
example will be remembered for many years.