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Induction loop systems are used to assist the hearing impaired by
transmitting amplified sound, i.e., music, speech, etc, to NHS hearing
aids. Demand for them has soared due the legislation aimed at
preventing discrimination against disabled people
THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT
The aim of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) is to stop
discrimination against disabled people including the hearing impaired. The
Act was extended in September 2002 to cover education in schools and
colleges and will be strengthened further in October 2004 as the
Disability Rights Commission's new Code of Practice comes into effect.
Service providers, companies or organisations offering goods,
facilities and services to the general public, must make reasonable'
adjustments to ensure that they do not unlawfully discriminate against
disabled people. Employers must also take measures to ensure that existing
and potential employees are not disadvantaged in the workplace.
Under the Act adjustments include the provision of various auxiliary
aids, including temporary induction loop systems, to enable a deaf or hard
of hearing person to access goods, facilities or services available to the
general public. At present service providers do not have to make any
permanent adjustment to their buildings. This, however, is about to
change.
From October 2004, service providers will be required to install
permanent induction loops and infra-red systems where it is impossible or
unreasonably difficult for a deaf or hard of hearing person to make use of
a service.
Service providers who fail to make adequate provision for people with
hearing disabilities face prosecution. Furthermore, it is not enough to
simply install an induction loop system - it must be properly maintained
and staff must know how to use it
BUILDING REGULATIONS (1992)
Current building regulations state that newly erected or substantially
reconstructed non-domestic buildings must provide aids for the hearing
impaired. The aim is to enable both members of the public and employees to
play a full part in conferences, committee meetings, etc.
Areas requiring cover include booking and ticket offices where the
customer is separated from the vendor by a glazed screen, reception areas,
auditoria and meeting rooms in excess of l00m square.
The regulations state that a person with a hearing disability must
receive a signal some 20dB above that received by a person with normal
hearing. The system should be able to suppress reverberation, audience or
other environmental noise.
THE CARE STANDARDS ACT (2002)
On 1 April 2002, the Government's new Care Standards Act came into
force.
The new regulations demanded that care homes provide certain
adaptations and equipment for residents, specifically: facilities,
including communication aids (e.g. an induction loop system), and signs to
assist the needs of all service users, taking account of the needs, for
example, of those with hearing impairment, visual impairment, dual sensory
impairments, learning disabilities or dementia or other cognitive
impairment where necessary.
BS8300
British Standard BS8300 is the code of practice for the design of new
buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. The
standard states that a hearing enhancement system, using induction loop,
infra-red or radio transmission, should be installed in rooms and spaces
used for meetings, lectures, classes, performances, spectator sports or
films, and used at service and reception counters where the background
noise level is high or where glazed screens are used. It pinpoints the
following areas for consideration: seated waiting areas; ticket sales and
information points; fitness suites and exercise studios; churches;
crematoria and cemetery chapels, educational, cultural and scientific
buildings.
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