Access to our Buildings
The Assembly Commission is based in Tŷ Hywel, Cardiff Bay and also has an office in Colwyn Bay. The Pierhead building also provides exhibition, conference and office space for the Assembly Commission. An education suite is also based at Tŷ Hywel, which acts as a resource for visiting schools.
The Senedd is the home of the National Assembly for Wales and was opened on 1 March 2006 and accommodates a debating chamber, three committee rooms and other public areas.
An independent access audit was commissioned early in 2006 and made some recommendations that would improve and enhance the overall access of the building for disabled people. Many of those recommendations have been carried out and others are being considered or are in progress as part of the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the building.
In addition, adaptations to Tŷ Hywel include improving access for disabled staff, Assembly Members and visitors to the building. Such adaptations will also improve access for people with sensory and/or mobility requirements and parents with young children. The Equality and Access Team will continue to work with the Office of Facilities Management, TUS, the Health and Safety Officer, the Disabled Staff Network and the Disabled Users’ Forum to enhance and improve accessible improvements to all the buildings within the National Assembly’s estate.
Access to Information
The Assembly Commission is committed to ensuring that all information is provided in a way that is accessible to all Assembly Members and their staff, Assembly Commission staff and the public.
The National Assembly for Wales has its own website: http://www.assemblywales.org/index.htm
The site contains information about the National Assembly for Wales, its business and how the public can get involved. We welcome feedback on our website and make adjustments to enhance accessibility where necessary.
The Assembly produces information for the public in many different formats, including publications, public information leaflets, letters, consultation documents, Internet and reporting of Assembly business. Information can be made available, without charge, in languages other than English and Welsh, British Sign language (BSL), Easy Read and other accessible formats upon reasonable request. This information is published in hard copy as documents, in electronic format and published on the Assembly Internet site.
Communications and Publications
The External Communications Team within the Assembly Commission is developing an approach to providing accessible communication and publications. This will be published in 2009 and will include a protocol on accessible information.
Disabled Users’ Forum
The Assembly Commission hosts an external Disabled Users’ Forum. The Forum provides vital information and advice on new policies, existing policies, service provision and procedures in order to provide the best service possible for all our service users and to ensure our services and buildings are accessible. The Forum is made up of disabled people from across Wales and includes a cross representation of Disability organisations and individuals.
Accessible Proceedings
An Access Statement is available on the Assembly Commission’s website. This is also available in hard copy from the Equality and Access Team and the reception desks at the Senedd and Tŷ Hywel.
The Access Statement is designed to provide information for service users, witnesses and speakers at committees, Plenary and all Assembly Business meetings and will enable individuals to access the services and facilities provided by our organisation. If there are specific requirements over and above the provisions contained in the Access Statement, individuals are invited to discuss their requirements with the Assembly Booking Line or the Equality and Access Team and all reasonable requests will be met whenever possible and practicable.
Guided Tours and Visits
Pre-booked groups of visitors are welcomed at the Senedd and shown around the building by Tour Guides. Tours and visits can be booked in advance and a BSL Interpreter can be provided - a 28-day notice period is required. Some of our frontline staff members are able to use BSL to meet and greet visitors.
The opportunity to learn BSL is also offered to all Assembly Commission staff, Assembly Members and Assembly Members Support Staff.
The public galleries in the Senedd have been fitted with induction loops for hearing aid users. In addition, induction loops have been installed in the reception desks at the Senedd, Tŷ Hywel, Pierhead building and the Colwyn Bay office.
Feedback
The Assembly Commission values and welcomes feedback from all our service users. The Visitor Services Team responds to queries, comments and suggestions it receives from the public, visitors and service users.
Senedd TV
Proceedings in the Senedd can also be watched live on the Internet at http://www.senedd.tv.
S4C2
Some of the proceedings are televised live on S4C2. The proceedings are then repeated a week later on Tuesday mornings and the recorded version is sub-titled and supplemented with a BSL interpreter.
