Colour and Contrast: making buildings accessible to visually impaired people

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It is estimated there are one million people in the UK who are either registered blind or partially sighted, or who have serious visual impairment. Like other disabled people, visually impaired people have their rights protected under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).  Introduced in 1995 and extended in 2001 and 2005, the DDA protects disabled people against discrimination in the workplace, in education, and in the provision and use of services. Under the DDA the term “services” covers a wide range of commercial and public activities including, for example, healthcare, council offices, libraries, theatres, banks, pubs, restaurants, leisure facilities, hairdressers, shops, hotels, courts, places of worship, highways and public open spaces. 

The DDA imposes a duty to ensure that discrimination does not occur when the physical environment is designed and managed, and in the way in which opportunities and services are offered and delivered. Improving access for disabled people to such services is viewed as crucial in ensuring they can enjoy a similar level of opportunity, independence and safety to that experienced by non-disabled people.

The design and provision of colour, lighting and visual contrast are important issues for all users of environments, but especially so for people with a visual impairment.

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