EPA Accessible Information Policy
Introduction
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to providing information and services that are accessible to all, including the availability of accessible information for people with disabilities. This means accommodating specific requirements or accessibility needs where feasible.
Legislation
Section 28 of the Disability Act 2005 states that :-
- Where a public body communicates with one or more persons, the head of the body shall ensure – (a) if the communication is an oral one and the person or persons aforesaid has a hearing impairment and so requests, or(b) if the communication is a written one and the person or persons aforesaid has a visual impairment and so requests, that, as far as practicable, the contents of the communication are communicated in a form that is accessible to the persons concerned.
- Where a public body communicates in electronic form with one or more persons, the head of the body shall ensure, that as far as practicable, the contents of the communication are accessible to persons with a visual impairment to whom adaptive technology is available.
- The head of a public body shall ensure, as far as practicable, that information published by the body, which contains information relevant to persons with intellectual disabilities, is in clear language that is easily understood by those persons.
The Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and information provided by Public Bodies provides further information on how a public sector body is expected to meet these requirements.
Policy
In this policy the EPA is committed to ensuring, where practicable, that information available to the public is available in an accessible format.
Plain English: We will use plain English in publications for the general public, such as leaflets, web pages and information booklets.
Provision of written material in alternative formats: Where practicable and appropriate, EPA publications aimed at the general public will be available in an accessible format on request. The EPA will consider all requests for alternative formats on a case by case basis. Accessible formats will include:
- HTML and other electronic formats
- Audio version in English
- Other alternative formats as may be requested
Examples of Accessible Formats available: The EPA will ensure that other significant policy and strategy documents and reports are readily available in a range of accessible formats. Examples of such documents currently available are:
- EPA Annual Reports 2007 (English and Irish)
- EPA Annual Highlights 2007 (English and Irish)
- EPA Press releases
- EPA Strategy - 2020 Vision
- FOI Section 15 and 16
- EPA Environmental Complaints Brochure - See Something, Say Something
- Application/Registration forms
Public meetings and events: Appropriate assistance will be provided to people with disabilities to access information on the wide range of services that are provided by the EPA in the following ways:
- Sign language interpreters and/or Real Time Captioning may be provided for public events, meetings, interviews and other events where necessary and where requested in advance.
- Invitations and publicity for events will include information on access provision and provide contact details for any requests for extra services.
- Registration forms for EPA events will ask delegates to provide information about access needs.
- The EPA will meet requests for extra services where it is reasonable to do so within available resources.
Sign Language Interpreters and Real Time Captioning providers will accept and abide by the organisation’s confidentiality policy.
Policy Commitments
The EPA will:
- ensure that, where practicable and appropriate, EPA publications aimed at the general public, including significant policy and strategic documents and reports, are completed in line with accessibility standards.
- use resource documents such as the NDA “First Steps in Producing Accessible Publications” and the RNIB “See it Right” Guidelines as reference points for completion of such documents.
- avail of the expertise of reputed and experienced organisations involved in the conversion of documents to alternative formats to ensure full accessibility is achieved wherever possible.
- openly advertise the availability of information in accessible formats to staff and members of the public.
- ensure that, where practicable and appropriate, information and documents available on our website is available in a format that can be used in conjunction with adaptive technology.
Policy Evaluation
This policy will be evaluated on a regular basis through the following methods:
- Keeping a record of requests for alternative information and information in alternative formats.
- Requesting and considering feedback received, via the website, from the public on the usefulness and benefit of providing information in an accessible format.
Requests for information in alternative formats
Requests for alternative formats of EPA information can be emailed to info@epa.ie, for the attention of the Publications Officer, or by phone to 00353 53 916 0642.
Complaints
Any queries or complaints regarding this policy should be forwarded to:
The Quality Customer Service (QCS) Officer Environmental Protection Agency PO Box 3000 Johnstown Castle Estate Co Wexford. Tel: 053 9160600 Fax: 053 9160699 Email: qcsofficer@epa.ieLetting people know about this policy
The EPA will make sure that the public are informed about this policy through future relevant publicity material, information on publications and on the website.
Communications Officer
September 2008
