ARPA & MPH Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

Contact Great Britain Jim Taylor (Principal Access Consultant) MPH Accessible Environments Ltd The Media Centre Stonehills Complex Shields Road Gateshead Tyne & Wear NE10 0HW
Telephone: +44(0) 191 4698535 Facsimile: +44(0) 191 4386073 Mobile: +44(0) 7970 708618 e-mail: j.taylor@mph-uk.com Website: www.mph-uk.com

MPH-ARPA Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH Group of Companies

Contact: Robson Gonzales e-mail: gonzales@arpaacessibilidade.com.br Tel: +55 (11) 2503 8480 Web-site: //www.ARPAacessibilidade.com.br
Mob: +55 9 8625 2167

Brazil

Universal & Barrier Free Design

Helping you to build a more accessible future

MPH Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

An aware workforce assures the customer of good service

ARPA & MPH training may well hold the answer

About us MPH Accessible Environments Limited and ARPA, the Brazilian access experts, is a young and progressive partnership with a rapidly developing reputation as one of the Worlds leading access consultancies. We are building upon our lead companys, (MPH Accessible Media Ltd.,) already wellestablished vision impaired consultancy and experience in the disability marketplace so that we now offer our clients a comprehensive, Pragmatic and yet flexible, access consultancy service, offering inclusive, Universal and Barrier Free Design. As part of our on-going evolution, we carry out site audits, desktop appraisals of drawings, detailed surveys on physical access issues relating to site, buildings and their environs for corporation, National Government, State, Region and individual clients. We offer an end-to-end service from Planning to the implementation of the work and will have a presence on the site to address any issues as they arise if required. We can also advise on changes to, or implementation of policy, practice and procedures within your organisation to satisfy the current Disability and buildings legislation and guidance in your own country. We use the most accepted in International Best practice solutions meeting and often out performing the legislative requirement for most countries. As part of a structured service, ARPA & MPH can also offer support to client design team, from ARPAMPH stage B (Feasibility); assessing the impact of access issues on design, up to and including, stage M (Feedback) with assistance in the planning and implementation of design proposals and solutions. To accomplish this, we utilise the latest technology and supplement our advice with industry recognised, AutoCAD developed solutions, to facilitate fast and efficient project delivery. We have extensive experience advising on a wide diversity of projects including: Sports stadia and leasure facilities, Hotel, restaurant and clubs, heritage, museum, Gallery, Concert venues, Theatres and exhibition design, Capital Arts, transport and Urban Infrastructure projects regeneration projects to both public and private realms and we pride ourselves on the successful production of accessible information. Report formats are simple and pragmatic and are available in hardcopy and/or electronic version. As an addition to text, these can include: 1. A photographic record of access issues (jpegs) with supporting text 2. Video images with commentary 3. Cost report to assist with the planning and implementation of any remedial works (We can offer advice and assistance in the prioritisation and implementation of 3. above). Whatever your requirements, our range of service can be tailored to suit your needs and budget. If you would like more information, or have a specific enquiry, contact us now. ARPA & MPH can help you ensure that all of your services, wherever they are offered, are made accessible to as many people as possible.

MPH-ARPA Training Services

It is critical to ensure that your management and staff receive disability awareness and equal opportunities training to provide the skills for appropriate interaction with your customers, business associates and suppliers. This is true for person-to person or by remote procedures and whether interaction is full or part time. MPH-ARPA offer more than just advice and support to projects, we can deliver awareness training to all levels of staff with a package to suit your requirements. We can do this at your premises, on-site anywhere in the World and we also have some on-line provision for those who needs some Disability Confidence. For clients in the UK, we can offer this here at our purpose-built training and Conference Centre (pictured above and below) at surprisingly little cost. We have a variety of room sizes to accommodate your requirements ranging from small conference facility (up to 25 persons), lecture theatre (28 persons) and larger 50 seat training rooms. Should you prefer to receive awareness training at MPH, we can arrange all your travel requirements and hotel accommodation ensuring you and your staff enjoy a hasslefree experience. Refreshments and meals can be provided at appropriate intervals throughout the day from our inhouse cafeteria, all at low cost, irrespective of numbers. Finally, we can provide you with a certificated course, demonstrating career progression (CPD) for participating members. Our role is to aid your staff and your company to deliver your services to disabled people in a manner that ensures discrimination (even unintentional) does not occur. You are only ever as good as your staff represents you, make sure they have the information they need to represent you well.

ARPA & MPH providing excellent low cost training facilities

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

Part of the MPH group of companies

Good access can and should = Good Design Early consultation can ensure this Maximizing access = maximizing business Early inclusion of MPH-ARPA in the design process will ensure your building, premises, site and services, will benefit from timely advice and guidance and this is true of new build and major refurbishment. Too often, the problems that arise in building design and development and in particular, accommodation of access requirements, are due to late introduction of appropriate consultancy within the design programme. To illustrate, spatial planning can be adversely affected when specific access elements are omitted or overlooked, for example, appropriately dimensioned sanitary provision, handrail extensions, tactile warning surfaces or emergency egress requirements, to name but a few. Maximising access for everyone does not require compromise of design or aesthetic. Design features can become an access feature of the building, it is important to realise that good accessible provision will largely go unnoticed by clients and patrons. However, people who require the use of such provision are the ones who will really appreciate it. Frequently, we find a common perception of disabled people is one whereby they are categorised as persons who exhibit a visible impairment, for example, wheelchair and cane users. However, as the elderly ratio of the population increases, it becomes more apparent that good accessible provision should be made available, to facilitate access to buildings and their environs. Furthermore, it makes good business sense to ensure that your services are easily available to everyone. Here at MPH, we specialise in helping you to set up safe and accessible practices so that by maximising access, you are maximising your business opportunities. We offer excellent Disability, equality and awareness training and we can assist you with setting up an equal opportunities policy, if you do not already have one. Our aim is to ensure that you can provide these services for the minimum of effort on your part, in the most cost-efficient way for your company. Training your staff for todays Customers

Promoting your Projects.

AT ARPA & MPH we are experienced in aiding in the promotion of accessibility and are happy to undertake press conferences or seminars to answer public queries on access issues.

MPH-ARPA helping you to build a more accessible future for everyone

You make it Exciting and well make it Accessible

Our aim is to represent you as fully as possible

Helping you to reach all of your customers

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies Disability and you as a service provider

Part of the MPH group of companies

Major Projects We have been involved in some major projects which are Internationally recognised as being innovative for their access and flexibility.

There are many reports in the press these days relating to fines levied against organizations (service providers) for non-compliance with Disability legislation. The vast majority of these could have been resolved before litigation and quite simply, if the service provider had been aware of the new measures introduced and had taken steps to identify potential issues or barriers to disabled people. This is where we would come in as a consultant. We can audit your buildings and ensure what can be done, has been done. How you can identify barriers By commissioning an access consultancy such as MPH-ARPA to undertake an audit of your site and/or premises, any problem areas are quickly identified. We will consult with you to establish a brief and determine your existing resources and we will talk to your staff to understand any operational issues that may be occurring. It has been our experience that in many cases, simple changes to policy, practice or procedure would have sufficed, in others, much could have been achieved with routine maintenance and general refurbishment programmes. What do you do next? Once the access audit is completed, we will issue a report that will identify existing or potential issues for you to address. If required, we can assist you in the future planning and implementation of any remedial work, or changes to practice, policy and procedure. Our realistic and pragmatic form of reporting is easy to use, requires no specialist software and is formatted so that specific areas can be speedily referenced. Summarized or overview reports can be prepared for presentation to limited budgets, these raise concerns and give a broad outline of issues. Report formats MPH is developing a new and innovative form of video/audio reporting, designed to supplement our advice and is issued in conjunction with the written report. This will highlight more effectively, obvious issues requiring urgent attention and serves to demonstrate more easily, the effect an issue may have on the use of the building and/or site. Our aim is to ensure that you have all of the tools at hand to enable you to set a realistic and costeffective programme of works on any project, regardless of scale. Our advice may well be to achieve all you can over a period of years and within your normal repair and refurbishment programmes. This may not have an instant impact on your building but it will mean that you have achievable, constant improvements which will continue over a period of time. Our involvement may be over the same period of time occasionally advising you on current legislation or the latest in innovative accessible design.

We were part of the access consultative team which worked on the Sage International concert venue in the North East of England. Access was a high priority for this venue and many innovations were used by combining the lighting and signage policies to ensure good way finding and orientation for all of the venues customers. The Flexible seating ensures that nearly all parts of the three halls have seating which can be adapted to be flexible offering a full choice of seating for disabled people, their families and their friends. This ensures that a night out at a concert has that as the highest priority and the customer has the confidence that seats are available and that access can be gained to all areas of the venue Many of these applications were above the required UK standard and were sourced Internationally. We consulted on the prestigious Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London and we are proud of the fact that although made accessible this did not impact on the design of any of these projects. You make it Exciting We make it Accessible

ARPA & MPH The Partnership today for tomorrows requirements

ARPA and MPH Group

Specialist equipment to promote good access provision

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

There are a number of specialist pieces available to enhance accessible provision within a building. It is important to note that MPH-ARPA does not have links or receive sponsorship from any manufacturer. As part of our consultancy role we will advise on specialist provision i.e. suitability, source and cost any equipment that you may consider installing. This helps you to establish budget and requirement. For example, you may consider installation of a heightadjustable WC (pictured left). The provision of such items is dependent on several factors, not least budget, building purpose and patrons of the facility. We have used this application in many public access venues such as major museums and shopping malls. In these situations, where the unit will have use from multiple patrons of the venue and who have a differing range of abilities. This is ideal for promoting independence. This unit is also ideal for schools, colleges and universities, again this is where multiple ability use will be prevalent. This unit also meets all international standards.
Height adjustable WC

Alan Matthews, Managing Director of the MPH group and one of our consultants who has a wide range of experience to offer in the disability field. Alan specialises in Sensory impairment issues and wayfinding and orientation policies for buildings and surrounding areas. Alan has built a team of over 90 specialists in the UK all of whom bring some experience to the company. Alan, as a disabled person himself, is passionate about ensuring the maximum access is offered to the most people possible, he has developed a People first policy, ensuring we see the person and not the disability. Robson Gonzales, CEO of ARPA, heads the Brazilian section of the partnership. Robson has a team of people and has an enviable reputation for the work he has carried out. He comes from an Architectural and Interior design background and has been involved in many prestigious projects throughout Brazil. He has been involved in the development of standards and is one of the key players now in all aspects of access via his work with ARPA and MPH Group. Jim Taylor, our principal Access consultant has a foundation based in architecture and interior design. He has been a member of many design teams and has led on a number of major national and Internationally recognised projects. As well as standard format reporting, Jim and his team can provide AutoCAD support and a range of reporting methods to our clients. You can be assured that if Jim is on the project, then access will be of the highest priority. Jim is a lead member of the Access Association in the UK and a founder member of the National register of Access Consultants, (NARC). Rob Wray is the MPH Group IT & Development Manager. Rob has worked around the world with a number of major IT companies and now it is he and his team who ensures everything from Tele-conferencing, Video conferencing and the transfer of plans all runs smoothly. His expertise is invaluable on International projects. He has a wealth of knowledge and consults on IT infrastructure and its use within access to buildings. Lyndsey Burdis is one of the MPH senior accounts managers . She and her team will ensure that the clients receive the work they require in the timescale they require it. Her can do approach to client liaison has meant that MPH has had many repeat clients over the years. Lyndsey also travels Internationally for the company and is happy to ensure that clients know who she is and that they can ring her and be assured of a positive response to their work priorities. Lyndsey is also developing an extensive knowledge of the access industry and is an integral part of the future plans of the company. Carol Matthews is the Groups Administrations Manager. Her team ensure that all materials, travel, clients requirements and materials are logged and ordered on time and where they are supposed to be. Her role is vital to the smooth running of the operations and Carol is often the one who speaks to the clients to re-assure them that one of our experts will be with them when they require them to be there.

We regularly advise on the use of tactile information surfaces as well as providing guidance in the application of colour and tonal contrast to assist wayfinding and orientation. We can assist with selection of materials and elements, which will provide optimum accessibility, whilst retaining the desired aesthetic and ensuring compliance with building regulations and BS 8300: 2001.This is an Internationally recognised British Standard and used within many of our International projects.
Example of good stair detailing

Signage and lighting are very important components in the successful and effective operation of any building and therefore we view these two elements as one complete package. Signage and lighting policies should be developed in tandem to achieve trouble-free and independent use of the building. We provide guidance in the selection of appropriate light fittings and deployment of signage to ensure that this is achieved. Good access does not mean compromising the aesthetic qualities of the design concept. On the contrary, good access should go unnoticed, it should be an expectation and the greatest compliment is really when people do not notice that they have been able to access a building or service independently.
Good lighting and signage

There are many more areas where sensitive and sympathetic application to match surroundings is crucial. If you require more information about our services, or how we may fit into your future planning, please do not hesitate to contact us, the details are on the final page of this brochure.

ARPA and MPH Group

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

ARPA and MPH Group

More about us

Accessible Environments Limited

Part of the MPH group of companies

International Travel

For your peace of mind, we have, in the UK, a team of 90 plus in-house specialist staff available and in Brazil a further nine in-house staff at your disposal. and you have our assurance of indemnified advice. When commissioning MPH-ARPA, you get the very best service, the best in Internationally recognised standards, whatever your requirements may be and we are indemnified to the sum of five million pounds Stirling. We continually review legislation and our extensive library of up-to-date guidance and reference publications. Frequent contact with specialist suppliers ensures we have the latest information on products and technology development. This means we can provide you with assistance in the selection of the most appropriate and cost-effective equipment (where necessary) e.g. induction loops and Infrared assisted listening systems, adjustable-height sanitary provision, tactile warning surfaces and visual alarms etc. MPH-ARPA will take the stress out of access; make sure the service that you require is the service provided. MPH-ARPA is an established company with a record of accomplishment in the disability market. Our staff are sourced from backgrounds in architecture, design and construction and provide excellent service and the highest level of confidentiality.

MPH-ARPA provides services around the world to a diverse range of clients, from Government Law and policy advice, to state and local councils on infrastructure and inclusive design. We are proud of our record in achieving pragmatic advice and services which maximize on the access of any project. Our Cad Drawing services can be supplied quickly and efficiently and we do not always need to even be in your country to offer advice easily, quickly and return plans amended so that there is no hold up on site whilst waiting for someone to arrive. We use technology to its full potential and can guarantee a service which matches your priorities. Whether it is a building audit, or a major sporting event, our timescales are yours.

We have worked closely with some of the largest architectural practices in the UK and we are proud to have been involved in the design team process on many prestigious projects. Like the Baltic International Arts Centre) Above). Your building, or project, deserves the same level of quality consultancy. Call MPH-ARPA for the best in Barrier Free access advice, The most effective best practice provision meeting International standards and based upon our extensive experience around the world. If you want a team who wish to maintain the integrity of your design, whilst making it as accessible as possible, within budget and on time, then MPH-ARPA Accessible Environments are the team for you. We have your interests as our priority and the access to your buildings or services as our prime objective.. MPH-ARPA helping you to build a more accessible future for everyone.