Accessible Aviation takes off and Council loses Accessibility provision case. News from Ocean 3D. In a landmark ruling* that resonates with Ocean 3D’s advocacy for inclusive spaces, the High Court Judicial Review declared Hertfordshire County Council’s Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) Local Offer plans legally insufficient.
Full acknowledgement to www.specialneedsjungle.com post by Dr Alice Irving, Public Law Barrister Public Law Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers for the original article https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/whats-law-when-council-cant-comply-resource-issues-trying-best/
This verdict resonates with the legal opinion secured by Ocean 3D from Louise Mankau of Doughty Street Chambers, emphasising the need for journey and destination planning as reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. It is no defence to state that an organisation cannot comply with The Equality Act 2010. It must (with a few rare exceptions).
The case, led by solicitors from Irwin Mitchell, challenged the council’s proposed changes to disabled children’s social care, highlighting the legal requirement for transparent and accessible service provision. Judge Mostyn’s agreement with the claimants marks a significant victory in ensuring legal compliance in service accessibility.
Accessible Aviation takes off. In related news, Ocean 3D, known for their interactive tours that prioritise accessibility, has also made significant strides in the aviation sector recently. www.flybrownsville.com has engaged Ocean 3D, in conjunction with AVA Accessibility, to enhance their airport (BRO) website’s interactive tour with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) features. This move is a testament to Ocean 3D’s commitment to making their clients spaces more inclusive, especially for people with hidden conditions. The airports current interactive tour, which went live in the summer of 2023, has already had over 40,000 visitors.
Moreover, Ocean 3D are delighted to announce that they are now in early stage discussions with four UK and Irish airports to improve the overall and disabled passenger experience at their locations. The airports aim to make their services more accessible to people with hidden conditions, reinforcing the trend towards more inclusive travel experiences.
This progress in both general accessibility legal judgements and, the aviation sectors desire to improve the overall passenger experience, reflects a growing recognition of the importance of accessibility. Ocean 3D’s involvement in enhancing airport experiences and the judicial reinforcement of inclusive service provision exemplify the ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive world, in line with Ocean 3D’s vision.
These developments are not just isolated incidents but part of a broader movement toward inclusivity and accessibility. Ocean 3D’s role in this movement, highlighted by the collaboration with www.flybrownsville.com and the interest from a number of other airports around the globe, underscores the company’s influence in shaping a more accessible, inclusive future. The synergy between these advancements and legal opinions like Mankau’s, reaffirms the necessity of accessibility as a legal, moral and sound business case imperative.
*Link to case – Neutral Citation Number: [2023] EWHC 3138 (Admin)
Case No: CO/2843/2023 https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2023/3138.html
Link to associated article in Special Needs Jungle – “What’s the law when a council says it can’t comply because of resource issues, though it’s “trying its best”
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