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Disability

The Council is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and providing equal access to our job opportunities, our services and facilities for everyone in the community.

 

We have formally adopted the social model of disability which states that the social exclusion experienced by many disabled people is not the inevitable result of their impairments or medical conditions, but stems from attitudinal or environmental barriers.

 

We recognise that disability occurs because barriers prevent and hinder people with impairments from taking a full part in the community.

 

Many facilities are already available such as:

  • Induction loops at all our major reception areas
  • Alternative format documents provided on request
  • Portable loops for meetings

 

If you require any assistance to access our services e.g. BSL interpreter, simply contact us and we'll do our best to oblige.

 

If you have experienced difficulties accessing our buildings and services then please contact us via C1V:

 

Swimmers

Leisure Centres

We aim to make Vale leisure centres as accessible as possible for those who wish to use the services

 

Improving access for disabled people to our leisure centres has been identified as a major priority area in our programme of accessibility improvement works.

 

Disabled Access at Leisure Centres

Pile of books

Libraries

All reception areas have low access and induction loops are installed

 

We have a range of equipment and schemes to help make our libraries accessible for all:

  • Magnification equipment in Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge, and Llantwit Major libraries
  • Zoomtext software, which is available for public use in all of our libraries
  • Scanners that read text aloud in Barry, Penarth, and Cowbridge libraries
  • Home Library Service
  • Large print and talking books are available in all libraries
  • Bibliotherapy Scheme - Books prescribed by GPs or other health professionals
  • Audio described and subtitled DVDs
  • Word Up days in our libraries in collaboration with Cardiff Institute for the Blind
  • Large print and talking books are available in all libraries
  • Deaf-awareness collections at Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Dinas Powys libraries
  • Concessions on talking books for people with a significant sight problem, dyslexia, or who have a physical disability that means they cannot hold a book.

 

Libraries

 

Public Transport

Information and guidance about concessionary travel and accessible transport

 

The Local Bus Travel Scheme provides free travel on local bus services within Wales for Senior Citizens and people with disabilities who are permanent residents of the Vale of Glamorgan.

 

Greenlinks  Concessionary Travel  

 

Employment

We are committed to achieving a workforce that is representative of the community we serve by increasing, retaining and developing the number of disabled people we employ

 

We are recognised by Jobcentre Plus as meeting the requirements of their Positive About Disabled People campaign, having made the following additional commitments to:

  • Interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy
  • Make every effort when employees become disabled to make sure they stay in employment
  • Ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness 
  • Ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss with disabled employees, what both parties can do to make sure disabled employees can develop and use their abilities

 

We will review these commitments each year and assess what has been achieved, plan ways to improve on them and let employees and Jobcentre Plus know about progress and future plans

 

If you are disabled and you are short-listed for an interview you are entitled to:

  • A pre-interview visit to the workplace
  • Reasonable adjustments enabling you to fully participate at the interview