How much does it Cost?

Improving accessibility does not necessarily incur high costs. Incorporating Access features right in the planning phase costs only an additional 2 % of the entire project cost. However, costs involved in retrofitting accessibility in an already built environment are three times higher. Therefore, it helps to consider accessibility right at the drawing board stage.

In case of existing buildings, involving a professional ‘Access Consultant’ can assist in offsetting most of the costs by prioritizing the required structural changes and by integrating access improvement works with the building refurbishment schedule.

Also, while it may be necessary to do some structural changes right away to address the immediate needs, a lot more may be achieved by merely incorporating flexible policies, appropriate staff training and providing assistive devices. It is therefore essential to involve a professional ‘Access Consultant’ if a fully inclusive environment is to be achieved.