The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and this High Commission are keen to ensure that our buildings and services are accessible to disabled members of the public and we are working to this end. Sometimes, however, we are not able to do as much as we would wish because of security or other restrictions, including the structure of the buildings. In these circumstances we will endeavour to provide a service or access to a building in an alternative way to ensure equality of access for disabled people. To assist disabled visitors, we have set out below details of disabled access at this office.


General physical access

• Entrance to the building via the main entrance is not possible for wheel-chair users.  Please notify the security officer at the Queen Street entrance or call to advise staff of this requirement. Assistance will be given. Access to the ground floor conference room is via a stair lift with a maximum weight allowance of 500 lbs.
• Lifts are available to all floors.
• Toilet facilities with accessibility for wheel-chair users are available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the building.  Access via lift.
• No special parking facilities for visitors unless prearranged.  Car parking available on Albert Street.  Disabled parking slots available.
• Floor coverings are safe and even.
• There are handrails on staircases.
• Doors are easily accessible to all users.
• Lighting is good.
• Arrangements are in place for assisting disabled visitors in case of emergency/evacuation.
• Phones are accessible to wheelchair users.
  

Access for visually-impaired visitors

• Signs are clear and easy to read.  Not available in Braille.
• Guide dogs are welcome.
  

Access for Deaf/hard of hearing visitors

• Hearing loops are not installed.
• Minicom and textphones are not installed.
• Staff do not have sign language.
• Professional Signing interpretation is not available.
• Hearing dogs are welcome.
  

Contact us

If you need to visit us or use our services and feel that they may be inaccessible to you, please contact Management Officer (telephone 613 364 6160) or email: karen.kavanagh@fco.gov.uk , who will try to find an alternative way of providing access for you.