Build an office accessibility checklist around the journey
An office accessibility checklist starts with the person’s functional requirements and the complete route they need to use. Consider colleagues and expected visitors, then ask what would make arrival, work and departure practical. A neighbourhood name, photograph or general description cannot settle that question for a particular office.
Imagine a client can reach the entrance but needs a suitable route to the meeting and the facilities used during a visit. Follow those stages together rather than stopping the assessment at the front door. Where possible, involve the person using the route so the questions reflect their actual needs.
Check arrival and the route inside
Begin with the intended arrival point and identify the actual entrance. Ask about any changes of level, door operation and route to the proposed office. Request the specific measurements or information needed to assess that journey. Record what has been confirmed and what still requires a visit or explanation.
Continue through the house to the places the person would use. Consider circulation around furniture, doors along the route and any shared-space arrangements. Ask about the office’s proposed layout rather than assessing only an existing room photograph. If an alternative route is suggested, confirm when and how it can actually be used.
Look at the working activity and facilities
Discuss the activity planned for the visit or working day. Consider the furniture, the position of equipment and the facilities the person needs to reach. Ask which adjustments could be agreed and who would arrange them. Keep a suggested change distinct from something confirmed in the proposal.
Also ask the provider to explain the arrangements for leaving the space if an ordinary route cannot be used. Have the people responsible for your workplace review that information against their requirements. Record the relevant question without putting medical histories or other sensitive personal details into a general office comparison sheet.
Resolve a route gap before making the choice
Use the route sheet to keep each segment and unresolved point visible. Arrange an appropriate visit when information alone cannot establish suitability. Revisit the affected part of the route if the proposed layout changes, since a furniture adjustment or a different meeting setting can change the practical journey. If the complete journey cannot meet an essential requirement, carry that finding into the office decision rather than relying on a proposed workaround that remains unconfirmed.
For Figment Work Studios, enquire for pricing and describe the route or functional requirement that affects your choice. Ask about the specific office and the facilities you would need. Existing house photographs show the setting; accessibility needs a separate, practical conversation about the actual journey.
Blank complete-route assessment sheet
Use these headings for your own notes. Complete the blank cells from the particular proposal or your observations.
| Route segment or activity | Requirement | Confirmed information | Gap and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival point to entrance | |||
| Entrance to the office | |||
| Movement within the working layout | |||
| Route to the meeting setting | |||
| Route to required facilities | |||
| Departure and alternative arrangements | |||
| Visit or information still needed |