About Us

Our Building's Accessibility

The Perron Centre is a state-of-the-art facility for people who are blind and vision impaired and incorporates universal access design principles, bringing functional efficiency and enriched enjoyment to users with a wide diversity of human abilities. The building includes a fully compliant tactile paving system with clearly articulated pathways specifically designed for people who are blind or vision impaired.

The Centre was designed in consultation with clients, wayfinding experts and specialist access consultant architects.

The following universal design principles shape The Perron Centre's design:

• Equitable use - the design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
• Flexibility in use - the design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
• Simple and intuitive use - use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level
• Perceptible information - the design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions of the user's sensory abilities
• Tolerance for error - the design minimises hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental and unintended actions
• Low physical effort - the design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue
• Size and space for approach of use - appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture or mobility.

Dedicated Planning, Architectural and Interior Features

Building Location

The location of the Centre takes into account access to and from public transport and other amenities. The building was designed in conjunction with the Town of Victoria Park and the Western Australian Rail Authority, to maximize access to the centre for people using public transport. Pick up and drop off zones and disabled parking bays are also located in close proximity to entrances via a continuous path of travel, but away from pedestrian traffic.

Entrance to Building

The building has a distinctive shape to make its entrance recognisable and easy to access. The shape of the building provides a ‘shoreline' for people who are vision impairment travel from the Victoria Park railway station to the building's entrance. Different floor textures indicate entrances, and doors and frames have good luminance contrast. Tactile paving markers indicate verges and potential danger points, as well as the direction of travel to the front entrance.

Wayfinding

Wayfinding is the process of navigating from one place to another. People who are vision impaired make use of all sensory information that's available to them to help navigate in an environment. This includes residual vision, touch, smell, sound, temperature and air movement.

Our centre has differing floor textures, colour contrasting and appropriate signage and lighting to enhance access for people who are vision impaired.

• Tactile building map located directly inside the entrance
• Lowered ceiling at entrance to prevent echo and impression of a ‘void'
• Shape of front desk (shoreline) directs visitors to customer service
• Entire client service area on one level (no stairs, changes of level, ramps, etc)
• Changes in floor texture indicate a junction and notice of direction change
• Sharp contrast between walls, skirting boards and floor
• Durable and audible skirting boards for cane users to bump their canes against
• Wide corridors to accommodate Guide Dog, cane and wheelchair users
• Handrails on both sides of corridors
• Tactile indicators at the end of each handrail signify a break in the rail
• Specialised quality glass used to minimise glare and diffuse light without pooling
• Low glare surfaces used throughout the building
• Use of natural light is maximised
• All signage is translated in Braille
• Lifts are located at both ends of the building
• Wheelchair ramp access
• Wider door openings enable wheelchair access.

Facilities with Special Features

Handa Sports Academy and Recreation Centre - special pillars and windows allow diffused light to filter through the ceiling; gym equipment has special Braille markers

Cafe - high contrast between designated traffic and seating areas; clear path for outside access with no obstacles.

Westfarmers Theatrette - wheelchair access to stage via back of theatre; Braille on lectern for operation of audio visual equipment; hearing loop installed; space for wheelchair access in seating areas.

Lotterywest Children's Centre - tactile toys; use of bright and bold colours to allow differentiation of surfaces; mega theatre allows children to stand close to screen, technology encourages participation.

Confident Living Centre - warm colours and contrast used throughout to suit utility areas; comprehensive storage built in to minimise risk of obstacles in traffic areas.

Guide Dog Discovery Centre - participant instructions GDDC are in large print, Braille and audio

To find out more about general building accessibility visit the Accessible Built Environments page or contact us.