A cinema, an architecture firm and an insurance company were among businesses honoured yesterday for making their facilities better suited to the disabled.Six Built Environment Accessibility Awards 2012 were given out by Health Minister Zane DeSilva, who thanked honorees for bringing about progress in their building designs to allow for more universal access.The awards were given out as the Island observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities.The recipients included Speciality Cinema and Grill, which recently built a wheelchair accessible cinema; Cooper Gardner Architecture, which promoted accessibility within their projects; and Freisenbruch Meyer Group who moved their main operations to ground floor offices to better assist clients.Prior to the move, staff served clients with mobility issues on the sidewalk.Shelley Lewis, the assistant vice president of administration, said the changes were very important for the company.“We did have a lot of clients that struggled with the stairs previously so it was a big move for us to go to the ground floor and service our clients down there.”The company also created a larger entrance with automatic door operators, wider corridor, installed a new disability lift and added mobile customer service desks for better accessibility, explained designer Rick Evans.He said it was “very nice” to have their effort recognised by the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged.Colonial Insurance was also awarded after renovating its ground floor to make it more accessible for patrons; as was Melbourne House/ Wilkinson Group who carried out interior renovations and made restrooms more accessible.Cooper Gardner partner Julia van Beelen, worked to make Colonial’s Reid Street office more accessible by adding a ramp to the entrance of the building where there used to be steps. They also brightened up the dark space to help those with visual impairments.Ms van Beelen said getting the award felt “fantastic”.“We really feel strongly about universal access and try to incorporate it into our projects and feel it has to be an integral part of the design, rather then just an add on.”Yolanda Bashir, a compliance officer with the Department of Planning, was given an award after she fought tirelessly to make new residential building codes to better accommodate people with mobility issues.Mr DeSilva said the improvements to the Island’s built infrastructure would go a long way in helping people with disabilities enjoy a better quality of life.“A person who is mobility-challenged feels good about themselves if they are able to conduct their own affairs. There is a sense of independence,” he said.“Simply put, being able to access a building to conduct business should be the right of any person. I’m sure that a person who has a mobility challenge would be more inclined to do business with firms who ensured accessibility for all.”He said a selection panel was set up to look at individuals and organisations which promoted accessibility within the workplace and societal life so that people could fully participate within their community.“I wish to recognise and commend those receiving awards,” he continued. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.“We are committed to improving accessibility, and awards like this help to raise awareness. Progress is being made, and I salute all those who have worked to bring about that progress.”Susan Bendell of Bendell Designs said universal design “places human diversity at the heart of the design process”.She said it was important that buildings and environments be designed to meet the needs of all users, regardless of their size, age, disability or ability.“It is about achieving good design so that people can access, use and understand the environment to the greatest extent and in the most independent and natural manner possible, without the need for adaptations or specialised solutions.“Disability is not a special condition of a few, most people will experience some form of disability, either permanent or temporary over the course of their life, so this issue affects everybody.“The good news though is generally if a design works well for people with a disability it usually works well or better for everyone.“Designing for one specific group can result in solutions that address the needs of many users.”She said simple design elements like step-free entrances could help people in wheelchairs, as well as those with strollers, luggage, walking sticks and visual impairments.