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Under the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) Service Providers and Employers must not
unreasonably discriminate against people with disabilities. Since October
2004 this duty has covered any physical feature outside or within a building
that could prevent those with disabilities from accessing goods or services.
All businesses with premises open to the public need to assess their liabilities
under the legislation. |
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statutory body overseeing implementation of the Act is the Disability
Rights Commission and it has stated: “There will be nowhere to run
and nowhere to hide for businesses that have not made or planned improvements.”
Research suggests that many businesses in the U.K. remain unprepared for
a legal challenge.
Responsibilities under the DDA are not optional and cannot wait until a complaint is made. It is now unlawful not to have made reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. The first step (recommended by The Disability Rights Commission,) is to undertake an Access Audit. This will identify any adjustments and alterations needed to make a building more accessible and, equally importantly, can suggest ways in which management procedures can help a business meet its legal duties when there are practical building or financial constraints. It’s important to remember that Access is not just about wheelchair users and that the DDA covers around 10 million people in the U.K. The Access Audit should reflect this and cover areas such as signage and internal decoration – both of which can significantly affect a building’s usability. |
