Disabled Access

From October 2004, companies and organisations that provide services to the public will be required by the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure that those services are reasonably accessible to disabled people.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), if you provide goods or services to the general public - whether paid for or free-of-charge - you are a 'service provider' and you have responsibilities under the Act.

From October 2004, where a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled customers to make use of a service offered to the public, service providers will have to take measures, where reasonable, to:

• remove the feature; or
• alter it so that it no longer has that effect; or
• provide a reasonable means of avoiding the feature; or
• provide a reasonable alternative method of making the service available to disabled people (this fourth duty has been in force since October 1999).

The principle is that - as far as possible - disabled customers should be able to obtain goods and receive services in just the same way as other customers who are not disabled. This would mean that all customers receive as near to equal service as possible, and occasions where some customers feel that they are being treated differently are reduced to a minimum.

We can provide advice on what you need to do to comply with the DDA, or to arrange an Access Audit of your premises.