Businesses not ready for DDA requirements

With key parts of the Disability Discrimination Act set to come into effect from October 1st, leading charities are saying that many businesses are clearly not ready.

The DDA regulations require companies to make 'reasonable adjustments' to practices, policies or procedures that make it difficult for disabled people to use a services. Amongst other things, this could mean providing ramps at entrances, changing furniture layouts or improving lighting and signs.

More permanent changes to buildings are required by 2004.

In checks on local branches of UK companies, the Royal National Institute for the Blind discovered that three-quarters were not even aware of the regulations, let alone the October 1st deadline. Less than half could offer any information in a form that could be read by people with sight problems.

In a complementary survey, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People found that over 60% of businesses contacted had taken no steps towards compliance. The vast majority either did not know about the DDA or felt it was not relevant.

As with health & safety regulations, flouting the law does entail some risk. Perhaps it is unlikely that an inspector will come knocking at the door, but might an unhappy employee or customer feel that legal action was justified?

Elliott Chase