Reasonable steps to meeting regulations

The DDA makes it clear that businesses - called service providers in the Act - only have to take reasonable steps to make their services more accessible.

Sections S21(1), (2) and (4) say that "it is [the service provider's] duty to take such steps as it is reasonable, in all the circumstances of the case".

That means there is no open-ended obligation on all service providers, irrespective of the nature or size of their business, to make every aspect of it accessible to disabled people whatever the cost of individual adjustments.

The Act also gives service providers flexibility when deciding the most appropriate way of ensuring that disabled people can use their services.

Auditing access measures

It is in the areas of reasonability and flexibility that AccessOK with its on-line HealthCheck can help businesses achieve the optimum access solution.

Acting now not only avoids problems in the future but gets a head start in promoting business within a disadvantaged part of the community.

IMPACT ON BUSINESSES OF THE DDA

The DDA has an impact on all businesses

This equality legislation applies to both large and small and fosters the opportunity to serve disabled people better.

However, what measures it is reasonable for a business to undertake to comply with the requirements of the DDA have to be addressed responsibly and intelligently.

Tackling discrimination

It's not just a question of altering premises. Giving disabled people access to your goods or services by telephone or over the Internet may also be a viable and effective way of meeting the provisions of the DDA.