Disability Access and Audit
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The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is a significant piece of civil
rights legislation. The Act affects the way in which buildings should
be designed, maintained, refurbished, managed and used. The Act places
a duty on employers to make 'reasonable adjustments' for individual
employees or potential employees, and places a duty on service
providers and those managing premises to make 'reasonable adjustments'
in order to make their services accessible to disabled people. This may
involve overcoming discriminatory attitudes, reviewing procedures for
delivering the services, and dealing with physical barriers. The Act
will be enforced by the Courts or Employment Tribunal when a disabled
person pursues a claim of discrimination.
Since October 1999, service providers have had a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' to their practices, policies and procedures, to provide additional aids or services, or to provide a service by a reasonable alternative means where there is a barrier restricting a service.
From 1 October 2004, service providers will have a duty to overcome physical features which create a barrier.
GKR Associates are able to undertake Access Audits in connection with this Act. An Access Audit is an essential part of a service provider's or employer's response to their duties under this Act. An Audit can be used to identify physical and non-physical features which may require 'reasonable adjustments' and will systematically assess the accessibility of a building against predetermined criteria, in relation to the services provided within that building.
As building surveyors we are also able to prepare specifications and drawings for any necessary alterations to physical barriers.
A further service we can provide in relation to this Act is the appraisal of building plans with regard to access and associated issues.