JARGON BUSTER - DISABLED DISCRIMINATION ACT

If you provide a service to the public, whether you charge for it or not, you already have duties under the Disability Discrimination Act. The Act is being implemented in stages, those parts covering Employment (DDA2) and Access to Goods and Services (DDA3) have already been enacted. DDA4 was enacted on October 1st 2004.

At the moment you cannot refuse to serve a disabled person or provide a lower standard of service to a disabled person because of their disability. You also need to make reasonable changes to the way in which you provide your services to make sure that you don’t discriminate against disabled customers.

Examples of changes to policies or practices could be; ensuring that guide or assistance dogs are welcome or that emergency evacuation procedures meet the needs of disabled customers.

Examples of auxiliary services could be, say, offering information in an accessible format.

From 1st October 2004 you may have to make "reasonable adjustments" to any physical barriers that may prevent disabled people using your service. Or you may have to provide your service by a reasonable alternative means, like bringing goods to the disabled person or helping them find items.

These are major changes requiring planning well in advance, which is why they aren’t coming in until now.

Further Information can be found at:  www.disability.gov.uk/dda/