Disability Discrimination Act

Friday October 1st heralded new legal responsibilities for both Employers and Service Providers for provision of Equal Access under Amendment 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The exemption for those employing less than 15 people also ceased. Appropriately, the Haverhill Chamber chose this day to host a Business Information Breakfast at the Woodlands Hotel in Haverhill.

Representatives of local businesses, and some from further afield, gathered to gain an insight into how these changes could affect them.

Paul Mitchell, of Paul Mitchell & Co. Architects, gave an extremely interesting and informative presentation on the subject of providing Equal Access to places of business. "Many people automatically associate wheelchairs with the word Disability." Paul explained. "The truth is that there are far more people with hearing and sight impediments than those who use wheelchairs. The consideration for Reasonable Adjustment needs to be made for these, and other forms of disability too".

Paul went on to describe how employers may be required to make reasonable adjustments to physical features on existing buildings and any new buildings. He also drew attention to how the regulations are retrospective, and that from this date, failure to provide disabled access could lead to offenders being faced with legal action.

After a lively and lengthy question and answer session, Paul McGurl of Risk and Safety Solutions distributed an Information Fact Pack, a copy of which is available here. It provides useful information and guidance for Employers, Retailers, Service Providers and Traders.

Whilst Industrial, Manufacturing and Service Providers were well represented at this event, there was noticeably fewer numbers from the Retail and Trade sectors of local business. It was felt that perhaps the timing of the event, early in the morning, was not really suitable for retailers. The Chamber Committee decided to have printed over 150 copies of the information pack which have duly been hand delivered to the retail sector.

Date : 01-10-2004