The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came into force in December 1996. Many employers and service providers have taken action and removed practices and facilities which could discriminate against people with disabilities. Some have brought in new practices and procedures and provided auxilliary equipment as required by October 1999 in stage III of the Act. Physical barriers should have been removed by the deadline of October 2004.

However, plenty of others will not have done all of this or, in some cases, any of it. The Disability Rights Commission came into being in April 2000 and the signs are that the requirements and actions taken under the DDA are becoming more stringent.

The DDA 2005 places additional duties on statutory bodies, including local authorities, health services and the police. It also reduces the exemptions for private clubs and increases the expectations on housing service providers.

The best indications of what to work towards are in the DDA Codes of Practice and Part M of the Building Regulations. Items that were to the standard of Part M (1999) before 2004 are counted as being acceptable for ten years from the date that they were provided.

The British Standard (BS:8300) on access to buildings for disabled people was issued in 2002 and is regularly updated in the light of experience or more research. This British Standard was used as the basis for the more up to date Part M of the Building Regulations (2004).

BS:8300 and Part M (2004) standards should be used for all current work. Other guidance is available such as design information published by the Centre for Accessible Environments, The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), the Department of Transport and the Fieldfare Trust (for countryside and open spaces) .

Published by The Stationery Office and available from:
The Publications Centre,
(Mail, Telephone and Fax Orders only),
PO BOX 276,
LONDON,
SW8 5DT.
General Enquiries 0171 873 0011
Telephone Orders 0171 873 9090
Fax Orders 0171 873 8200.

Also available from The Stationery Office Bookshops

Organisation of access professionals, particularly local government access officers and access consultants.

Membership Secretary:
Email: accessassoc@uk2.net
Web Site: accessassociation.co.uk

Provider of information on the DDA, including the Codes of Practice and advice on individual situations.

DRC Helpline,
FREEPOST
MIDO 2164
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9BR

Telephone: 08457 622 633
Fax: 08457 778 878
Textphone: 08457 622 644
email: ddahelp@stra.sitel.co.uk
Website: www.drc-gb.org

A newly formed register to ensure access consultants and auditors are of a professional quality.

Provides consultancy on visual issues.

105, Judd Street,
LONDON WC1H 9NE

Telephone: 020 7388 1266
Fax: 020 7388 2034
email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Website: www.rnib.org.uk

Provides consultancy on hearing issues.

19-23, Featherstone Street,
LONDON EC1Y 8SL

Tel: 020 7296 8137
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Textphone: 020 7296 8137
email: information@rnid.org.uk
Website: www.rnid.org.uk