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CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS
CHARTERED BUILDING SURVEYORS
North Street
Horsham
West Sussex RH13 5PJ
Tel: 01403 251926
Fax: 01403 259840
enquiries@pwa.uk.com
VAT no: GB 321 9261 77
Disabled access audits and adaptations
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 introduced new laws aimed at ending the discrimination faced by many disabled people.
Since October 1999, service providers have been required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, such as providing extra help or making changes to the way they provide their services.
From 2004, service providers will have to consider making reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises in order to overcome barriers to access.
The associated Code of Practice: Rights of Access: Goods, Facilities and Services encourages the auditing of physical and non-physical barriers to access for disabled people. PWA can undertake Access Audits and provide advice on compliance with the Act and improving accessibility to buildings.
The Access Audit will prioritise items of non-compliance relating to the 1999 and 2004 duties. The Audit may then be developed into an Access Improvement Plan to ensure that any building can achieve its full potential for accessibility.
More information: The Centre for Accessible Environments website (www.cae.org.uk).
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