Practical guidance and advice

The Disability Rights Commission has produced a detailed guide on complying with the Act, which provides a range of practical suggestions and guidance. It is entitled Making access to goods and services easier for disabled customers and is aimed at small service providers. It is freely available from the Commission.

The guide deals with a number of common situations, for example:

• The entrance to the club is up a number of steps. Possible suggestions for action include: installing a ramp; fitting a handrail on both sides of the steps; even painting the edges of the steps in a contrasting colour might aid people with visual impairments.

Many local authorities will employ access officers who could visit premises and offer advice. Alternatively the council might put you in touch with a Local Disabled Access Group. A starting point could be to contact disabled friends or relatives and ask what changes might benefit them - although clearly people with different disabilities will have different needs.

Funding and contacts

The contents of these pages are intended as a basic guide, and do not negate the need for professional legal advice as necessary