Disabled Access

Disabled Access has really become a very hot topic over the last few years; new legislation is appearing all the time which, rightfully, is fighting for the right to equal access to all public buildings for everyone in society. It used to be the case that, if a shop didn’t provide for disabled people in its access then that was the shops choice and any person in a wheelchair or with mobility problems who wanted to use that shop would have to look elsewhere for what they wanted. This has all changed now and, by law, you must make sure that your business or public place has equal access possibilities for all the people who may wish to partake of your services or purchase your goods. Disabled access can be quite confusing but you needn’t let it get to you, there are several different options which you can undertake in order to get your ground on a level pegging.

One of the simplest forms of disabled access which you can fit is to have a disabled platform fitted on some stairs or a gap between levels which may cause problems to people who have issues with their mobility. A disabled platform is great because it allows the disabled passenger themselves to dictate how fast they move and also when they move- meaning that they can remain in their chair and also remain completely independent when moving around. Slightly more complicated to fit in a public place, but not less worthy, are stair lifts or chair lifts and these can be used to help people tackle larger flights of stairs.  These are much more generally seen in private dwellings but they do have a place in public places- however they are not the most efficient way of moving large numbers of people very fast and so, if you have a large and regular clientele who have mobility problems then this probably isn’t the right way to go for your company.

If you want to think bigger then disabled lifts or even specialist passenger lifts, where the control panel buttons are lower down for example, can be a great way of opening up all your floors to disabled access, particularly big high rise buildings.  Disabled lifts and easy-access passenger lifts are definitely a good way of making sure you comply with the disabled access legislation but, if you don’t already have lifts in place, then you should be careful to look into everything that is involved.

Getting a major structural re-working of your building done may well be necessary to accommodate a lift but it could end up costing you more money than you realise and you really don’t want to be doing that only to find out, later on, that a disabled platform or a stair lift would have been just as suitable to your needs. Do you research before you commit to paying for anything- any decent company should talk you through the different options which you have and then help you come to some form of conclusion.

Disabled access isn’t all about stairs and helping people ascend or descend; if you own a hotel then you need to consider bathing requirements as regards disabled access.  You will need to have a certain quota of rooms (depending on the size of your hotel etc.) which can cater for disabled people, either through entirely specialist bathroom suites or add-ons such as bath lifts or hoists.

You need to read up on the law thoroughly so you know you aren’t over or under spending on such additions to your bathroom suites and you also need to know how to make the bedrooms themselves accessible to disabled people or people with mobility problems. The more work you do now, the more likely you are to get people returning to your hotel again and again and this can only be a good thing, particularly in these difficult economic times. Getting all this right can seem like it’s going to cost a small fortune but you should really consider it an investment in the future of your business!

Getting the legislation sorted in your head is the most important thing, there are advisors on hand to help you if you need it but, first of all, read the articles which we have collected for you on this website and then go off and do your own research. You should know the laws which apply to your specific industry or business inside out and then, when you do, you are ready to take the next step and to begin to consider looking for ways to make your business more disabled-access friendly.  Don’t worry about the costs, it’s the morally right thing to do and it’s the legal thing to do as well- also, it is an investment in your businesses future.

Disabled Access Information Guide: