Businesses slow to adapt premises

Days away from the introduction of laws requiring every business to
become more user-friendly for disabled people most shops,
restaurants and pubs are still not complying, according to new
research.

The NOP survey, commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission,
has revealed that disabled people are encountering problems on four
out of five of Britain’s high streets.

From 1 October, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will require
businesses and service providers to adapt premises so they are
accessible or provide the service in a way so disabled people can
use it.

Catherine Casserly, senior legislative adviser for the DRC, warned
there would be “nowhere to run and nowhere to hide” for businesses
who have not made or planned improvements when the law came in.

“The DRC has been monitoring the progress of service providers and
we will be looking to test the law at the earliest opportunity to
achieve the maximum effect,” she said.