Representing 18% of the UK population, there are roughly 10 million disabled people in the UK.  With 2% of the UK working age population becoming disabled each year, it is unlawful for businesses to discriminate against disabled people who have legal rights including access to goods, services, facilities and employment.

Employers must ensure that reasonable adjustments are made for work applicants or employees with a disability to be able to access the workplace and work-related benefits such as access to desks or even recreation or refreshment facilities.  Adjustments apply not only to the physical aspects of the workplace but also to working arrangements to avoid putting that person at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.  Reasonable adjustments could include adjusting working hours, providing an adapted piece of equipment and/or replacing steps with a ramp.

The Equality Act does not just refer to employees but also covers other forms of work such as contract work, partnerships and directors of a business as well as their customers.

Undertaking a disability discrimination access and facilities audit is a way of checking that your business meets the legal health & safety requirements to avoid disability discrimination.  After inspecting the site, the access and facilities audit by The Safety Business includes a report with recommended actions and target dates.

For more information to keep you on the right side of the disability discrimination law, email info@thesafetybusiness.co.uk or click Services, Audits, Disability Discrimination.

Source:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/RightsAndObligations/DisabilityRights/DG_4001068