The Code of Practice applies to England, Scotland and Wales. A similar bur separate Code of Practice applies to Northern Ireland.

Over a period of time, the Act will give disabled people new rights in 4 main areas:

• Access to goods, service and Facilities
• Employment
• Using public transport
• Buying or renting land or property

Access to Goods, Services And Facilities
Two of the key issues within the Act deal with the significant importance to ironmongery and automatic doors with regard to accessibility to buildings and the duty of serviced providers.

Service Providers
Part III of the Act places a statutory duty on ‘Providers of Goods, Services and Facilities’ to ensure that any building to which members of the public have access is accessible to those with a disability.

Providers of Goods –
Range from the corner shop to large department stores.

Providers of Facilities –
Amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, laundrettes.

Providers of Service –

Banks, restaurants, cinema, hairdressers

The Act makes it lawful for service providers to discriminate against disabled people and over the next few years such providers will have to improve access to their buildings.

Among the Services, Charities, Voluntary Organisations, Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs, Post Offices, Banks, Building Societies, Solicitors, Accountants, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Organisations, Public Utilities (eg: Gas, Electricity and Water suppliers, National Parks, Sports Stadia, Leisure Centres, Advice Agencies, Theatres, Cinemas, Hairdressers, Shops, Market Stalls, Petrol Stations,Telesales Businesses, Place of Worship, Courts, Hospitals and Clinics.)

Time Scale

• The duties on service providers are being introduced in 3 stages:
• Since 2 December 1996, it has been unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability.
• From 1 October 1999 service providers have to make reasonable adjustments to amend practices, policies and procedures which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to access the service eg: providing extra help, amending a ‘no dogs’ policy or making changes to the way they provide their services.

• Provide auxiliary aids or services which would make it easier for, or enable, disabled people to use a service.
• From October 2004, service providers will have to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access (by removal, alteration or avoidance).

What is a Physical Feature?
The Disability Discrimination (Services and Premises) Regulations 1999 make provision for specific items to be treated as physical features including…

• Any feature arising from the design or construction of a building on the premises occupied by the service provider.
• Any feature on those premises or any approach to, exit from or access to such a building.
• Any fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials in or on such premises.
• Where a physical feature on the building makes it ‘impossible or unreasonably
• difficult’ for a disabled person to gain access, the provider will be required to take such steps as it is reasonable to do so wither to:

1.Remove the barrier