The DDA

Access to public buildings is something that the able bodied take for granted. For the wheelchair user, mum with a pram or person on crutches it can be difficult. A simple set of steps is an almost insurmountable barrier for the wheelchair user.

The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for service providers to discriminate against the less able, therefore all public or commercial buildings must be accessible.

There are two significant pieces of legislation that are relevant to this subject:

Part M of the Building Regulations:

This attempts to ensure that buildings are designed from the outset to be accessible. It sets out in clear terms how changes of level should be catered for, and is specific about which technology should be employed. In May 2004 this legislation was revised to include advice about which type of lift should be used in specific instances.

For the first time Part M now includes specific dimensions for platform lifts and how they are installed. This was previously a grey area.

A detailed review of this document will enable any architect to specify the right lift and ensure that it is installed in the right environment for the wheelchair user.

It is stated that these regulations should support the objectives of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The Disability Discrimination Act:

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced in 1996. For the first time the Government took on the challenge of ensuring that the less able are treated in a way that is equal to their able bodied counterparts. The Act covers the provision of any service and states that it is unlawful for any service provider to restrict the opportunity for the less able to enjoy the services in question.

For the owners and operators of public buildings this means that the structure of the building must not prevent the less able from being able to access the public areas of the building. So, for example, steps into a building must be augmented by a ramp or platform lift.

The Act's effects have been introduced in three stages, with full compliance being required by October 2004. From this date it is the duty of any service provider with a feature that prevents equal access to remedy the situation by either:

• Removing the feature

• Altering it so it no longer has that effect, or

• Provide a reasonable alternative method of making the service in question available to a disabled person.