Rank: Forum user 
|
Hi All - can you help with this? I am working for large furniture retailer with many showrooms across the country. We have generic assessments which include considerations for disabled - i.e, easy access, suitable signage, refuge areas in some sites etc and these are covered in the generic assessment - would we still need a DDA (Disability Audit)?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
In your line of work, you can at least be confident that you comply with good practice by providing a chair or two for the infirm to rest on! Sadly many of the bigger retailers tend not too devote floor space to that.
I wonder if others on this forum might have a more comprehensive chechlist you might blag. A further common failing in shops is lack of contrast/indication at ramps, changes of level and stairs..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
The disability act was repealed and replaced with the equalities act in 2010.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
And there's no requirement for an audit - that's just to check that you are doing what you need to do, which it sounds as if you probably are. In fact integrating consideration of disabilities into your assessments is very much in the spirit of the thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
thats great thank you all for your responses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
The level of assured compliance with The Equality Act 2010 depends on what you mean by 'suitable signage' and 'disability audit'. Ergonomists at www.enricosmog.co.uk publish a good guide to compliance with this Act, which may open perspectives for you on how well you provide for people with learning difficulties unable to read and other predictable cognitive deficiencies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user 
|
DM
I apologise in advance if you have already considered this but here goes.
Pet hate about the application of the DDA was how many property controllers give consideration on how to get people with mobility difficulties deep and high into their buildings with little thought to how to evacuate them in the event of a fire.
Refuge areas are an all inclusive BBQ for one and not a reasonable solution to protecting a person with a disability. That point has been debated many times here.
It is perfectly OK to not admit entry to certain parts of the building if the person cannot be evacuated (dependant on your particular circumstances and those of the person with a disability). I have had to do it, everyone thinks you are an ogre but my law trumps the DDA by 30 years so naaa naa naa naa naa I win.
This is all about tone. You can enrich someones experience by how you treat them. In my case it was a museum that was in a 16th century building and it went something like this...
"Folks due to the design of the building and its age we cannot ensure your safety in the event of a fire on the upper floors. But do not be disappointed, what we have is one of our curators on hand who can let you see some of the artefacts in our research room where they can tell the stories surrounding these wonderful objects".
Not always possible but usually some reasonable adjustment can be made which makes the person feel "special" and not "special needs".
Kind regards
Jeff
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user 
|
Can I also add my tuppence worth? Don't forget about CoSHH when considering disabilities. Latex balloons are a huge bug bear of mine. My wife is latex allergic and often cannot go shopping because of shops being festooned with balloons! Seriously, you'd be surprised how many people are affected by this. My wife, daughter and grand daughter are all latex allergic! The Post Office, Thomas Cooks and many other chains have banned use of latex in the workplace now. See more here.. http://www.lasg.org.uk/information/the-law(Sorry, bugbear of mine!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Are allergies disabilities in the context of the Act?!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
ROSHGSE - thanks for your comment re COSHH - this has been covered and we do not allow or use latex anywhere in the company !
JEFF - undertand your point re refuge and we are looking already at this as a concern plus alternative options in relation to the showroom. We did have some ranges on the upper floors and not lower - we now ensure a selection from each range is available on the ground floor - using the upper levels for more of same and different sizes etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Ron..
YES THEY ARE!
In fact the new Act makes more provision than ever before.
The definition of ‘disability’ under the Equality Act 2010
In the Act, a person has a disability if:
they have a physical or mental impairment
the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal day-to-day activities
For the purposes of the Act, these words have the following meanings:
'substantial' means more than minor or trivial
'long-term' means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least twelve months (there are special rules covering recurring or fluctuating conditions)
'normal day-to-day activities' include everyday things like eating, washing, walking and going shopping
People who have had a disability in the past that meets this definition are also protected by the Act.
Also now applies to carers of disabled people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.