Reasonable steps to meeting regulations
The EA makes it clear that businesses - called service providers in the Act - have to make reasonable adjustments to make their services more accessible. On reasonable adjustments, the EHRC takes the view
When the duty arises, you are under a positive and proactive duty to take steps to remove or prevent these obstacles.
The duty is anticipatory. This means you cannot wait until a disabled person wants to use your services, but must think in advance (and on an ongoing basis)
about what disabled people with a range of impairments might reasonably need, such as people who have a visual impairment,
a hearing impairment, a mobility impairment or a learning disability.
Many of the adjustments you can make will not be particularly expensive, and you are not required to do more than it is reasonable for you to do.
What is reasonable for you to do depends, among other factors, on the size and nature of your organisation and the nature of
the goods, facilities or services you provide.
The "anticipatory" aspect of reasonable adjustments is new in the 2010 Act.
Auditing access measures
It is in the areas of reasonability and flexibility that AccessOK with its on-line HealthCheck can help businesses achieve the optimum access solution. Acting now not only avoids problems in the future but gets a head start in promoting business within a disadvantaged part of the community.
IMPACT ON BUSINESSES OF THE EA
The EA has an impact on all businesses
This equality legislation applies to both large and small businesses and fosters the opportunity to serve disabled and elderly people better. However, what measures it is reasonable for a business to undertake to comply with the requirements of the EA have to be addressed responsibly and intelligently.Tackling discrimination
It's not just a question of altering premises. Giving people access to your goods or services by telephone or over the Internet may also be a viable and effective way of meeting the provisions of the EA.