Accessibility for the disabled is something you need to be aware of if you own a premise whenremembers of the public will visit you. This could be a café or a food store or a small shop. It has been the law in the UK now for some time that if you own or lease a premise you must include disabled access. Read on to find out how to stay on the right side of the law with invaluable tips from Go Access Ltd.
Accessibility for the Disabled : Ramps
The most obvious alteration that you will need to make to your premise is to make it wheelchair friendly. The alterations you need to make will depend on whether you have steps leading up to your premise or not. Steps need to be replaced with a wheelchair ramp and your door also needs to be wide enough for easy wheelchair access.
To ensure you stay legal it is very important that you use a reputable specialist for the installation of your wheelchair ramp. Never attempt to install your own ramp. This could cause you more problems than you could ever imagine. Your wheelchair ramp needs to be set at a specific maximum angle as well as being made from slip proof material.
There is no point installing a wheelchair ramp if your visitors cannot open the door to your store or premise. The most obvious choice here is to install an automatic door. Otherwise you could install one that is operated by a switch that is situated at wheelchair height.
Inside Your Premise
Allowing wheelchair users into your store is just half the battle. You must also ensure that you have bathrooms for disabled visitors as well as lowered counters where wheelchair users can order food easily or pay for goods.
Refitting your bathroom can be quite expensive. Do not panic however as accessibility for the disabled can be funded by government grants. What is important is that you do not ignore the necessity to make change. By choosing a DDA compliant supplier you will ensure the job is done correctly.
Making the necessary changes to your premise means that you will stay on the right side of the law. This is extremely important as failure to adhere to the new laws and regulations could lead to fines or at worst your premise being closed. Wheelchair users should never be made to feel like they are a burden. Nor should they be denied access to any public premise.
If you own a small shop then the alterations that you need to make will depend on the style of door and the access to your store. If you do not have room to add a wider door then you must still ensure that your door can be opened by somebody using a wheelchair.
This advice really is nothing more than common sense. The Equality Act ensures that physically disabled people can enjoy all the same activities as able-bodied people. So as the owner of a premise make sure that you too can offer your services to everybody including wheelchair users. .