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About access audits
Why an Access Audit?
An access audit is an examination of a building, its facilities and services, against pre-determined criteria, to assess its ease of use by disabled people. The reasons for carrying out an Access Audit are to help meet the legislative requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act to improve access and, in turn, increase your custom and turnover.
Consultation
It is often necessary to carry out an Access Audit to establish what action is needed. This will take the form of an initial consultation with you to determine your business needs, followed by an inspection of the premises or service. It is highly recommended that a written report be produced. This report will detail ways in which non-compliance exists and recommend a course of action. Priorities will be given for our recommendations. Some items may need to be done immediately, whereas other items could be added to a maintenance programme or included in a feasibility study.
Full Audit
A full audit will be broken down into sections, looking firstly at the approach to your building/establishment - the ease with which a range of disabled people would be able to park, approach and enter your building - followed by the areas covered in the list below. Photographs will be included, if required, along with full recommendations from various government bodies, including Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people - Code of Practice BS8300:2001 and Access and facilities for disabled people. Approved document part M.
Reasonable Adjustment
Your Access Auditor will work with you to find out what is 'reasonable adjustment' to assist your business or service to comply. He/she will take into consideration your financial turnover and the ease with which any alterations can be implemented. We work within the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and can access audit your building/service in its entirety or in any combination of your choosing. All of our audits are client based.
For reasonable and practical suggestions for you and your business, or for more information, you can email AEC on enquiries@accessandequality.org or telephone us on 0800 197 5040.
