What is an Access Audit?
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires any organisation that provides a service to ensure that their service is accessible to people with disabilities. This includes people with sensory impairment, mobility problems, wheelchair users, as well as mental illness.

Accessibility is not limited to ease of access to an organisation’s premises. It includes physical changes as well as changes to management procedures. The focus of the DDA is on the service the organisation provides e.g. a billing agency would need to consider making its bills more accessible with the use of different formats including large typeface, Braille, access to audio information etc.

An Access Audit reviews all aspects of an organisation’s service provision, including how disabled people are addressed as part of management policies and procedures. Integral to this is a physical assessment of the premises for access under current technical guidelines.

What does the Access Audit involve?
Access Audits will involve a survey of the premises as well as an assessment of how the services are offered and accessed. They can vary from simple “walk and talk” audits, through to detailed surveys, staff and customer interviews and consultation with access user groups.

When should an Access Audit be conducted?
It is recommended that an Access Audit is conducted prior to signing a purchasing or letting agreement, or before any refurbishment work is carried out. The information gained from the Audit will highlight any accessibility issues and enable the business owner to assess the best and most cost effective way to improve accessibility to their services.

Is an Access Audit a legal requirement?
Access Audits are not a legal requirement. Under the DDA anyone who feels they have been discriminated against when attempting to access a service can claim discrimination. Action is taken via a County Court and can result in a fine and a requirement to alter the feature/activity that caused the discrimination. Defending a claim of discrimination is far easier if an Access Audit has been carried out as it will show that either alterations to the physical environment and management procedures have taken place, or there is a clear access strategy in place to address issues raised in the Audit.

For more information on the Disability Discrimination Act click here
For more information on The Disability Rights Commission visit click here