External Access Audit

This can be commissioned as a personalised health check of your business, including staff training and advice on good practice. The audit report should recommend improvements, prioritise action and indicate where improvements can be planned as part of on-going maintenance.

At the very least, all businesses should have a well-formulated policy on disability, which is regularly communicated to all its employees. It should include staff training programmes that are regularly updated. Many access improvements can be made at little or no cost; others can be budgeted and planned for.

Further Information and Contacts

There is no formally recognised qualification for an access auditor, but the centre for Accessible Environments (0207 357 8182) can put you in touch with those that they have approved.

Alternatively, contact Finlay McPherson of the Scottish Centre for Universal Design and Accessibility on 0141 564 5289.

You may also refer to the Scottish Building Standard Regulation Part T available from HMSO.

A saleable HMSO Code of Practice (ISBN 011 271055 7) can be obtained by calling 9870 600 5522 or by visiting the site.

The DDA helpline: 08457 622 633 will provide free information, or you can order the introduction to the Disability Discrimination Act for SME''s produced by DfEE ref. DLE9.

The training guide entitled "Providing Service for All" can be obtained from VisitScotland. Tel: 0131 472 2022 or from hamish.reid@visitscotland.com

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