The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 has phased the implementation requirements to encourage inclusivity in the workplaces and areas of service provision. The essence of the Act is to ensure that the facilities provided and policies are usable by all and meet the needs of everyone.

To comply with the Act can be expensive however at HBI, our consultants consider sensible solutions to provide reasonable adjustment measures to help you comply with the legislation.

Our services have been specifically designed to help you integrate both strategic and operational needs and to avoid unnecessary expensive changes. Indeed our Auditors are accredited by the University of Ulster, Centre for Universal Accessibility in the Built Environment.

In short we offer practical, realistic solutions:

» Strategic level DDA management reviews

» DDA policy statements and access statements 

» Accessibility Audits

Accessibility Audits are a useful means of assessing the current state of accessibility and usability of buildings by impaired people. Buildings that have been designed or adapted to meet the access needs of people with different impairments are likely to be more flexible and make it easier for employers and service providers to fulfil their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

The purpose of an access audit is to establish how well a particular building performs in terms of access and ease of use by a wide range of potential users, including people with mobility and sensory impairments. The audit gives a snapshot of a building at any point in it’s life, highlighting areas for improvement thereby making it an essential tool in producing an access action plan. Using a series of checklists the auditor will follow a journey sequence specifically looking at the:

» Approach and Car parking

» External level changes

» Entrances including reception

» Horizontal movement

» Vertical movement

» Internal doors

» Sanitary accommodation

» Fixtures and fittings

» Information and controls

» Means of escape

» Building management

We understand how important it is to have access to your risk assessments, so with HBI you will have online access to your DDA Audit reports at any time you wish.

For more information about the Disability Discrimination Act and our services, call Healthy Buildings International or email sales@hbi.ie

Download more information about the DDA here