Disability Access

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 was the first UK legislation protecting disabled people against various forms of discrimination, with the Equality Act following in 2010.

With over ten million disabled people in the UK and a growing elderly population, the need for easy access to controlled entrances has never been greater. Every day, many people face impossible barriers when trying to use goods, facilities and services protected by standard door entry systems.

The major relevant concern is that a disabled person should not be put at a disproportionate disadvantage. There is a duty to make adjustments to prevent discrimination with the requirement ‘to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage’.

Examples of reasonable adjustments could include improving accessibility e.g., using barriers instead of traditional turnstiles; adding handrails, ramps or lifts; using audio announcements or voice-recognition to overcome visual impairments; fitting keyboards suitable for users with arthritis and repositioning displays or readers.