Remove Barriers to Disability Access says MP

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, is backing calls from the Disability Rights Commission for businesses to prepare now for new consumer legislation later this year.

"Later this year regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act will require businesses to become more user friendly to disabled people" said Mr Gerrard. "They will need to make reasonable adaptations to premises, and remove physical barriers, to allow disabled people to access their services."

"It is often simple adaptations that are needed, like removing heavy doors, and putting in ramps where possible that can make a huge difference. It is really in the interests of businesses to make these changes. It is estimated that across the UK disabled people have a total spending power of up to £50 billion a year, so those businesses which do adapt early will reap financial rewards, rather than seeing trade pass them by."

"Many shops and other businesses have already made efforts to help disabled people use their services. Now we need this to become the norm, and deliver the rights to which disabled people are entitled."

February 2004

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