Equality of access is important as it gives people with disabilities the opportunity to make choices when pursuing business, leisure and lifestyle activities. The benefits of improved access are not only important to the people that require them, they are important to everyone.

The full weight of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) came into effect in October 2004, and all businesses now have to comply or have a reasonable action plan for compliance. An access audit by an experienced auditor will ensure you do not spend money doing the wrong things or doing the right things to the wrong specifications, and it could well save you money in the long run.

It is important to do an audit for the following reasons:

To check your current level of compliance with the DDA standards
To identify how your building's accessibility can be improved and any factors that limit the extent to which this is possible
To create a plan for ongoing improvements that links in with your planned maintenance activities
To support a funding application
A DDA buildings audit is an assessment of a wide range of access features including the following:

Car parks
Internal and external doors
Horizontal circulation
Vertical circulation
Toilet and washroom facilities
Signage
Alarms and security systems
Surfaces
Lighting

For people with disabilities, it is important to have the correct facilities at home as it is at work.

Specialist equipment and adaptations can make it much easier for people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes. The equipment available range from stair lifts and hoists to smaller gadgets designed for people with specific disabilities.

If you're physically disabled, and especially if you're a wheelchair user, you may need to get equipment and have permanent fixtures installed at home so that you can live independently. Depending on how important your local council feels these items are to your independence, you may have to pay for them yourself and use your direct payments for the larger items that make the biggest difference to your ability to live independently. Some equipment and adaptations that you might need include:
A stair lift

A powered bath lift

A powered or manual height-adjustable bed

Powered leg-lifters for people who have difficulty lifting their legs into bed

You may also need to have adaptation work done in your home, such as having doorways widened or a ramp installed.
A wide range of gadgets and devices are available to make everyday tasks easier for people with specific disabilities. These include:
Clamps and holders to keep jars stable so they can be opened with one hand

Talking kitchen scales for people who are blind or visually impaired

Alarm clocks that vibrate under the pillow for deaf and hearing impaired people

Kettle tippers for people who have limited arm strength or restricted movement

Devices that remind people with memory loss or learning disabilities to do a daily task like taking a pill

Sometimes equipment may not be the most appropriate way to meet your needs. Instead of buying equipment, you may be able to change the way you do everyday things to make them easier. An occupational therapist may be able to suggest other ways of doing things that you have not considered.
Being able to summon help immediately in an emergency is often an important consideration for disabled people wanting to live independently at home. A personal alarm system could be the answer.
Personal alarm systems work through a base unit in your home, which is connected to your phone line. By pressing a button on the unit or on a pendant that you wear around your neck, you are connected with an operator who can arrange the help you need.
Some charities including Age Concern operate personal alarm systems that are used by disabled, older and less able people.
Other 'telecare' devices, which operate in a similar way to personal alarm systems, have movement sensors that can detect if someone has fallen and can't get up. Telecare devices that can detect smoke, water flooding and gas leaks are also available.