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The final stage of the DDA 1995, Part III, Access to Goods, Facilities and Services, came into effect on 1 October 2004. Architect and access consultant, David Bonnett, looks at the impact of this and at some common misconceptions.
Service providers now have a legal duty and obligation to disabled users. The DDA 1995 requires that reasonable adjustments be made to the physical features of their premises where barriers such as steps make it difficult for disabled people to access their services.
The new Approved Document Part M Access fo and use of buildings of the Building Regulations 2004, introduced in May 2004, advocates inclusive design principles and introduces the Access Statement as a mechanism to demonstrate that reasonable access can or will be provided.
Architects' reaction to the Part M revisions
The incorporation of accessible design into architectural practice over the last 20 years has happened, albeit slowly and incrementally. It has resulted from a variety of regulatory pressures, social demands and financial incentives. These in turn have gained ground, though unevenly, according to building type and use.
This is because Part M has even now not won the hearts nor, more pertinently, the minds of architects. Until recently with the concept of inclusive design, the Regulations have not presented a big and convincing idea, so most, architects have developed and responded to persona conventions.
Now we have the DDA - more critically its final part relating to 'reasonable adjustments' to buildings - but it has caused more of a stir with developers and facilities managers than with designers. How so?
This is because, unlike developers and...