Accessible business

Many people associate disability with mobility problems. In fact, fewer than 8% of disabled people in the UK use wheelchairs. Making your organisation accessible to disabled employees means more than ramps and lifts, although these are important.

It's about looking at disability as it affects every aspect of the business. This means, for example:

• Taking part in the Employers' Forum Disability Standard - the only audit tool which tells you where you are and what you need to do to be a disability confident employer.

• Making sure your staff is disability trained.

• Ensuring basic physical requirements for your disabled employees are met.

• Researching the need for any special equipment for your disabled employees, who supplies it and how it is maintained.

• Checking the location of a disabled person's desk is adequate.

• Making sure lighting levels are suitable.

• Providing a textphone for deaf employees.

Ensuring accessibility in the workplace is only part of your responsibility under the Disability Discrimination Act. View our 'Open for business' guide to find out more.