What disabilities qualify for VAT exemption?

People with disabilities in the United Kingdom who purchase disability aids for personal and domestic use qualify for VAT exemption when purchasing these items. They also do not need to pay the VAT on any installation work undertaken related to the item. Those who are disabled can claim VAT relief on various alterations undertaken in the ...

The Equality Act 2010 and Disability Access

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and other anti discrimination legislation was replaced by The Equality Act in 2010. The Equality Act 2010 which is sometimes called the disability act 2010, also established the Equality & Human Rights Commission, (the EHRC). The EHRC took over the work of the Disability Rights Commission, the Race ...

Wheelchair Joining Supports

Supports for connecting wheelchair ramps are an innovative way to extend the length of a ramp that may be too short on its own. Using joining supports for wheelchair ramps provides several advantages. Firstly, it allows for easy customization of ramp length, ensuring that individuals with mobility challenges can access different heights and ...

DDA Compliance and The Equality Act

The DDA stands for The Disability Discrimination Act which covers disabled access into buildings from 2005 onwards. This was replaced 5 years later in 2010 by the Equalities Act 2010, however, a lot of people still refer to the old DDA! Technically The Disability Discrimination Act is no longer relevant and can actually be extremely misleading and confusing. This means various professionals often have very conflicting views on this subject!

DDA, Equality Act — The Equality Act 2010

Whether discussing DDA compliance or The Equality Act 2010, the easiest way to understand the law is that there should be ‘reasonable access’ into buildings. But what is ‘reasonable access?’ Reasonable access is a subjective term and a law’s impact is directly proportional to the degree in which it is enforced. The current law states that where a physical feature, such as those resulting from the design or construction of a building or the approach or access to premises, makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to access the service, then it is the duty of the service provider to make reasonable changes so that they can so. This may include:

Remove the feature
Altering it so it no long obstructs access
Providing a reasonable means of avoiding the feature
Providing a reasonable alternative method of using the service

Are you compliant?

Companies that are refurbishing public buildings are generally expected to ensure high-quality disabled access. However, small business have less of a criteria as the cost ratio to the size of the business is smaller. Permanent or semi-permanent disabled access systems also need to comply with Building Regulations Document Part M, BS8300 and the National Planning Framework. Portable wheelchair ramp systems or temporary ramps systems do not need to meet these specifications. We find many people searching for DDA compliant ramps, when it is actually wheelchair ramps that help ensure you are compliant with the current Equalities Act 2010.