New UK Disability Rights Commission Campaign - Open 4 All

Hot off the press from the DRC:

New DRC campaign: Open 4 All

On the 3rd of October the Disability Rights Commission is launching a year-long campaign to raise awareness of new duties under the Disability Discrimination Act that come into force on the 1st of October 2004. These duties will mean service providers such as pubs, clubs, gyms and swimming pools, hospitals, restaurants and shops will all have to make ?reasonable adjustments? to their premises or the way they provide their services to ensure they are not unreasonably difficult for disabled people.

The launch of this campaign will see:

- publication of research illustrating the experiences of disabled people in accessing services in England, Scotland and Wales, targeted at national media;

- a series of photos of disabled celebrities appearing in consumer media, taken by celebrity photographer James Gooding, aimed at raising awareness of the issues disabled people face when trying to access buildings;

- ?Inside Out? PR stunts aimed at regional media in Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Cardiff, which will transplant poor access scenarios (such as a visit to the dentist or restaurant) onto the street

- the launch of a new “Open 4 All” microsite, www.open4all.org, giving service providers and disabled people information about the law and practical information on how services providers can meet their duties.

The DRC will undertake a range of activities aimed at local authorities, the health, leisure and retail sectors over the next six months. From April next year, with six months to go before the legislation comes into force, we will focus on raising disabled people?s awareness of their new rights.

To find out about other campaign activities going on, please visit the Open 4 All microsite soon.

To order the Code of Practice, which set out the legal position for these new duties, contact the Stationary Office by:

Telephone: 0870 600 5533

Email: book.orders@tso.co.uk

For practical advice and information targeted at different kinds of service provider, visit the microsite, www.open4all.org or contact the Disability Rights Commission?s Helpline:

Telephone: 08457 622 633

Textphone: 08457 622 644

Fax: 08457 778 878

Email: enquiry@drc-gb.org.