Introduction
 
Access Design Consultants (ADC) was formed in 1994 to provide disability access services in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) subsequently the Equality Act (2010).
 
In practice we work closely with the design team at the early stage of a project by carrying out access appraisals of their proposals or access audits of existing buildings in order to ensure that the provisions of the Equality Act and other guidelines are complied with.  Recently we find that we are submitting Access Statements to accompany planning applications and/or building control approval. It is often the case that full compliance with the Equality Act is not always possible and therefore Access Statements are required to justify non-compliance.