The DDA - Frequently Asked Questions
Q3: What are “reasonable adjustments”?
A: Reasonable adjustments required by the Disability Discrimination Act will depend on the individual case. Consideration has to be given to the cost of the proposed adjustment, including disruption to business in addition to any specific financial cost, the resources of the organisation, and the likely impact of the adjustment on a person’s ability to do the job.
Research found that many employers of smaller businesses are often unaware of small changes they can make to prevent risks such as long term absence in the workplace. The DDA states that employers must make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled customers and employees to access their services. Some examples of reasonable adjustments are:
- Altering the person's working hours;
- Acquiring special equipment or modifying existing equipment;
- Allowing absences during working hours for rehabilitation, assessment or treatment;
- Supplying additional training;
- Modifying instructions or reference manuals;
- Providing additional supervision and/or support;
- Making physical adjustments to premises.
