More than three quarters of businesses in the professional services sector are in danger of prosecution under the Disability Discrimination Act Part III (DDA), according to research published by RNID.
RNID, the largest charity representing deaf or hard of hearing people in the UK, asked 396 small businesses what changes they planned to make to comply with the DDA when it comes into force in October 2004.
Of the small businesses in the professional services sector surveyed 79%said they did not plan to make any changes under the Act.
Only 3% of professional services had made the changes required under the DDA, while 8% of the businesses surveyed said they were unaware of the Act or the requirements contained within it.
Under the DDA, deaf customers will be entitled to changes in the way goods, services and facilities are supplied if their sensory impairment makes access to them "impossible or unreasonably difficult".
