Recently, parts of the Act were implemented which require service providers to make changes to the way in which they deliver their services so that disabled people can use them. In this article, Catherine Casserley and Barbara Ryan of RNIB look at how the Act will affect the duties of the optometrist. To date, few cases have been brought to court under this part of the Act, and those that have did not involve complex areas of law. On October 1, most of Section 21 of the Act came into force. This requires service providers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to the way in which they deliver services so that disabled people can use them more easily.
Practitioners now have to anticipate the needs of their disabled customers.
For example, a practice that requires people to stand in order to view spectacle frames on display may have to change this to allow those who cannot stand for long periods to have frames brought to them. Prohibiting guide dog entry will also be illegal. Where a physical barrier prevents or makes it unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to use the service, practitioners will have to find a reasonable alternative means of providing the service. Practices will have to take reasonable steps to provide auxiliary aids and services where these would enable, or make it easier for, a disabled person to use the service. For example, appointment details for a visually impaired person will have to be presented in a format they can read, such as Braille or large print.