Nationwide Access Register
The Nationwide Access Register is a free internet based service, available at www.directenquiries.com, to provide users with a single source of information regarding disabled access and facilities for any building that is open to the general public. As an online access register, it enables businesses and service providers throughout the UK to outline what access and facilities they currently provide as well as helping them meet their legal obligations under the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act).
The Nationwide Access Register, directenquiries.com currently receives over 1.3 million hits per month from people looking for businesses and services that offer the access and facilities they require. Importantly, it also provides details AbOUT the access and facilities businesses are not able to provide now, but hope to provide in the future. The Nationwide Access Register works in association with two of the country’s leading charities, RADAR (The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and the Employers’ Forum on Disability.
Companies such as Lloyds Bank, Boots, WHSmith, John Lewis and Tesco are amongst the many large businesses that have listed all of their branch facilities. However, the register also includes small businesses and was actually designed with them in mind.
The Nationwide Access Register provides an assessment tool that enables businesses to complete a FREE self assessment, designed to let them better understand what access and facilities they currently provide, along with helpful tips regarding areas they may wish to improve further – making “reasonable adjustments”.
The Nationwide Access Register is supported by the Disability Rights Commission. Bert Massie, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission: “The DRC is delighted that a service such as Direct Enquiries.com exists as it helps to give disabled people more choice and at the same time assists businesses both large and small to meet part of their legal obligations. As importantly, it helps service providers to attract more business from the 10 million disabled adults that spend £80 billion per year in the UK.”