Accessibility Strategy 2007 - 2010

Part IV of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 (as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA)) requires Local Authorities (LAs) and schools to plan to increase progressively the accessibility of schools for pupils with disabilities (the planning duty).

The main requirements introduced by the Act are a duty:

• not to treat pupils with disabilities less favourably; and
• to take reasonable steps to avoid putting pupils with disabilities at a substantial disadvantage.

Further legislation under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the requirement to review the initial accessibility scheme after three years has placed additional requirements on the LA and schools.

In planning for the needs of pupils with disabilities and prospective pupils, schools need to bear in mind that improved access for pupils with disabilities may also improve access for staff, parents and members of the public who have disabilities. This will help schools and LAs to fulfil their legal responsibilities under Parts II and III of the Disability Discrimination Act which have applied to schools and LAs in stages since 1996 and the increased duties under the DDA 2005.