Crosswords0 min ago
Disabled Toilet
34 Answers
My sister went for lunch with friends yesterday and rang to ask if there were facilities for disabled, as her friend is in a wheelchair. They said yes, and when they arrived at the restaurant which had been recently refurbished there was a ramp for access to the restaurant area. After a very nice meal, when they asked about the toilet there was no disabled toilet facility. The husband had to drive his wife to a nearby pub, and buy a drink to she could use their disabled toilet.
Is it law that all establishments should have disabled toilet facilities?
After causing a bit of a stir, the manager knocked £50 off their bill presumably hoping they would not report it or give them a bad review.
Is it law that all establishments should have disabled toilet facilities?
After causing a bit of a stir, the manager knocked £50 off their bill presumably hoping they would not report it or give them a bad review.
Answers
"Is it law that all establishmen
13:58 Mon 14th Aug 2023
If you’re aggrieved about this, I would suggest contacting a local (or national) disabled persons’ action group who could then take it up with the local council’s environmental health department. It does seem rather strange that they have a ramp but no WC.
As for the Wetherspoons situation, Disabled toilets are now more commonly referred to as Universal Access facilities. those which are locked are now considered to be discriminatory as they do not provide the same level of facilities as able bodied persons’ toilets and it can be considered inconvenient and embarrassing for those less able to have to ask at the bar. You can probably thank a disability discrimination action group for this, which is somewhat ironic.
As for the Wetherspoons situation, Disabled toilets are now more commonly referred to as Universal Access facilities. those which are locked are now considered to be discriminatory as they do not provide the same level of facilities as able bodied persons’ toilets and it can be considered inconvenient and embarrassing for those less able to have to ask at the bar. You can probably thank a disability discrimination action group for this, which is somewhat ironic.
>>> "TTT that has answered the question"
. . . but certainly not fully!
Businesses are required to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that people with disabilities aren't treated any less favourably than anyone else.
Quotes from the legislation:
" . . . where a provision, criterion or practice [a business] puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage".
" . . . where a physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage".
" where a disabled person would, but for the provision of an auxiliary aid, be put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to provide the auxiliary aid".
[Section 20, Equality Act 2010]
Whenever a new pub or restaurant is being built (or when substantial alterations are being made to upgrade an existing one), there is clearly a legal duty on the business owner to ensure that fully-accessible toilet facilities for the disabled are provided. In other cases it would ultimately be up to a court to decide what should be regarded as 'reasonable adjustments' for the business owner to have to make to the premises.
. . . but certainly not fully!
Businesses are required to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that people with disabilities aren't treated any less favourably than anyone else.
Quotes from the legislation:
" . . . where a provision, criterion or practice [a business] puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage".
" . . . where a physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage".
" where a disabled person would, but for the provision of an auxiliary aid, be put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to provide the auxiliary aid".
[Section 20, Equality Act 2010]
Whenever a new pub or restaurant is being built (or when substantial alterations are being made to upgrade an existing one), there is clearly a legal duty on the business owner to ensure that fully-accessible toilet facilities for the disabled are provided. In other cases it would ultimately be up to a court to decide what should be regarded as 'reasonable adjustments' for the business owner to have to make to the premises.
