Completing your DDA survey - it's not a DIY job

Access surveys of all kinds, including DDA surveys are not something that many businesses should consider undertaking on a do-it-yourself basis. They see their DDA survey as something they need to do, but that they might not be able to afford to hire someone, reasoning that the way to ensure people have access is to ask them how easy it is to use the premises. And while this works, and is often something businesses consider when they want to save money, it's rarely a good idea. Many businesses also reason that it can't be difficult - and that the first step is to ask someone with disabilities to access their premises and see if that provides them with a clearer idea.

Good idea in theory - not in practice

In theory, asking someone with specific issues of access can reveal a lot of the problems people might have with accessing your site, but in practice, what often happens is that businesses focus on one sort of access, based on those they've found to ask and aren't able to meet the needs of other that they don't have access to. It also doesn't take into account the most support people need in many cases - or conversely, businesses can go the other way and provide 'too much' support, and cripple themselves designing a building to ensure that people are supported.

There is a better way

One of the best ways to actually produce a DDA survey is to hire an expert - these people are used to working with premises and can provide you with a perspective on what needs to be done, and the overall cost to your business. They can often provide ideas whether your business needs minor work, or a major renovation and are in a position to advise on the latest guidelines, including integration with building's advice and other legally binding guidelines, such as Part M of the building code.

While it may seem odd to businesses to have a company suggest that they hire someone in and spend money on an audit, just to find out they need to spend more money on renovations it's often critical to understand that professional DDA surveys provide a good perspective on buildings that those that are undertaking DIY projects might not see. They show people where things need to change, and how to go about it in the most professional, cost effective way. They also give people the opportunity to decide whether their building is salvageable, or whether it would be more cost effective to move to a more suitable premises. Most DDA surveys don't end that way though - most highlight some easy fixes that businesses can apply, that might have been overlooked otherwise.