Thursday 27th January 2011 - Published by Kelly Jackson - Communications Executive
New legislation means your company has a duty of care to the partially sighted and blind – Are you prepared?
Bristol-based A2i Transcription Services has teamed up with marketing specialists Centonex, to raise awareness of a change in legislation that has seen the Disability Discrimination Act replaced with the Equality Act, which will affect all UK organisations.
The two companies, both based in Bristol, are working together on a campaign to make the public aware of the needs of the visually impaired, the change in law and to help companies trade within these guidelines in a simple and cost-effective way.
The change means that organisations must now anticipate ‘within reason’ the needs of the blind and the partially sighted, whereas before the law simply required them to react to these needs.
For example, it would now be deemed completely reasonable for a university to provide their prospectus or course materials in Braille, audio or large print but it would not be reasonable for a restaurant that changes its menu daily to provide a Braille one.
A2i Transcription Services design, manufacture and supply a large range of products for the visually impaired, including Braille, signage and audio CDs. They have worked closely with companies, including a national pizza restaurant, to help them trade within these new government guidelines.
Jodie Dew, Marketing Services Manager, at Centonex said:
“Through our research, it has become apparent that many organisations do not provide things such as menus and business cards for the visually impaired because they feel it will be exceptionally expensive to do so. This simply isn't true.
A2i can convert your existing menu into Braille and it only costs from around £10 to do so. Once you are aware of these facts, it makes you wonder why more companies can’t provide at least one Braille business card or menu on request.”
A2i Transcription Services automatically adds restaurants to a directory on their website, so visually impaired individuals and organisations are made aware that they are able to cater for their needs.
Did you know that every company no matter how small or large now has a duty of care to the blind and partially sighted? - a pr2go story
