An Essex consultancy which advises business on compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act has now launched a symbol for firms to display to show they have invested to make it easier for disabled people to do business with them.

An Essex consultancy which advises business on compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act has now launched a symbol for firms to display to show they have invested to make it easier for disabled people to do business with them.

SMP, based at Marks Tey, near Colchester, carries out audits to highlight where shops and other premises need to be improved to meet the requirements of the DDA, and also offers expertise in ensuring that websites meet the necessary standards for the partially-sighted.

Susan Pattrick of SMP said firms seeking to display the new Accessible Business Mark would be subject to a “mystery shopper” visit by an assessor and their products assessed by a panel of experts before the mark was made available.

She said: “Disabled people have the right to be able to access a premises in the same way non-disabled people do.

“It is getting that message across and trying to persuade businesses they have to make their service accessible by spending money and that, in turn, improves their bottom line. They are not getting the full benefits from their business by shutting this group of potential customers out.”