Access Statements in Context

The Access Statement is a frequent cause of anxiety amongst proprietors. It is not a legal requirement to have one, but it is a condition of participation in the National Quality Assessment Scheme. While it's unrealistic to expect all accommodation businesses to achieve a National Accessible rating, the view of the assessing bodies is that displaying an Access Statement on a website or having a printed copy to send out with a brochure could go some way to show what the Disability Discrimination Act calls "due diligence".

The statement does not need to be a lengthy document. VisitBritain has provided an online template, which some operators may find useful, but there is no obligation to use this. A leaflet entitled "Writing an Access Statement for your business" has been produced and this was mailed to all our participants with the recent edition of Quality Edge.

Quality in Tourism assessors will ask to see the Access Statement, but as with the Fire Risk Assessment, we realise that operators need time to get these items in place. If a statement has not been prepared there will be a gentle reminder and it will be noted on the report of this year's visit, to be in place for the 2008/9 assessment.

> Access Statements