UK business sets the standard on disability

The worldís first comprehensive management tool on disability has today been launched by the Employersí Forum on Disability with the help of Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

The Disability Standard was produced by the Employersí Forum on Disability and was researched and piloted in conjunction with 15 leading members of the Forum. Organisations are, for the first time, able to accurately measure their performance on disability, in every way in which it affects the business, and to put in place action plans which deliver real business improvement.

An integral part of the Disability Standard, the unique Benchmark Survey enables the private and public sectors to assess their performance on disability as it affects risk management, customer care, employment, occupational health, premises and the built environment, IT systems, accessibility of goods and services and the impact of government policy.

The economic and ethical case for addressing disability as a business imperative has led to 22 organisations already signing up to the Disability Standard. Participating organisations will have 8 weeks from the beginning of February until the end of March 2005 to complete the benchmarking process.

Alan Johnson, Secretary of State said:

It makes commercial sense for companies to design products and services which are tailored to the needs of disabled customers. The Disability Standard plays an important role in this. By bringing together into one place every piece of regulation, code of practice and technical standard, it gives employers the information and guidance they need to meet their legal and ethical obligations. Employing disabled people can no longer be seen as simply an ethical responsibility - but as a business imperative.