The Royal Bank of Scotland has recently lost its appeal against the decision that they were in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 for failing to provide wheelchair access at a branch. The original discrimination case was brought by a customer on the grounds of discrimination, on the basis that there was no wheelchair access available at the branch. The bank argued that it had made its services readily available by means of internet and telephone banking and therefore there was no need for them to provide such access. However, the Court of Appeal rejected the bank's claim stating that internet or telephone banking was not the equivalent to face-to-face banking. This article serves as a reminder to FE and HE institutions the requirement to make reasonable adjustments to premises in order that disabled persons can access services as per the terms of the DDA. For the full text of the Appeal Court judgment please refer to: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2009/1213.html.
(19/02/10)