Media release 4 May 2005

UK business sets the standard on disability

The Disability Standard logo

The Employers' Forum on Disability is delighted to announce that 80 organisations have participated in The Disability Standard, which is the world's first comprehensive management tool on disability.

Participants have now completed and submitted their Benchmark Surveys, an integral part of the Disability Standard, which enables organisations 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.

Survey responses will now be analysed by validators working on behalf of the Employers' Forum on Disability and a Benchmark report, to be published in September, will provide a unique picture of the overall performance on disability of organisations across the UK.

Participants come from both the public and private sectors and include major banks, retailers and utility companies. The Forum will run The Disability Standard every 18 months to allow participating organisations to benchmark their progress.

Project manager, Caroline Leon said: "We are delighted with the high level of response that the Forum has had from UK business on The Disability Standard. Considering this is the first year of its running, it is wonderful to see so many organisations taking a proactive approach to addressing disability. This process will allow participants to establish where they are on disability, where they need to be and how to get there."

Ends

For further information, please contact the Press Office

Employers' Forum on Disability
Telephone: 020 7089 3020
Email: media@employers-forum.co.uk

Notes to editors

List of participants: