What if an alteration costs too much?

The DDA refers to 'reasonable adjustments'. If the cost of an alteration would put someone out of business it wouldn't be reasonable and would make that service less accessible to everyone.

Bodies like the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Centre for Accessible Environments will be able to advise people about how they can prepare for October 2004.

But precisely what constitutes a reasonable adjustment will be open to interpretation until the legislation is tested in the courts.

Are listed buildings exempt?

There are restrictions on how listed buildings can be altered, but they are not exempt under the DDA.

Businesses that operate from listed buildings need to take specialist advice about how to remove access barriers.

How will the legislation be policed?

The Disability Rights Commission is the official watchdog and it may bring some early test cases to help to clarify the law.

If a disabled person feels that a building is inaccessible they will be able to approach the DRC to pursue the case in the courts if negotiations fail.

What if businesses have no disabled customers?

That's no argument under the law. The duties under the DDA are 'anticipatory' so saying you have no disabled customers will not provide any legal protection.

What are the risks of doing nothing?

There is a possibility of having to defend a costly legal action.

But there is also a pressing economic argument. The DRC estimates that disabled people's spending power amounts to £50bn. It argues that ignoring the DDA means losing custom - especially if competitors have already made improvements.