FROM Friday the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) will be extended to cover all businesses, regardless of their size.

The changes will ensure that even businesses which employ just one part-time employee will have to meet set standards, including premises that are easily accessible to disabled people and employment practices and recruitment policies that do not discriminate against disabled people.

These recent changes are an extension of the obligations that already exist under the Act requiring businesses to make 'reasonable adjustments' to ensure that disabled people have access to their goods and services.

There is a misconception that these changes will lead to more red tape and bureaucracy from the government, costing businesses time, effort and money with little chance of reward, yet a true assessment of the situation would suggest quite the opposite.

The enforcement body of the DDA, The Disability Rights Commission, states that the average cost to make a business more accessible to disabled people is less than £300.

With the spending power of disabled people estimated at £45 billion a year, (the 'disability economy' is bigger than the combined government budgets for defence, education and agriculture), this would seem a small price to pay for businesses to access a potentially huge revenue stream.

Small businesses may find this all a rather daunting and intimidating prospect, but every enterprise has the potential to benefit financially from the new legislation.

An example of small businesses missing out on profits is demonstrated by Kaye Hussain, who combines her job as a freelance graphic designer with the role of a busy working mother.

She said: 'I love to use local shops as I believe that they are the heart of a community, but I am forced to use-out-of-town superstores because they are more accessible to me as a wheelchair user.'

Pete Johnson is a disabled student at Southampton University and likes nothing better than a night out at one of Southampton's many pubs and clubs.

He said: 'My friends and I always end up going to the same old places because we know that they are accessible. If more venues were disability friendly then we would definitely visit them.'

The Southampton Centre for Independent Living (SCIL) Business and Community Awards have been launched to recognise businesses that have had the foresight and business sense to cater for this lucrative market.

The awards aim to raise awareness of what companies need to do in respect of the DDA and celebrate both business and community success in making a real difference to disabled people's lives.

There are a total of ten different award categories, ranging from the Best Small Retailer to the Best Transport and Motoring Organisation, ensuring there is a category to suit businesses of all sizes.

Criteria for the awards take into account accessibility, ease of use, customer service and communication.

Winners will be given a trophy, invited to a lunch that will publicly thank them for their efforts, and will be given use of the SCIL Business Awards logo throughout their business activities.

Dave Fawcett, of award-sponsor HSBC in Southampton, said: 'We are delighted to be involved with the awards. We hope that they will encourage businesses to become more disability friendly and also make them aware of the benefits that can be gained by being so.'

Also sponsored by B&Q, The Newsquest Group and all regional local authorities, SCIL's Business and Community Awards are among the largest and most high-profile awards in the area.

The closing date for entries is the Friday, October 15 and there will be an awards ceremony during a lunch at the Hampshire Rose Bowl on Thursday, November 25.