Local businesses have been urged to act now on new disability rights.
About 50 businesses representatives made an early start last Wednesday to be briefed on forthcoming changes to the Disability Discrimination Act.
The breakfast meeting started at 7.30 in the morning at Chicago Rock CafÈ, Yeovil, where Judith Littleboy of South Somerset Disability Forum welcomed guests.
The event was a joint initiative, also involving South Somerset District Council, Yeovil Town Centre Partnership and Yeovil College.
Laura Jerram, from the Disability Rights Commission, was the main speaker. She told the audience of changes to the DDA that will come into effect in 2004.
Under the DDA, shops and other businesses must take certain steps to make life easier for the disabled. Chairs must be provided, for example, if queues are likely and people unable to get into the premises must be provided with an alternative way to use the establishment - through telephone or a visit by a representative, for example.
In October 2004, this will change as shops and other businesses will have to make reasonable changes to the physical features of their premises so that disabled people can access them.
Ms Jerram said that "reasonable" is the key word, adding that a number of things would be looked at to see what changes could be expected at individual establishments.
"Start planning now. October 2004 is the date to be prepared, not the date to start thinking about changes," she said.
Ms Jerram acknowledged that many establishments had already taken steps to help disabled people, although some of them scored own goals by not communicating with staff. One example was the introduction of anti-slippery floor surfaces.