Access Officer Guidance for Public Bodies

The role of an Access Officer is set out in Part 3 of the Disability Act which requires all public bodies to have an Access Officer.

The Disability Act (2005) says that:

26 (2) Each head of a public body referred to in subsection (1) shall authorise at least one of his or her officers (referred to in this Act as “access officers”) to provide or arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing its services.[1]

[1] Disability Act 2005. Part 3, Section 26(2)

Access Officers help to protect rights and promote equality and social inclusion by making sure that persons with disabilities can access public services. This is an important part of creating a society where everyone is treated with dignity, has access to human rights and does not suffer from discrimination.

Our guidance document, updated in 2025, outlines

• why Access Officers are important
• the roles and responsibilities of Access Officers
• the NDA role in monitoring Access Officers
• complaints under section 39 of the Disability Act