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It has come to our attention that the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is perhaps lacking in knowledge regarding accessibility of shops.

The DRC is currently trying to educate people as to what the DDA extension thing on October 1 will mean to them.

But in the FAQ Details section of their website, we noticed some extremely fishy .

Small business: I am a corner shop owner in Southall. What are the DRC asking me to do before October 2004?

We are asking you to find out about what you can do to make your shop more accessible. Have a think about how you would serve disabled customers - you probably have some already. Think about what you might do to open up aisles, deal with a big step into the shop or simply put a seal by the counter.

"put a seal by the counter"? How is this going to help disabled people in their quest to access shops? Maybe if you put an otter by the fire exit that would help too? Or a dolphin by the cash register? Huh? A whale by the shelving?

Monkey is embarrassed to admit that it took a colleague to point out to me that this was a typo and should have had a T at the end. But in the meantime, think of all the small businesses out there who have gone to the trouble of installing expensive aquariums. Er, OK, I'll stop now.