BUSINESSES have until 10 September to access free confidential advice on recruiting, employing and managing deaf and hard of hearing staff.

The Disability Discrimination Act comes into full force in October 2004, and stipulates "reasonable adjustments" must be made to ensure disabled people have equal employment opportunities.

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf is offering the advice through Activeguidance, an email service.

employment consultancy to organisations through Activeguidance, an email service.

The act,

Mangers have expressed concerns about the costs these adjustments could involve.

, the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK,