UK Health Radio – Medical News Update on the Hour - Disabled Access Shocking

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update on the Hour

Disabled Access Shocking

The BBC have reported that a government audit of more than 30,000 shops and restaurants showed that access for disabled people on the High Street in Britain is "shocking”

Thousands had not adapted their premises, with a fifth of shops excluding wheelchair users altogether, experts found.  Strange when you think that there are 12 million people in Britain with disabilities, with an estimated spending power of £200bn so it seems that businesses are "missing a trick" and must do better, ministers said. “Improving accessibility is a no-brainer."

Accessibility experts DisabledGo had visited all of the 30,000 venues in person to assess them.

They found a fifth of shops had no wheelchair access, only 15% of restaurants and shops offered hearing loops and three quarters of restaurants did not cater for those with visual impairments.  Even more shocking maybe, was the fact that when they asked leading chains to supply more information, only 4% of 105 national retailers even responded.

"Everyone deserves to be able to go Christmas shopping or enjoy a festive meal or drink with their friends or colleagues," said Minister for Disabled People Mark Harper, who commissioned the survey.

"This isn't just about doing what's right. Businesses are missing a trick by not doing more to tap into this market.

"A fifth of the British population has a disability and they and their households have a spending power of over £200bn.

Barry Stevenson, chairman of DisabledGo and a former director of Marks and Spencer, said: "We are pleased that many retailers have invested significantly in improved accessibility in the last 10 years, but the majority are still not doing enough."

"It's entirely unacceptable for disabled people, their family, friends and carers, not to be able to access all high street shops and facilities."

"Disabled people are not asking the earth; just that management do what's reasonable and think more about how they can help disabled customers better.

"And that includes better communication about their accessibility online.

"It doesn't need to cost a fortune to do the right thing and it could be the deciding factor for disabled customers between you and a competitor."

The Equality Act of 2010 obliges organisations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. 

Are you disabled?  Do you have experience of difficulties when shopping on the high street?  We would love to hear what you have to say.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update on the Hour

Kindly sponsored by 1-stop-health-shop.com