GIVE US BETTER ACCESS

IT is 22 years since the Disabled Discrimination Act (known as DDA) was passed. The DDA was supposed to create an environment where disabled people were treated equally as non-disabled people or better.

Yet many businesses have done nothing to improve access into their business. Where there is a step or steps into a business, the provision of a bell, buzzer or touch window to get the attention of a member of staff would be a considerable improvement. The provision of a mobile ramp would be even better in some circumstances. Businesses that prevent access are losing out on the spending power of the purple (disabled) pound.

However, once disabled people get inside some businesses, the situation doesn’t improve; aisle width in shops is often too narrow for wheelchair users; stock is too high and there is no one available to assist; counters are too high or cluttered; etc.

Some businesses partially block pavements with ‘A’ boards and or shop displays making access past the business difficult. Visually impaired people struggle past such obstacles. The pavement or footway should have a width of 2m clear so that non-disabled people and disabled people can pass each other safely. Where the width of pavement is less than 2m, there shouldn’t be any boards or displays or any other business related item on them. Disabled people deserve more and better access.