My thoughts and frustrations with disability access 

My latest blog is going to focus on something that frustrates me and that is DISABILITY ACCESS. Today should have marked “disability access day” but this has been postponed due to COVID -19. I thought I would still share my thoughts on the subject.  

We live in the 21st-century, and with the rollout of the Equality Act 2010, you would expect places and people to understand the need for places to be accessible. Disability access is something that I come across often. I consider myself quite able and flexible to adapt to my environment and the situation I find myself in.  I know many less fortunate than myself, who have to rely on others to access everything that they want to.

The Equality Act 2010 promotes that workplaces and businesses should be inclusive and accessible.  This includes employees and customers alike. Many businesses think it will cost them a lot of money to get their premises up to standard, but this is not always the case. Disability access can be anything from a ramp to access the door if there are steps or making doors electronic. 

Most modern businesses who have heavy doors such as coffee shops are installed with a disability access button. This allows a disabled person entry and exit by turning the doors from manual to electronic. This is a quick and simple way to make them open to all but (and there is always a but!) many outlets turn off the automatic doors. They have all the technologies installed but they do not switch them on. This is very very frustrating, as not only can’t wheelchair users gain entry, but it hinders my ability to leave the building.  Once I have a drink in my hand, I am unable to open the door and hold my drink at the same time.

Instead of enjoying the experience of going into a coffee shop, I often have to think ahead and plan my way out. I worry about how I’m going to get out without spilling my drink. If it’s a busy coffee shop and all the tables near the door are taken – allowing me to put my drink down, open the door pick my drink up (quickly) and get out before the door shuts – is very little chance I will be able to exit the building without asking for help from someone. This is not a very nice experience as I like to do things independently.  Having to ask for help, brings to the attention of others the things I cannot do.

I do have to praise how much disability access has changed over the years.  It is common to see notices about their accessible facilities but it is still a long way from what non-disabled people experience non-disabled. I hope that in years to come we will not need a day to highlight disability access. Every business and new building should embed it as a standard and have no need to question it.