Disabled customers "Exhausted" with false accessibility claims

Businesses falsely claiming to be accessible is leaving many disabled customers tired and disappointed

Under UK law, today's businesses are expected to make sure their facilities are accessible to everyone including disabled people but an increasing number of them are claiming to be when under further inspection are in fact not at all leaving those people to find elsewhere

Annie McDermott, 34, who is blind and travels with her Guide dog Clara said:

"Sometimes even when the website says it's accessible you get there and it really isn't, It even has its own term because it happens so often. Able-Washing"

In an instagram poll showed that out of the 2,722 responses 87% of those disabled people have arrived at a venue which was advertised as accessible and found they were unable to access anything.

Amy Pohl, 29, describing one of these instances said:

"I phoned a restaurant and they said they were accessible for wheelchairs but when I arrived they said the waiters CARRY you to a chair as they have stairs and leave my wheelchair outside."

Many also reported that when they were able to get into the buildings the disabled toilets were often used as storage rooms and had the emergency red cords tied up where they couldn't reach them

Disability advocates are calling on these businesses to consider whether they are actually accessible but are facing backlash on social media with commenters saying "Just don't go out if you're going to complain" or "Why should they change their whole shop just for you"

Talking about these kinds of comments, Michelle Rowe, 23, said that:

"There is just a total lack of empathy, a total lack of compassion. Its a complete disconnect for people that don't have to experience it"

But as the spending power of disabled people and their households is estimated to be around £274 Billion per year and still expected to increase this means businesses are unknowingly losing out on potential customers

According to purple.org.uk, a charity dedicated to changing the conversation around disability, these are what sectors are missing out on each year by not being accessible

High Street Shops – £267 million Restaurants/Pubs/Clubs – £163 million Supermarkets – £501 million Energy Companies – £44 million Phone/Internet Providers – £49 million Transport Providers – £42 million Banks or Building Societies – £935 million

https://wearepurple.org.uk/the-purple-pound-infographic/