HUGE numbers of disabled people don’t feel confident about access when visiting new places, a new survey has found.
The Access Survey, completed by 700 disabled people for the online Euan’s Guide, found that almost everyone admitted to searching for access information before visiting a venue.
- 69% of disabled people said a venue’s layout, such as narrow corridors, restricted access for them.
- 61% said they have been unable to get into a venue due to a lack of ramp, or heavy doors.
- 53% said that poor accessible toilet provision created difficulties.
Other findings include:
- 86% of disabled people are more likely to visit somewhere new if they can find relevant access information about it beforehand.
- 70% are more likely to make a visit if they can see pictures and read what others have said about a venue.
- 67% like it if a venue has been recommended to them by someone with similar requirements.
To tackle the issue, Euan Guide’s encourages businesses to simply talk about their disabled access, as 86% of disabled people are more likely to visit somewhere new if they can find relevant access information about it beforehand.
Euan MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide said:
“Euan’s Guide is all about sharing, and it was fantastic to have over seven-hundred disabled people, their families, friends and carers join in by sharing their thoughts and experiences in The Access Survey 2017.
“The opinions expressed in this survey will help to raise awareness and improve understanding of accessibility, and I am hopeful that future surveys will show positive trends and improvements among venues and the confidence that disabled people have in visiting them.”
Euan’s Guide has also published a report on accessible toilets. Read it at www.euansguide.com/toilet-survey.
