Euan MacDonald – founder of Euan’s Guide
All Together NOW! readers are being urged to help bring about positive change by taking part in the UK’s biggest survey of access.
Disabled access charity Euan’s Guide, which covers topics such as toilets and parking, asks if access is generally better or worse in a world living with Covid, and this year includes the rising cost of living.
Last year’s survey included the opinions of over 2,400 people – most with a disability (97%), with the rest made up of carers, friends and healthcare professionals.
Among the findings were:
- 92% of respondents try to find disabled access information before visiting somewhere new.
- 56% avoid visiting a venue if it has not shared its disabled access information.
- 73% said that they had found information on a venue’s website to be misleading, confusing or inaccurate.
- 73% had experienced a disappointing trip or had to change plans due to poor accessibility.
- Accessible parking and accessible toilets remain a top priority for disabled visitors with 81% and 80% of respondents respectively reporting that they would help improve confidence when visiting new places.
Euan’s Guide was founded by Euan MacDonald, a powerchair user, and his sister Kiki, after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2003.
They found that a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful and they soon learned that other disabled people faced the same challenges.
Euan, 48, said: “This survey is extremely important in establishing how disabled people, their families, friends and carers feel about disabled access through their own lived experiences.
“It’s vital that anyone who has had to consider disabled access makes their voice heard by taking our Access Survey, so we can work together to make a difference.”
The survey is supported by Motability Operations, whose chief executive Andrew Miller said was “an important source of valuable data which can really help to inform and inspire positive change for our customers and other people with disabilities across the UK.”
Tel. 0131 510 5106
