So this is what real inclusion looks like!
According to a 2019 report by the disability charity Scope, many disabled people still face significant barriers to accessing public spaces and services in the UK.
The report found that:
- Only 30% of disabled people feel that their needs are fully met by current public transport services.
- Only 18% of restaurants, cafes, and pubs in the UK have a fully accessible toilet.
- Only 17% of Premier League football clubs have fully accessible stadiums.
While these statistics show that there is still a long way to go in terms of accessibility in the UK, there are also many businesses and organizations that are making efforts to improve accessibility and provide inclusive facilities for disabled people.
Part of our work at UK for Good helps businesses better understand and improve their impact on their stakeholders; that includes employees and customers.
We consider how diverse, equitable, and inclusive the organisation is, and how it may improve.
Being inclusive is simply doing what you can to ensure everybody belongs.
So what does that mean for people with disabilities?
Sometimes it’s helpful to begin by thinking about essential needs.
It still shocks me to hear just how difficult it is for many disabled people to access basic facilities such as getting in to buildings, and having gained access, being able to find an accessible loo.
Last week I was invited to the official opening of the new loos and bathrooms at NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC). I’ve been lucky to attend the opening of all sorts of things over the years, usually new buildings, projects, facilities…but this was a first.
Why did it feel like a particularly special event?
I’m privileged to be the Chair of NMC, a role that helps me better understand many of the challenges facing people affected by Muscular Dystrophy and contribute to an outstanding charity.
The old loos needed updating and the Centre sought funding and took the opportunity to install top notch facilities for several reasons:
- to showcase what facilities are possible for people within the NMC community;
- to encourage families, friends, and employers to consider how they too can adapt their facilities to make their premises more accessible for people with Muscular Dystrophy;
- to further enhance the experience of attending NMC for people within the NMC community.
As a society, we could and should take a leaf out of NMC’s book. People with disabilities still face many unnecessary challenges and it’s up to us all to remove barriers wherever possible.
It’s well worth watching this brief video which summarises recent research from ONS that explored disabled people’s experiences with private sector activities, goods and services across the UK.
The number of disabled people in employment has increased significantly in the past ten years, from 2.9 million in 2013, to over 4.9 million in September 2022. (Source gov.uk)
How can all of our businesses do more to help ensure everybody, regardless of ability, belongs?