Businesses Still Discriminating In 2009

13 Oct 2009: Today’s blog was inspired by a story from the BBC in Wales. It states that a law was passed in 2004 that allowed for a ‘reasonable adjustments’ clause to be added to the Disability Discrimination Act, to make it easier for the disabled to access public places.

Despite this, 5 years on, there are still complaints from many disabled people about unsatisfactory access into places that the able bodied take for granted. Such as; banks, butcher shops, deli’s, cafés and restaurants.

Kay Jenkins (pictured above) from Aberdare suffers from brittle bones and has scoliosis, she is confined to a wheelchair and needs oxygen to breathe.

She was chosen by a BBC Radio Wales as a secret shopper to investigate the progress of the clause added to the DDA. While trying to enter a travel agency, she had to wait outside in the rain as there was no ramp to get in. Out of 10 stores Kay visited, 8 presented some difficulty for her.

I can definitely relate to Kay’s experience, I am constantly faced with high counters, luckily for me, I can stand up (even though it’s unsafe to do so), but for those who can’t, it is nearly impossible to be seen.

I have included some photo’s of counters to show the height that most people wouldn’t even think twice about.

I think places like post offices and banks should definitely be compliant to these laws, disabled people are people too and they need to be able to function as normally as possible in society. Lets make things change for the better!

To view the original story and to hear the recording of Kay Jenkins out shopping, click here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8265653.stm

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