14 October 2022
People with disabilities and those caring for them are being encouraged to take part in a wide-ranging accessibility survey this autumn.
The Access Survey, run by Euan’s Guide and Mobility Operations Ltd, seeks to highlight views and experiences on subjects including parking and toilet accessibility, COVID-19, and the cost of living crisis.
Euan’s Guide, a disabled access charity and review website, is urging those who have ever had to consider disabled access, including carers, to share their opinions.
The survey is live now and will be open until 25 November.
Results will be used to inform Euan’s Guide in its mission to improve accessibility.
It is the eighth time the Access Survey, the largest and longest running survey of its kind in the UK, has been carried out.
Last year the opinions of over 2400 people, 97% of whom were living with disabilities, were collected.
The remaining 3% of responses came from carers, friends and healthcare professionals.
The 2021 data revealed that 92% of respondents try to find disabled access information before visiting somewhere new, whilst 73% said that they had found information on a venue’s website to be misleading, confusing or inaccurate.
Accessible parking and accessible toilets were a top priority for disabled visitors, with 81% and 80% of respondents respectively reporting that they would help improve confidence when visiting new places.
73% had experienced a disappointing trip or had to change plans due to poor accessibility, and 56% would reportedly avoid visiting a venue if it has not shared its disabled access information.
Euan MacDonald, who founded the charity after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2003, 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.
“The survey results inform us on the disruption of COVID-19 and how it has affected accessibility, asking whether the pandemic has pushed back progress.”
He added that the aim of the Access Survey is to “amplify the voices and experiences of disabled people” so that “we can work together to make a difference” when it comes to accessibility.
The survey can be found online.
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