Disabled Access 29 October 2008 at 12:14PM in Disability money matters 30 replies 2.5K views

linni

Went into Habitat In Canterbury yesterday and asked to use the lift to go upstairs and was told there wasn't one. Does anyone know if this is true? I was really surprised as I thought a big store like that should have had some kind of access. Comments welcome please.

Ames

Oooh that's a bit naughty of them, they're supposed to have disabled access (unless it's a small shop in a very old building where it would be impossible to adapt it). I think you should complain to the Equality Commission, they can ensure the shop changes. I know of people on other forums who've done that.

Having said that, my favourite coffee shop doesn't have disabled toilets (which they should have as they have normal ones, up two flights of stairs) and I'm reluctant to complain in case it's closed down! I can't see that happening with a store like Habitat though.

JayWalker

A lot of stores don't have the disabled access they should have. In the case of Habitat, it's probably worth a polite letter to Head Office. Don't threaten, just ask politey for an explanation. This is likely to get a "don't worry, were working on it" answer, and a lift mysteriously appearing in a few months. Well if you're lucky.

Regarding your coffee shop, ask a manager in-store, especially if you're on good terms with them. If they haven't got one, they may be able to suggest a nearby venue (pub, other cafe, etc) that allows their customers to use their loo.

kentyy

I've been round the canterbury habitat and i have to say i don't remember seeing any disabled access before now, though i've not asked the staff in there because i find the staff unhelpful in that branch at the best of times!

Bart

For a good laugh try Ann Summers In Leeds a small area then steps down to the main part of the shop. I have come to the conclusion disabled people don't have sex!!.:eek: :eek: For some reason the staff didn't ask if I wanted any help:o

somebody_else

linni wrote: »

Went into Habitat In Canterbury yesterday and asked to use the lift to go upstairs and was told there wasn't one...

Are they expecting us to believe that their staff carry the stock upstairs one box at a time?

Even my local Range (a bit like habitat, but much more downmarket) has a lift so that they can get their stock to the upper floor.

foxxymynx

Bart wrote: »

For a good laugh try Ann Summers In Leeds a small area then steps down to the main part of the shop. I have come to the conclusion disabled people don't have sex!!.:eek: :eek: For some reason the staff didn't ask if I wanted any help:o

didn't you know? Disabled people are frigid virgins forever, who gasp at the mention of sex or anything innuendo lol

seriously though, I think alot of ablebodied people would get a shock if they peeped around the bedroom door - rumour has it us lot are more kinky than the ablebodies :rotfl:

Bart

foxxymynx wrote: »

didn't you know? Disabled people are frigid virgins forever, who gasp at the mention of sex or anything innuendo lol

seriously though, I think alot of ablebodied people would get a shock if they peeped around the bedroom door - rumour has it us lot are more kinky than the ablebodies :rotfl:

OOOH shock horror. Do tell me more;) .I'm saying nothing!!!!

Horace

Ooh err....I think I wandered into the wrong place - all this talk of sex and kinkyness has made me come over all unnecessary:eek:

I visited Tesco Express in New Street, Bham a while ago and went up the escalator to their upstairs bit then came the problem of getting down because their down escalator wasn't working (having glaucoma, I find it difficult to see the edges of steps and an escalator can end up looking like a slope). I wandered over to the lift and found that the customer lift wasn't working either:mad: thankfully I spotted an assistant on the floor and asked him how I was supposed to get downstairs because I didnt want to be trapped in the shop and live on bread and washing powder until they fixed the lift and the escalator - he kindly allowed me to use the staff lift and even pressed the button for me so that I went to the correct floor rather than to the basement.

LameWolf

Bart wrote: »

I have come to the conclusion disabled people don't have sex!!.:eek: :eek:

I've had that attitude from a rheumy nurse at the hospital! She wanted me to wear wrist splints at night (I refuse, on the grounds that they're so darned uncomfortable that I cannot sleep with them on).

You should've seen the total horror on her face when I said "That'll do wonders for my personal life, then".:D BTW, my husband was in the room at the time, and nearly wet himself laughing.:D We came to the conclusion that she wasn't getting any.:D

Regarding disabled access, to get back on topic, - my gripe is not being able to get into half the shops in Stony Stratford, because of some very high doorsteps, and in some instances several steps down to the door. That said though, it's a very old market town, so not easy to provide disabled access, I suppose.:(

soolin

It could be that the shop is listed or cannot 'reasonably' be able to fit a lift for passenger use. The disability acts combined do not force all premises to be accessible they merely require them to make every option available, within their power so that people with a disability are not disadvantgaed. if arrangements for access cannot be reasonably made you can ask for special arrangements, for instance ask if they would bring stock down to you so that you can browse.

Famously there was a parade of shops somewhere, possibly York (can't exactly remember ) that were on the news as adjustments could not be made as the buildings were hundreds of years old and structural alterations would have damaged the fabric of the building. many of the shop keepers made arrangements to serve customers in the street instead. That was fully compliant with the Act.

It is a misconception that every building everywhere must be accessible.