Wheelchair access in shops

blossomhill_2

charleyzee wrote: »

BigJen, you raise an excellent point actually! As so many disabled people are being forced back to work (and I am not referring to benefits cheats here but to genuine claimants who struggle to get through the day), stores will have to make themselves more accesible to staff as well as customers! Or perhaps the troll thinks we should all go sweep the motorways - that way, there'll be less of us 'disabled' for him to offend!

DDA covers access to services for consumers/customers and the employee is covered by employment law; both relevant but different laws apply according to whether the disabled person is staff or a service user - when an employer employs a disabled person they can get apply for grants/funding for making reasonable adjustments to the workplace for their employee. (this would include behind the scenes such as staff loos/canteen or whatever)

The net result should be better access for all

Googlewhacker

I thought the DDA was defunct now and taken over by the Equalities act 2010?

I could be wrong though

Googlewhacker

As a side, I personally don't see why shops cram it full, as has been said before the downsides are

1) Not everyone can get in
2) Not everyone likes crowded shops
3) Stock tends not be set out clearly and overwhelms the senses
4) I don't personally believe you would lose that much sales by reducing stock levels by a certain %

Just my views...

Savvy_Sue

Googlewhacker wrote: »

4) I don't personally believe you would lose that much sales by reducing stock levels by a certain %

I really hated it when Smiths increased the height of their displays a few years ago, I asked a manager about it, and said I was now avoiding the store. He said they'd been able to increase their stock by about 1/3. I'd imagine that must lead to some increase in sales, even if there are a few people like me who now try to avoid it.

Googlewhacker

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I really hated it when Smiths increased the height of their displays a few years ago, I asked a manager about it, and said I was now avoiding the store. He said they'd been able to increase their stock by about 1/3. I'd imagine that must lead to some increase in sales, even if there are a few people like me who now try to avoid it.

Upwards I can understand to an extent as whilst some people can't get the items at least they can get to see them, its the likes of sports direct that cram it in there that I don't get.

Lum

fogartyblue. wrote: »

There is a whole world of difference between a buggy/puschair and a full size wheelchair, never mind those ridiculous electric scooters that are the size of a G Wizz and should be left in the car park!

If someone is using one of those "ridiculous electric scooters" then they are probably unable to use a manual wheelchair. Have you ever tried using a manual chair for any distance? They need quite a lot of upper body strength to use and if someone has problems with their arms, shoulders etc. then it simily isn't possible to use one.

My partner uses something part way between the two, a manual chair with battery operated power assisted wheels, this adds just 5cm additional width to her chair. This is because she is capable of pushing a chair, just not enough to actually propel herself any useful distance (if she pushes on something too hard, her arms fall out of her shoulder sockets). If her shoulder joints get much worse, she too will be needing a proper power chair.

FWIW, you can't get the setup my partner has on the NHS, the wheels alone cost 4 grand and you need a suitable chair to attach them to. You can only get manual chairs or "those ridiculous electric scooters", so an awful lot of people don't really have this option.

Savvy_Sue

Googlewhacker wrote: »

Upwards I can understand to an extent as whilst some people can't get the items at least they can get to see them, its the likes of sports direct that cram it in there that I don't get.

Yes, the thing with Smiths, for me, is not exactly an access issue. I just have a funny head, with acoustic problems, and some shops / shopping centres / supermarkets simply do my head in: it's the only way I can describe it!

So when Smiths upped the height of their displays, I found myself becoming completely disorientated in there: I can't find anything, I can't work out where the doors are, and I just have to get out.

The person I spoke to was perfectly polite, and offered to help me find what I wanted, and agreed that I wasn't the only person who didn't like it, BUT I just don't go in there on my own any more.

I don't know about those of you with mobility issues, but my favourite supermarket is Morrisons: I find the aisles are wider than some of the others, the displays aren't so high, and the acoustics are OK, so the sound doesn't ping down off the walls and go right through my head. I'd never willingly go to a large Asda or Tesco on my own because there it's appalling! Maybe Morrisons uses a better class of ceiling tile ...

Lum

Asda and Tesco don't use ceiling tiles at all. They just have massive open spaces above with the various struts and wiring that make up the building plainly visible. It's like being in a giant metal shed.

I guess this saves money and/or makes the place feel more open to people who don't have your condition.

I don't really go to Morrisons that often (mostly just for the cafe or for cheap LPG) so haven't looked at their ceilings to see if they are any different, sorry.

Soapn

if you don't like the shop, for WHATEVER reason, don't shop there again, it's REALLY that simple. I couldn't get around numerous shops when the kids were in prams, so I didn't go back in them until the kids were walking.

pinksk8

Though I dont have access issues myself, I used to care for a lady with CP, who was a wheelchair user, and we would often go shopping. It was a revelation to me, how inaccessible many shops really are! I found it so infuriating but the lady I was caring for just used to get embarrassed and it broke my heart that people should feel embarrassed that they can spend their own money on whatever they want.

Earlier ignorant poster should spend a day in a wheelchair and see how frustrating it is!
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