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"Yes we can" says
local charity in response to Will Pike campaign
DISABLED people's charity Revitalise,
which runs the Sandpipers respite holiday centre in Southport, is throwing its
weight behind Will Pike's campaign to make society a better place for disabled
people, as featured on UK TV show:- 'Good Morning Britain', since it clearly echoes the
charity's own research.
Revitalise has conducted independent research into the lack of high street
accessibility for disabled people, as well as the shortcomings of non-disabled
people's attitudes to accessibility, which entirely supports Will Pike's
campaign and highlights the need for urgent change.
A recent Revitalise study of disabled people's experiences of the high street
found that 84% of disabled people and carers had experienced problems with the
accessibility of major high street stores and 55% had been subjected to negative
or unwelcoming treatment from shop staff.
The charity also found that 74% of the high street's leading brands had
absolutely no in store accessibility info on their websites, causing Revitalise
to conclude that high streets stores may be content to drag their feet when it
comes to making accessible adaptations to their stores, as long as disabled
people continue to shop with them online.
To further support Will Pike's campaign, Revitalise has just released the
findings of a study of non disabled people's attitudes to accessibility, which
found that 57% of non disabled people use disabled toilets and are showing no
signs of stopping, with 17% saying they had "done it loads of times and
really don't see any harm in it". The study also found that 12%
non disabled people use disabled parking spaces either sometimes or habitually.
In the light of its own research, Revitalise is adding its voice to Will Pike's
call for change and urging all leading high street retailers to pay more
attention to accessibility in their stores and the information they provide
online; in order to give disabled people and carers the same choice between
in store and online shopping as everyone else.
Just as importantly, the charity is urging non disabled people to take on board
the philosophy of Team GB in the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games, whose
success is based on many small improvements adding up to one seismic change. If
non-disabled individuals can simply make one or more small adjustment to their
own attitudes and habits, Revitalise believes, they will be helping to create a
more inclusive and equitable society for disabled people.
Revitalise Chief Executive Chris Simmonds commented:- "Disabled people
have every right to choose where and how they shop. It is plain wrong that the
simple pleasure of a trip to the high street is being denied them. High street
retailers need to polish up their act and stop marginalising disabled shoppers!
We've just witnessed the Paralympic Games and the words 'Yes I can' are still
echoing in our minds. But when it comes to making society more open and
accessible for disabled people, those with the power to enforce change seem to
have made very little progress. Disabled people face a huge number of barriers,
both physical and it seems, in the attitude of non disabled people to them. So
we're calling for a sea change in the way we treat disabled people in the UK. If
non disabled people can just make one or more small adjustment to their attitude
towards disability, then we will be going a long way towards creating a better,
more respectful world for disabled people and truly keeping the Paralympics
legacy alive!"
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays for disabled people
and carers. Revitalise provides short breaks, with 24 hour nurse led care
on call and personal support, at Sandpipers and 2 other accessible centres in
Chigwell and Southampton. Each centre offers a wide range of accessible
activities and excursions in a holiday environment. |
