As a young person with a disability it annoys me when I see businesses, especially online that do not offer services to disabled people. Life is hard enough with a disability without the need to look at complicated websites.  I spend most of my money shopping online as it is a lot easier for me than going to the shops. I am sure I am not alone! – However there are only a few websites that are easy to use and cater for disabled people.

Here is some food for thought…………..

• 1 in 3 people in the UK are disabled or close to somebody who has a disability.
  [Source: Office of National Statistics Census 2001]
• 10 million disabled people live in the UK with a combined annual spending power of over £80 billion
  [Source: DWP 2004]
• UK’s 50 to 70 year-olds currently runs at £300 billion a year, and this group buy more designer fashion, premium cars, and other expensive goods than any other group.
  [Source: The Guardian]
• 33% of people in the UK aged 50 – 65 have a disability; 42% of people over 65 have a disability.
  [Source: Labour Force Survey, Autumn 2005]
• 67% of disabled people choose businesses which are good at serving disabled customers
  [Source: Employers' Forum on Disability customer survey, 2006]

So to conclude…….

It makes sense for business to fully include disabled people like myself – a wheelchair user. They have a spending power of over £80 billion and taking a person’s disability into account is not only important it is essential!

Author: Jason