You may not know it but Disabled people are worth £80 billion to the UK economy.
Any organisation that doesn’t take the economic impact of Disabled people seriously is loosing out.
A new report commissioned by the Business Department and Office for Disability Issues concludes that companies are losing 1 in 5 of their customers as a result of failing to meet the needs of disabled customers. Despite the 1996, 2005 Disability Discrimination Act and the recent introduction of The Equalities Act Disabled people are still being discriminated against because of:
- inaccessible premises
- inaccessible websites
- poor customer service with lack of awareness, poor communication and lack of flexibility
- inaccessible telephone systems
- inaccessible printed information
This is more so as the Olympics and Paralympics approach. And is one of the main reasons for this report.
If you improve your website and make it accessible you will find an increase in traffic and business. One insurance business quoted in the report saw a 90% increase in on-line sales of insurance products following the upgrade of the website to make it fully accessible.
To Disabled and Deaf people everywhere it comes as no surprise to read these findings.
Just over a year ago I was interviewed on Radio Shropshire by Jim in the Morning where he asked me the question ‘have you ever been discriminated against for being Deaf’ I answered ‘No’.
It happened so much that I took it for granted and accepted it. A week later I had a really bad experience shopping and Pesky People was born.
The reality is
- I can’t go to the cinema – unless the film is subtitled – I buy the DVD or watch it on the TV (if it is subtitled)
- I can’t watch television unless the programme is subtitled
- I can’t attend a conference or an event – unless there is a sign language interpreter present and the organisers agree to provide one
- being ridiculed in a shop and shouted at – because I didn’t hear what was being said
- being thrown out of a pub for challenging the attitude of a customer who said ‘you are not Deaf’ – all because I can speak.
- I avoid going into shops that I want to – because someone is smoking outside (I’m asthmatic).
- I missed 20 minutes at a gig at South Bank Centre Meltown Festival earlier this year – because I was trying to get the headsets, I then missed the rest because the induction loop headset wasn’t working.
Work situations are no better:
- I’ve had work stations desk dividers (to section off each desk) increased in height preventing me from lipreading work colleagues (unless I stood up) and then had complaints that I was aloof and not engaging with other staff
- I’ve been asked by a Head of Department to to take minutes in a large meeting – I refused (how can anyone lipread 20 people and take notes at the same time?)
- I witnessed staff refuse to learn basic sign language during Deaf Awareness training that all staff in the Department were told to attend – in order to improve communication with me
- I’ve had complaints made that I wasn’t present in time at an event because they had booked a BSL interpreter ‘just for me’ – I wonder how many people are a couple of minutes late in the door to a conference?
Transport:
- I’ve missed trains becuase platform announcements are over a tannoy – a common problem for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people
- I’ve got on the wrong train because I couldn’t follow the instructions being mouthed through a glass screen in the ticket office and they refused to write it down for me (that never happens any more thankfully)
- I once spent 4 hours at Wolverhampton train station trying to get home to Telford because they kept changing the platform – each time with 2 minutes to spare. Because I couldn’t hear the announcement and couldn’t run quick enough to get to the right platform. I missed the train – again, and again. I was really upset by the time I got home.
The reality is every day I am discriminated against because of my Deafness and Disabilities. I end up questioning why does society consider me and other Deaf and Disabled people so worthless?
Pesky People started after my horrific experience at the hands of Orange Shop in Telford Shopping centre being mis-sold a mobile phone that failed to work with my Digital hearing aids – despite telling them my requirements. All the sales staff thought about was signing me up to another 2 year contract.
My experience included being surrounded by members of staff and the Manager shouting at me millimetres away from my face. I was mocked by other Orange staff on previous visits to sort out the problem and they refused to take the fault code issued by Orange Customer Services. The contract was cancelled – only after I was interviewed by Radio Shropshire. I am still waiting for a forma response to my letter of complaint from Orange – it’s been a year.
This is the reality for many Disabled and Deaf people – mostly we put up with it, shop else where and rarely complain.
I urge you to read 2012 Legacy for Disabled People: Inclusive and Accessible Business. Take note and if you run a business or have a website – make it accessible. It makes economic sense.
My God we dont really think about descrimination til its too damn late, Im 60 and 2 year ago I was asked by job Centre plus to come in for interview as regards my deafness, hey guess what!! they had phoned, and wife answered I cant, IM DEAF..My wife signed to me and wrote on paper what was being said..so here goes.
JobC…Can he come in for Interview as regards his deafness.
Wife….Yes
JobC… ok could he come in wednesday 2pm
Wife… yes no problem
I write I need speech to text reporter..
Wife…..Oh he will need speech to text reporter
JobC….OH hang on a minute
5 minutes later
JobC….why does he need speech to text reporter..
Wife…Hes Deaf
JobC…what cant hear anything..
Wife… hes profoundly, totally Deaf
JobC…he used to hear Once.
I laughed in background..As they knew I was Deaf in left ear, and very low in right ear, and was having a complete Obliteration inside right ear,BEFORE they phoned as they were told..
JobC…hang on back in a minute
JobC…Sorry we will leave that Interview for a couple of years..
As I read what wife had put, I said But I want to have this interview, get it out of the way…
Wife told them.
JobC….Sorry we dont use speech to text reporters……
Well what can i say!!
Hi SJ,
Not sure if my first attempt at responding was received. So apologies if you are getting this a second time.
I’m just stunned at the awful attitude and experience you faced by jobcentre plus – they should know better. When did this happen?
RNID should be taking this up and so should Access to Work – did you complain to them?
Would you be happy for me to include this in a future blog post – would you be happy to write one? We are looking for contributors and it is easy to write one. Also it means a very public mention of what happened to you – you would be surprised at what reactions can happen.
If you want I can contact you direct via email to talk more.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
best wishes, Alison
Its Ok Alison you can use it, RNID at the time were closing down its CASEWORKERS group 🙁
Thing is in todays world, it will be even worse, what with cut backs, How does a person who loses what hearing they have left defend themselves, without B.S.L I have tried to get into B.S.L At a college about 3 months ago, it was full, I did ask full of Deaf? no she wrote hearing, but they have reasons, I just feel A Deaf person should maybe have a little bit of head start.
I did go last year and was there about 3 weeks, then I was taken into hospital so I didnt return I was out for a long time so lost ground and didnt return.
I really feel strongly for people who aquire loss of hearing, its very very hard, as when you born deaf you go to Deaf school etc and adjust…Its harder when it hits you, I was born Deaf in left ear and severe loss in right, but got by on hearing aid til the rest of hearing went…..
I read on here somewhere I think it was about an MP who went to inner city with incapicity or something to see what its like…
Ooooh wouldnt I like to see him Deaf for a month, and see what its like……
regards
SJ
You say: “Take note and if you run a business or have a website – make it accessible. It makes economic sense.”
Agreed, it surely does make economic sense. However, let’s not lose sight of the fact that society has a moral and ethical responsibility to provide universal access and inclusion.
And before anyone jumps down my throat, I am well aware that Pesky People have not lost sight of the bigger picture. I just feel that its important to make other visitors to this site, who may not be so aware of the issues, more aware.
Thanks for a very relevant article.
Cheers! 🙂
P.S. Just love the cartoons BTW! 🙂
Hi Gary,
Many thanks for your comment and appreciate your support.
Check out CRIPPEN’s cartoons – he is fantastic. He’s also allowing us to use his cartoons within the website. Can find more about him at his website http://www.daveluptoncartoons.co.uk/ and also he writes lots of blog posts and reviews for Disability Arts Online.
Keep us posted about what is happening in your neck of the woods – we are keen to have blog posts from other people as well.
Cheers, Alison
Awesome points you stressed out.very informative article ….. thanks a lot , i will try to visit again here in the future.Really enjoyed this subject matter here, don’t think i’ve seen it discussed before. Also, fantastic themes on those blogs!
Regards:
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