Firms’ Disability Access Unlawful Finds BBC London Investigation
The government is writing to a string of high street chains urging them to improve after a BBC London investigation revealed a “depressing” failure to accommodate disabled people.
Two researchers, one blind, one a wheelchair-user, documented their daily travails with pinhole cameras.
Some of the UK’s top chains failed to provide ramps – while five cabs refused to take a guide dog.
Several firms apologised while others promised to improve.
The Equality Act obliges organisations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
But researchers found unusable tables or ramps missing or broken at branches belonging to Itsu, Costa Coffee, Eat, Caffé Nero, Caffé Concerto, Chipotle and the Post Office.
Researcher Christiane Link said: “I went from coffee shop to coffee shop – and either they had steps in front of their door or they only had high tables.”
After experiencing problems in east London, BBC London test-booked 20 cabs to pick up a blind researcher. Five refused to take his clearly-marked guide dog.
One said: “Small dog, we can take it, but big dog we can’t take it, we don’t have the facilities.”
The man was driving a people carrier.
Another said: “That will be extra money.”
A third had a conversation with base on his radio – before claiming he could not take the dog because of “hay fever”.
‘Bunny hop off the train’
Drivers with allergies must carry a card proving it, but he was unable to produce this.
Robin Allen QC, head of chambers at Cloisters and a leading expert in equality law, viewed the BBC’s footage.
He said: “What I have seen in terms of the drivers who refused to take the guide dog appeared to be a clear case of a criminal offence.”
Of the other companies, he said: “If they fail to make reasonable adjustments and an individual is denied access to facilities on an equal basis,
BBC Inside Out has discovered continuing accessibility issues two years after the London 2012 Paralympics which heralded changing attitudes to disability
The Post Office carried out Ms Link’s transaction in the street.
But Mr Allen said: “It is not reasonable, particularly with financial products or personal products, to expect wheelchair users to expect service in the street.”
On four occasions, the wheelchair user got stuck on a train when staff booked to help did not arrive on time. She was unable to board a bus due to a faulty ramp.
Team GB wheelchair rugby player Ross Morrison said: “Getting on and off can be a really tricky issue. Quite often ramps aren’t there.
“I’ve got good chair skills so I can bunny hop off the train – not safe, but I get away with it. For your average disabled person that’s not an option.”
A BBC London Freedom of Information request found disabled access complaints to TfL have almost trebled in three years – from 570 in 2011 to 1,431 in 2013.
The FoI revealed three legal actions between 2011 and present. All ended in out-of-court settlements – with £8,000 paid in damages and £41,673 for claimants’ legal costs.
A TfL spokesman said: “It’s disappointing to hear anyone using the network has been prevented from making the journey they want.
“Our network’s not perfect, but we’re trying to make it more accessible, by putting in new lifts, boarding ramps and making another £75m available for step-free stations.”
TfL said it had received only six complaints over guide dog refusals by minicabs in eight months, out of 45 million journeys.
Minister for Disabled People Mark Harper said: “I’m perplexed by the taxi story because I can’t think of any plausible reason why they weren’t able to take your researcher.”
Of the wider findings, he said: “It’s depressing. But we need to remember lots of firms do deliver good service.”
Mr Harper has said he will write to the firms and consider redrafting guidance on minicabs.
High street responses
Costa said: “We have instructed our maintenance team to visit. We apologise for any inconvenience.”
Caffé Concerto said: “We recognise our obligations under the Act and are constantly working to improve access.”
Itsu said: “We are very sorry your researcher had difficulties eating at Itsu. This is not acceptable and we are rectifying this.”
Eat said: “We are disappointed to have failed and would like to apologise.”
Caffé Nero said: “We consider we make all reasonable provision with regards to access.”
Chipotle said: “When this was brought to our attention, we made adjustments to ensure tables are accessible in all our restaurants.”
The Post Office said: “We make endeavours to comply with regulations. We apologise for any inconvenience.”
Same Difference 
Reblogged this on sdbast.
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a few years ago we disabled could use one particular window in our local post office. the facility was stopped after a number of problems with people who were not disabled using it. young mums with prams/pushchairs are quite capable of queuing up like others do. but i saw more young mums than elderly or disabled people using that window before the practice was stopped. we were told we had to queue same as everyone else.i sent in a complaint because they severely limited my ability to use the post office by doing this. result was 2 chairs put out facing away from the queue and we were told to use them but keep an eye on where we were in the queue. my response.? oh we are expected to have eyes in the back of our heads now are we? i for one cannot twist half round at all never mind for the length of time that would take.i now have to go when my daughter goes, or she goes with me. she queues up n lets me know when its nearly our turn.inevitably though there are children playing on the chairs and mother does nothing to stop them.i hate having to ask, not that all kids take any notice of us old folk.
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Reblogged this on leftypudding.
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