A Sense Scotland survey of how disabled people access our towns and cities
'Self Outline' by Tony Restrick
Contents
Back to the ContentsBackground
Sense Scotland has been working for over 20 years with children and adults who have communication support needs because of deafblindness, sensory impairment, learning and physical disabilities. One of our key areas of expertise is communication. Working closely with people, often on a one-to-one basis, we aim to find out what their aspirations are and how they want to live their lives.
The survey
In June 2005 Sense Scotland asked the disabled people, families and carers it supports how easy it is for them to access facilities in our town and city centres throughout Scotland. From the moment people left their homes right through till they returned, we wanted to hear about their experiences.
The survey aimed to discover how easy it is for disabled people to travel into our towns and cities, and to find out how accessible they are one year on from the extension of legal access, under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The act was introduced in October 2004, so the survey results should act as a timely reminder to businesses and organisations of how inclusive their facilities and practices and attitudes should be.
The results were often critical of what businesses and organisations have in place to make their facilities accessible. But some services were perceived to be more accessible than others and survey respondents were keen to offer solutions to the problems they face. With some people either unable or unwilling to face the challenges of a visit into town (one family said, "we avoid taking our disabled child into town."), people can become isolated, staying close to their home.
No matter how well organisations, and especially local authorities, think they are addressing the access issues of their facilities, it is clear from the 'Downtown' survey, that there is still some way for most of them to go. A year on from Disability Discrimination Act on access, there is still a lot of work to be done on improving facilities and services.
"The people in this survey are quite rightly asking for the chance to enjoy all the facilities that our towns and cities have to offer. I would urge businesses and organisations to listen to the stories people share in the survey and to the solutions that they offer" explains Joyce Wilson, Depute Director of Sense Scotland. "Their requests are not unreasonable - more accessible loos, transport services they can use and parking they can rely on. Disabled people are asking for equality when it comes to getting goods and using services and they now have the statutory backing to implement changes."
Back to the ContentsMethod
The survey was sent to a list of over 430 families who are involved with Sense Scotland. 28 (nearly 7%) responded to the survey of 10 questions, which mixed open-ended text with multiple-choice questions. All response data was input into a database from which this final report is derived. Respondents to the survey had the option of giving named or anonymous answers. Over 57% said they would be happy to give their name to quotes and over 46% agreed to give an anonymous quote. Percentages are given when a significant number of people shared the same response to a question.
Age of disabled person
Pre school: over 3%
Primary School: over 14%
Secondary school: over 32%
18-35: over 46%
36-55:over 10%
Back to the ContentsSurvey responses
- How often do you go into your town/city centre?
Some people are able to use town and city centres on a fairly regular basis but a significant number of people find it too difficult to even consider a visit. There are still disabled people who want to use the services town centres offer, but they are excluded from visiting our towns.
- over 35% visited town centres once a month or less
- over 42% visit town centres at least once a week
No visit
"I avoid taking my disabled child into town"
Infrequently
"We only go when we have to as one child is in a wheelchair; for example when on business."
- Who do you usually travel with?
Most of the people who replied to the questionnaire live with their families and carers; the next biggest group travel with support staff and personal assistants.
- over 67% travel into town with their family
- over 28% travel into town with support staff
- over 21% travel into town on their own
- over 10% travel into town with friends
- How do you travel into your local town or city centre?
Not surprisingly for those who can fund it, the car is the preferred means of transport to get in to town. This gives people the independence they need and means they do not need to rely on public transport, which is still inaccessible for many. The most regularly used form of public transport is buses with tube travel used least.
- over 64% use the car to travel into town
- over 28% use the bus to travel into town
- over 14% use taxis to travel into town
- over 10% use trains to travel into town
- over 3% use the tube to travel into town
-
- Are you a blue badge holder?
- over 67% of the people surveyed are blue badge holders
- over 25% of the people surveyed are not blue badge holders
- Is it easy to obtain parking when you go into town?
There was a mixed response to this question with those who use cars reporting differences in availability, depending on the time of week and location. There is also the continuing problem of non-disabled drivers using designated parking spaces. Some towns, including East Kilbride and Bearsden were singled out as offering less disabled parking provision.
over 32% of the people who use cars to get into town felt it was difficult to find parking
Unreliable
"Most car parks have slots for blue badge holders, but at times like Christmas they are often taken by non-badge holders."
"It depends on which town and on the practice of local parking attendants. (Local Authority) don't allow blue badge holders free parking in normal parking bays."
Location
"Most of the spaces are too far away from shops and then I have to climb a hill to get to them."
Is the parking convenient for where you want to go?
Again there were mixed responses to this, sometimes relating to how well individual towns provide parking facilities. Some people commented that it was better in towns than at their own home.
"Parking is more convenient for me in town than it is at my own house."
Those who found convenient parking mostly visited supermarkets and shopping centres.
- over 28% found disabled parking locations to be inconvenient
- over 32% found disabled parking locations to be convenient
- Are parking spaces available?
- over 28% of people reported difficulty in finding available spaces
- over 25% of people found parking availability good
time and fuel costs
One blue badge holder reported finding spaces, "...sometimes after a few circuits of the town and a couple of litres of diesel. It can take up to half an hour."
- Are there enough disabled parking spaces?
The majority of car users felt there are not enough parking spaces for disabled people and some limit their visits to places they know provide enough parking. Some people felt there were enough spaces provided but that often non-disabled drivers used those spaces. Other people commented that often the spaces provided did not have enough room for their vehicle's access ramp.
- over 50% of people thought there are not enough disabled parking spaces
- over 14% of people thought there are enough disabled parking spaces
never enough
"No. Only yesterday I had to pay at a meter, as there were not enough disabled parking bays."
"Not always and they tend to be full."
parking cheaters
"Yes. It's just that other people use them."
bad design
"No. Particularly those with not enough space to extend a ramp from the back of our vehicle."
what you know
"It's usually very easy to find parking in St Enoch's and Buchanan Galleries. We don't usually park anywhere else as we think it would be difficult to find a space."
- Are you a blue badge holder?
- Where is it you visit?
Shops are predominantly the main reason that disabled people go into towns and cities, followed by restaurants and cinemas. Other activities people travelled in for were pubs, clubs, night classes and college, museums and park visits. The figures here say something about how limited many people's choices for leisure are.
- over 96% visited shops in town and city centres
- only 53% visited restaurants in town and city centres
- only 42% visited cinemas in town and city centres
- only 14% visited pubs in town and city centres
- only 7% visited clubs in town and city centres
- What is your favourite place to go to in town/city centres and why?
Some people felt a trip into town was a real boost, but many pointed out that they avoided visits because they found it too stressful and not accessible enough. The most popular places to go were shops followed by restaurants and cinemas. Despite only 50% using restaurants and coffee shops they were seen as being ahead of other services in terms of accessibility.
- shops were the favourite place for over 41% of the people to visit
- restaurants and cafes were the favourite place for over 20% of the people to visit
essential only
"Visits to the town centre are either for essential items or to fill in some time - not as destination of choice."
"We only go to Argyle Street and St Enoch (in Glasgow) as it's easy to park there and most shops are accessible from there."
"The St Enoch Centre and Buchanan Galleries are usually easy to get a parking space in, they both have lifts and elevators and everything (shops, eating places etc) is under one roof."
"Mostly arcades like St Enoch Centre/Buchanan Galleries; they have several shops under one roof, it's easier to move around in a wheelchair and get protection from the weather."
- How good are facilities for disabled people in city/town centres and the places you visit?
People feel that facilities have improved for disabled people noting improved ramp access but many more reported having a variety of problems with the facilities in town centres. Lack of adequate toilet and changing facilities were the most frequently reported problems, with poor access and limited space making personal care visits awkward. Shopping aisles and corridors are often too narrow or cluttered and even opening doors for some people is still made difficult by inadequate provision.
- over 60% of the people reported problems significant problems with facilities and access in town and city centres
poor toilet and changing facilities
"There are no changing facilities for a teenage boy, with the exception of mother and child facilities."
"Accessible changing facilities would be extremely useful."
"Toilets for disabled people do not have big plastic mats to put on the floor to change a disabled toddler who uses nappies."
"The disabled toilets are annoying, as you need to find a member of staff to open the door for you."
"Toilet facilities for a person who can not weight bear (ie: needs a changing table) are totally, non-existent."
more space
"Supermarkets aisles are too cluttered."
focus on physical disability
"The emphasis on cars/wheelchairs fails to recognise that sometimes wheelchair access can make it more difficult for those not in wheelchairs who have multiple disabilities."
doors
"I find most shops only have one door open and quite often I do not go in as it is too much hassle to get the door open."
"It's terrible... the main Post Office has no automatic doors as do a lot of shops."
lifts
Despite shopping centres being one of the favoured destinations, the survey indicates that there are still design problems, which limit the number and location of lifts.
"The Buchanan Galleries are very poor for lift access. It would be interesting if it ever had to be evacuated in a hurry. As far as I know there are only three lifts in the shopping area."
"Most shops do not have lifts I usually end up standing outside whilst my other daughters go into the shops."
out of town
"Access to the city centre is difficult which means we tend to stay away and prefer places like Braehead and East Kilbride because of access and parking. Also, out of town is less busy making it easier to move around. No busy pavements to negotiate."
an overview
"Cinemas, terrible, impossible; swimming pool, impossible no changing facilities; some restaurants ok and coffee shops are all very good; could do with a bit more room between tables. Shops may vary, although most are accessible; the rails and displays are often too close to get around and boxes make it too narrow for my chair. My mum has to walk for miles to find ways around them."
- What would make your visits to city/town centres easier?
Not surprisingly, transport topped the list of the services which people felt needed the most improvement. From more accessible public transport to increases in disabled parking spaces, the comments once again showed how many disabled people are still isolated and excluded from our towns and cities. And for those who are able to make it into town centres they are simply asking for accessible toilets and changing facilities.
Shopping list:
If the people in the survey were to draw up their own shopping list for easier access it would include:
- wider stairs and aisles
- better guides to accessible services
- more pedestrian crossings
- more subtitled film screenings
- maps for disabled parking spaces
- better quality paving
- greater visual accessibility (lighting, signage etc.)
- more automatic doors
- longer stays in disabled parking
Other suggested improvements included:
- over 32% felt there was a need to improve and increase parking facilities
- over 17% commented on the need to improve toilet and changing facilities
- over 17% asked for improved public transport services
transport
"A map of disabled parking, particularly street parking would be useful."
"More wheelchair accessible public transport; allowing access into the centre of town without the drive around to find a suitable parking space; park and ride accessible bus from slightly out of town eg: Shields Road/Byres Road etc."
"My son uses the tube as often as possible because parking is difficult. However, the access to the tube is often restricted, if the escalator is not working."
"Longer stays at disabled parking bays; we do not use them if there's a limited timescale."
"An improved dial-a-bus roster/availability."
we would like...
"...some updated guide with places/shops/museums, that disabled can go without finding obstacles; good toilet facilities and crèches that welcome disabled children."
"Wider lanes in supermarkets."
"Doors are a nightmare - self opening or automatic doors would be invaluable."
"It would be easier if all cinemas had subtitled films as I like to get all the information from the film."
"A changing toilet with better facilities, a hoist and more room."
- Do you go into town and city centres as often as you would like?
There was an equal split between those who felt they got into town centres enough and those who did not. However, some people explained that they found their visits to towns problematic because of access difficulties around paving, busy streets and visibility. It's clear from the figures that a significant number of people are either put off visiting, or have real difficulties getting into our towns centres.
- over 42% felt they did get into town and city centres often enough
- over 42% felt they did not get into town and city centres often enough
downtown
"No I don't go into town as often as I would like, because the roads and pavements are a disgrace, for wheelchair users."
"Yes I can go in easily at the moment as it is summer time and light."
- If not, what prevents you going into town/city centre as often as you would like?
Transport into towns and cities still needs to be opened up to disabled people and many still feel they cannot easily get into our centres. Pavements which are damaged or lack low access points, cobbled streets and once again poor changing facilities were also hindrances for people trying to use our towns and cities. Some people just need more carer support to help them visit towns and cities and others find that the service they want to use is too far away. Parking and transport are once again the services which people feel most let down by.
poor state of repair
"I mostly get taken to town with my gran in my wheelchair, but the journey is always spoiled with broken pavements, holes and very high pavements. At crossings there are not enough lowered spots."
"There are so many hills and cobbles, the new brick floors and high pavements also cause problems."
transport
"Transport in terms of ease and convenience, if I'm taking a car and wheelchair I need to disassemble and reassemble; taxis are costly."
"I don't drive and public transport with wheelchair too hard to manage sometimes."
"My son would undoubtedly go into the city centre more often if parking was easier and available."
"I can only go by car, there are no disabled buses and the taxis are very expensive."
limited choice
"I have limited options for fun. For example if I want to go to the cinema I have to go to another town, which is an hour away."
Further comments
We asked for further comments to find out peoples' additional observations. There were continuing suggestions on how to improve transport access to towns and cities, as well as a direct call to town planners, for more accessible public spaces.
in praise of
"We think Braehead is the best for disabled access with wide doors, plenty of shops."
transport and parking overview
"It is very difficult to park in the town. Even the disabled spaces that are available are more often than not filled with cars not displaying badges. It is time that there was a fixed penalty fee for those not authorised to park in these bays."
"I would like to get to Braehead or Glasgow shopping more often but cannot because of transport. It would be good if a bus could pick you from home direct to shops with wheelchair."
accessible facilities
"There are a lot of places I would like to go in town, but most of the time they are too small or do not have disabled access."
messages to planners, shops and facilities
- on the street:
"Town planners should be pushed up the hills, over cobbles and in and out of shops where things hit them or get caught on them. They should try... bumping up or down pavements with no ramps."
- personal care:
"They should try... changing a teenager in a disabled loo."
- accessing other floors:
"They should try... fitting a wheelchair and carer in small lifts."
- open doors:
"All shops should have automatic doors, as my mum isn't an octopus! We do not like having to rely on other people to hold doors all the time."
- entertainment:
"Clubs should have suitable space and facilities. We should have easy access to entertainment and good facilities when we get there.
- on the street:
*While we are happy to include the recommendations of survey respondents this is not an endorsement from Sense Scotland for any of these businesses.
Back to the ContentsConclusion
Like our previous survey ('Do you know what we did last summer?' - 2004) recurring themes and messages emerged from what people were saying. Transport is the major hindrance for disabled people getting access to our town and city centres. Many people express an interest in using public transport; there is a real indication that these services need to be brought under DDA cover much sooner and there is a long way to go before public transport is fully accessible. Those disabled people who do have access to a car still have problems finding disabled parking spaces that are near the services they want to use and that have not been occupied by non disabled drivers; there still seems to be some confusion with people about the Blue Badge rules.
As we found in last year's survey, shops and services in our towns and cities are still offering inadequate toilet and changing facilities. Disabled adults who need to use toilet and changing facilities find many of these spaces are too small, and do not comfortably accommodate them and their supporter.
Key messages from survey
- disabled people want to spend more time and money in our towns and city centres and look to councils, businesses and services to improve access to their facilities
- travelling into towns and cities is still difficult for most disabled people and some people are not able to visit town centres at all
- public transport is often unavailable or inaccessible to disabled people
- there are still problems with the lack of disabled parking spaces, their location and monitoring of use by non disabled people
- personal care and toilet facilities (especially for disabled adults) can be difficult to find and are often too small, or poorly equipped
- when people are able to use them, retail centres with a variety of shops, restaurants and entertainments under one roof proved popular and relatively more accessible
- the aisles of many shops and services are often too narrow for easy access and can be cluttered
Appendix
An extract from the Disability Rights Commission Scotland published report - 'Disability in Scotland 2004: Key Facts and Figures'.
Facts and figures(1)
The annual spending power of adults in Britain covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is estimated at £80 billion per year.
Scotland is estimated to have almost 1 million (0.9 million) disabled adults likely to be covered by the DDA.
The DRC's Disability Awareness Survey of the Scottish public in 2003 found:
Almost eight in ten (79 per cent) of people surveyed felt the most important disability access issue was to ensure cafés, shops and banks were more accessible to disabled people.
The majority of respondents (71 per cent) perceived that not enough was being done to make sure that disabled people could use services like non-disabled people.
Seventy-seven per cent of the Scottish population agreed that shops and banks should be forced to make themselves easier for disabled people to use, even if this leads to higher prices (Scottish Executive, 2003a: 80).
Back to the ContentsAbout Sense Scotland
Sense Scotland has been working for over 20 years with children and adults who have communication support needs because of deafblindness, sensory impairment, learning and physical disabilities.
One of our key areas of expertise is communication. Working closely with people, often on a one-to-one basis, we aim to find out what their aspirations are and how they want to live their lives. Our advisers work together with individuals, families, carers and other professionals to ensure people receive the most appropriate support.
Our services across Scotland:
Supported Living in: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross and South Lanarkshire.
Community leisure - children: Dundee, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire.
Day support - children: Glasgow.
Practical support for parents (Parent Enabler Project): Greater Glasgow Health Board area and West Dunbartonshire
Residential care for adults: Glasgow and Aberdeen areas.
Residential respite: Glasgow (children), Dundee and South Lanarkshire (both for adults).
Advisory: All areas, across Scotland.
Holidays: For holidaymakers from across Scotland at various locations.
Our History
Established by parents of deafblind children in the 1970s.
Formalised as a charitable organisation in 1985; constituted as a company with charitable purposes in 1993 - still run by family members.
In touch with over 600 children, adults and their families across Scotland.
Organisers of the Helen Keller International Award since 1992.
Scottish Patron is Dr Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore.
Over 700 staff with an annual turnover of £12 million.
Over £1 million charitable income needed each year for development of new services, arts, advisory, play, information, practice and health projects; over 20,000 supporters throughout Scotland.
Charity shops in Alloa, Ayr, Glasgow (Dumbarton Road, Parkhead, Cathcart Road, Easterhouse, Castlemilk) Bathgate, Coatbridge, Peebles
For further information about the Sense Scotland, 'Downtown' survey please contact Graeme Thomson, Communications Officer:
For more information contact:
Sense Scotland43 Middlesex Street
Kinning Park
Glasgow G41 1EE
Tel: +44 (0)141 429 0294
Fax: +44 (0)141 429 0295
Text: +44 (0)141 418 7170