Inclusive Environments - Access To Commercial Property, Goods, Services and Employment

Disability Specific Access Requirements

It is over 25 years since the launch of the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995, subsequent legislation (The Equality Act 2010) obliges commercial buildings (i.e. shops, restaurants, pub, hotels, health centres, leisure, entertainment, offices, schools etc) and businesses delivering goods, services as well as employers to make reasonable adjustment to facilitate access. Building Regulations and Standards exist to ensure parking, access routes, entrances as well as vertical and horizontal circulation are accessible to those with disability. Despite this there generally still appears insufficient access provision to goods, services and employment in the UK.

This questionnaire has been prepared by Adrian Tagg who is an academic and Chartered Building Surveying  it seeks to understand the disability specific requirements for accessing goods, services and employment. It can be completed by a person who is disabled, or their carer The questionnaire is directed to obtain responses from the person who is disabled. It is quite a long survey but it is important to obtain the opinions of those with a physical or mental impairment. This is based on YOUR experience and needs for access concerning:

- Essential Adjustment (your critical needs for access).
- Reasonable Adjustment (your minimal or standard needs for access)
- Desirable Adjustment ("nice to have" access requirements)
- Optional Adjustment or N/A (not necessary or relevant for your disability).

I appreciate your contribution and it is important to collect the best possible data. The long term aim is to use the results of the survey to drive change in commercial attitudes to creating an inclusive environment. Thank you Adrian.   
1.What is your gender?(Required.)
2.What is your age?(Required.)
3.Do you have a long term physical or mental impairment (disability) which affects your ability to carry out normal day to day activities?(Required.)
4.Please specify the physical or mental impairment (disability) or that of the person you care for (you can choose more than one)(Required.)
5.Please classify your disability or from the selection below (you can choose more than one)(Required.)
6.Do you consider yourself or the person you care for to have more than one disability?(Required.)
7.What mobility aids do you use when accessing commercial buildings, goods and services (you can choose more than one)?(Required.)
8.Typically how often in a week do you physically access goods and services by visiting commercial properties (i.e. shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, health centres, leisure, entertainment, offices, schools etc)(Required.)
9.In your experience: “Commercial Buildings and services providers appear fully accessible for those with physical or mental impairments”(Required.)
10.In your experience of accessing commercial properties score from 1 to 5 your general access concerns / difficulties that you encounter where 1 is not problematic and 5 is likely to prevent you accessing goods and services.
Not Applicable
1
2
3
4
5
The availability and quality of accessible parking
The access route from the street or car park to the building entrance
The main building entrance
Horizontal circulation (getting around on one level)
Vertical circulation (getting from one level to another)
Facilities such as audience or spectator venues,  access to refreshments (bars / cafes) and sleeping accommodation