2022 Access Survey Results: Disabled people are excluded from everyday life by poor disabled access information

Over 7,500 people took part in the UK’s largest disabled access survey, the results of which have found that disabled people are being excluded from everyday activities because of a lack of disabled access information.

New research by disabled access charity Euan’s Guide shows that 72% of disabled people have found accessibility information on a venue’s website to be misleading, confusing or inaccurate. When responding to the 2022 Euan’s Guide Access Survey supported by Motability Operations, 74% of participants also reported having experienced a disappointing trip or having had to change plans due to poor accessibility. 

To combat this problem, the charity’s website, EuansGuide.com, is a place for disabled people to find and share disabled access information. 51% of survey respondents reported that reviews from other disabled people improve their confidence when visiting new places, and 46% said they’ve visited somewhere new after reading a review on EuansGuide.com. It’s clear that first-hand experiences and peer-to-peer reviews are a trusted source of information for disabled people. 

A huge 91% of respondents try to find disabled access information about a new place before visiting, and 58% of survey participants said they avoid going to a venue if it has not shared its disabled access information because they assume it’s inaccessible. 

Euan MacDonald, founder of Euan’s Guide, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Motability Operations for a second year to amplify the voices and experiences of disabled people with the Access Survey, which is vital in establishing how disabled people feel about disabled access. This year the survey results inform us on how much work there is still to be done around communication and information sharing. 

“Sadly, the data gathered has shown that businesses don’t fully appreciate how important it is to share their disabled access information. Businesses are undervaluing disabled people both in terms of social inclusion and spending power.

“We encourage disabled people to review the places they visit on EuansGuide.com and use the website to find first-hand experiences of disabled access at venues across the UK and beyond. Likewise, if you work at a venue, please promote your disabled access information in your own communications and by listing on EuansGuide.com for free.”

Respondents told us the top accessible facilities they need to improve confidence when visiting new places were accessible parking (80%) and accessible toilets (76%).

Andrew Miller, CEO at Motability Operations, said: “Providing freedom and independence for disabled people is right at the heart of what we do at Motability Operations. 

“We believe no disabled person should be left behind, so we’re pleased to support the Euan’s Guide access survey again this year and it’s great to see so many Motability Scheme customers have completed the survey. The insights that Euan’s Guide have shared are vital, and we hope that venues and other organisations take note and use them to improve disabled access across the country.’’

2022 was the eighth access survey by the award-winning disabled access charity Euan’s Guide, and the second year that the survey has been supported by Motability Operations, the company behind the Motability Scheme. 

This year, the survey received over 7,500 responses and 98% identified as disabled people, with the remainder being family, friends, carers, and professionals. 

To view the full report and results, visit: www.euansguide.com/AccessSurvey

Tags: 2022, 2022 access survey, disabled access, disabled access information, news, press releases