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Accessible Scotland (29/07/08):
VisitScotland, the national tourist board, undertakes checks of
accommodation and visitor attractions for accessibility for
wheelchairs. The second edition of their free guide, 'Accessible
Scotland', with information on about 1,000 places to stay and to visit,
is now available. Call VisitScotland.com on 0845 22 55 121 or e.mail
info@visitscotland.com You can also search for area and category of
accessibility on www.visitscotland.com/accommodation/accessiblescotland

K retailers are failing to make their websites fully accessible to disabled users.

At least 35% of major retailers are failing to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, claims online usability and accessibility consultant Webcredible, which analysed 20 top retail websites.

It said UK online retailers score an average of 57% in disabled access tests, with H Samuel topping the list with 76%.

Among navigational problems for disabled users, the study discovered that a prevailing failure among sites was poor accessibility at the checkout stage.

Trenton Moss, director of Webcredible said, "Disabled web users of all ages are becoming increasingly savvy and adept at using the internet. Online retailers need to constantly adapt and raise their game to improve accessibility."
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The 20 e-commerce websites and their scores:

H Samuel 76%

HMV 75%

B&Q 74%

John Lewis 73%

Argos 72%

Waterstones 66%

Game 64%

Top Shop 64%

Hamleys 63%

Mothercare 62%

Accessorize 61%

Marks & Spencer 57%

Body Shop 55%

Next 47%

Woolworths 44%

WHSmith 41%

Boots 37%

Debenhams 37%

Early Learning Centre 36%

Currys 34%

See also:

www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/01/07/228779/uk-retailers-failing-to-meet-web-accessibility-standards.htm

I run a B&B on the outskirts of Stornoway which we have recently refurbished and hope is now reasonable access-friendly. We know we have a way to go, but we offer ground floor rooms with low level light switches, wide doors, laminate flooring to make wheelchair access easier, moveable furniture which we can customise to your use, ground floor dining facilities and a level access from the rear car park. We offer a variety of diets including gluten-free, wheat-free and vegetarian or vegan options, and can provide food suitable for diabetics. We have been able to welcome a number of guests who are wheelchair users or otherwise mobility impaired.

We would welcome an audit visit and listing in your pages. We are at 5 Stewart Drive, Stornoway HS1 2TU; telephone 01851 705324 or email helen.froud@btinternet.com

Helen Froud
Jannel B&B
4 Star Visit Scotland accredited

Philippa Russell cares for her disabled son and has recently been appointed to head up a new Standing Commission on Carers. She is also a Commissioner for the Disability Rights Commission on Disability, and Policy Adviser at the National Children's Bureau.

Philippa reflects on her hopes for the new National Carers Strategy.

“We need to:

Radically review what we mean by ‘social care’ and who delivers it. ‘Fair access to care’ criteria in most local authorities are increasingly tight and leading to unacceptable ‘post code lotteries’ in many areas.
Review the current Carer’s Allowance and move to a European model of an allowance akin to the Disability
Living Allowance – non means-tested, awarded on nationally agreed criteria, acting as a ‘passport’ to other
allowances and benefits (as is already the case with children and eligibility for enhanced working tax credits).


Proactively implement the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 – seeing it as a ‘springboard’ to enable family carers to have ordinary lives, work if they so wish and encouraging real partnerships with Jobcentre Plus, health and other relevant services.


Improve access to education and training – many family carers wish to continue or re-enter education or training but are inhibited by cost; by timescales for some courses (many family carers wishing to study part-time or by distance learning) but find it problematic to do so.


Recognise that family carers and disabled people are allies – with reciprocal rights and aspirations. In the USA family carers are regarded as ‘disabled by association’ and protected within disability discrimination legislation. The DRC has a test case with the European Court of Human Rights to see if we can achieve the same outcome here. Perhaps the new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights will enable us to achieve better partnerships between organisations of and for disabled people and those primarily of and for family carers. The growing voice of disabled people who are also carers reminds us of the importance of achieving such partnerships!


And finally – we are hopefully looking for a more equal societywhere disabled people and family carers have real value and are able to lead ‘ordinary lives’. Families matter – to everyone – and with a new Government, we need Carers UK and other carers and disability interest groups to work together to ensure that the New Deal for Carers is positive, proactive and reflects changing expectations and the timescale of caring.”

I have started work on a new site for wheelchair users.

It will be advertised in Disabled Group sites and magazines and holiday brouchures. It has one aim.

To give the true picture.

Eventually following visits to all service provider locations; B&B, shops, galleries, footpaths, hotels, pubs, churches, garages, village halls etc.

Each will be named and graded.

1. Fully accessible in all areas, owner is disabled aware.
2. Partially accessible, owners have gone a long way, but more could be done.
3. Inaccessible. (I could not get in in a standard wheelchair). Owner aware of problem and trying to address it.
4. DO NOT BOTHER ATTEMPTING A VISIT OWNER HAS NO INTENTION AND OR INTEREST IN MAKING SLIGHT ALTERATIONS.

In this last section we have over 35 sites todate and each will be named in full.

Those under 1 and 2 will be given free advertising space.

Keith Roberts