Nearly all of my friends share the view that, since the arrival of the Disability Discrimination Act here in the UK, the quality of life of disabled people has improved no end.
The less enlightened ones go on to say that because there’s a ramp into this taxi, or a hearing loop in that bank, or an adapted WC in the local coffee shop, then the job of fully welcoming disabled people into our progressive and inclusive society is now complete.
When I hear this, I invite these friends to think about the bus driver that whizzes past the wheelchair user in the rain at a bus stop for fear of the cacophony of horns that will sound his way, if he stops his bus and spends time lowering his special ramp.
Or the hotel bathroom “especially adapted for disabled use” by the well-intentioned, but pretty useless grab rail next to the bath. Or the “does he take sugar” mentality of the stranger who, instead of talking directly to the disabled person, automatically addresses the person that’s accompanying.
Depressingly, these examples are incredibly common and just three of thousands that disabled people encounter in their daily lives. They are examples which evidence that there is still a huge amount to do in changing attitudes, rather than just relying on the “stick” of the law.
Yesterday, I heard one person with severe mobility problems say that we had come a long way in improving attitudes. Maybe, but there are still many many miles to go. I would stress that the starting pistol in this marathon has only just been fired.
