Did you know that, the Office of National Statistics estimate that the spending power of disabled people is £274 billion pounds a year? However, due to access issues, 75% of disabled people have had to leave premises and cancel a potential sale as they physically cannot get into business or have experienced barriers to them being able to access services.
To try and counter this Swansea BID is working with The National Diversity Employment and Advisory Service (NDEAS) to give business advice and support on making themselves more accessible.
The National Diversity Employment and Advisory Service (NDEAS) is an organization that is committed to promoting equal opportunities and accessibility for people with disabilities. As part of its efforts to achieve this goal, the NDEAS has developed a disability access survey for businesses.
The disability access survey is a comprehensive assessment of a business's accessibility features. It includes questions about physical access, such as whether there are ramps or elevators, as well as questions about communication access, such as whether there are written materials in accessible formats like Braille or large print. The survey also asks about the availability of accessible parking spaces, the accessibility of restrooms, and the availability of assistance from staff members.
The survey is designed to help businesses identify areas where they may be falling short in terms of accessibility, and to provide them with actionable steps they can take to improve. By completing the survey, businesses can gain a better understanding of the needs of their disabled customers and take steps to ensure that they are able to provide an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.
Improving accessibility is not only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, but it also makes good business sense. People with disabilities make up a significant portion of the population, and businesses that fail to accommodate their needs are missing out on potential customers. By taking steps to improve accessibility, businesses can tap into this market and create a more inclusive and diverse customer base.
Swansea BID is making the disability access survey available to all businesses in the BID area at a special rate. Businesses that complete the survey will receive a report detailing their accessibility strengths and weaknesses, as well as recommendations and advice for improvements. NDEAs can even advise on fudning to make these imporvements. The BID hopes that this initiative will encourage more businesses in Swansea to become more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities.
Andrew Douglas, Operations Manager for Swansea BID, said, “Since meeting Dan Biddle, Director of NDEAS, at the recent Business Hub event held in the Arena, I have learnt so much about disability access issues. It’s my pleasure to work with him to offer his services to our BID Businesses. Together BID, NDEAS and city centre businesses can work together to make our city as welcoming as possible to those with a disability.”
Surveys can be booked via the BID office and are priced as follows:
Small Store: £275.00
Medium Store: £300.00
Large Store £350.00