Enable Scotland is working with businesses to make them more inclusive.
A Scottish learning disability charity is helping retailers become more accessible this Purple Tuesday.
Enable Scotland has pledged to engage with Scottish shops and businesses to help them become more inclusive for disabled consumers and employees.
The move comes ahead of Purple Tuesday on 12 November, a global day for raising awareness of the contribution of the so-called Purple Pound – the spending power of disabled households.
Enable said the Purple Pound is worth almost £250 billion in the UK and is calling on high street retailers to do more to support disabled people.
Online outlets are also being encouraged to address a lack of accessibility after 73% of potential disabled customers claimed they have experienced barriers on more than a quarter of websites they visited.
Enable Scotland has challenged the current lack of accessibility for disabled people in retail environments on the back of research indicating 75% of people with disabilities have had to leave a shop or website due to accessibility issues or poor customer service.
The charity is also calling on employers to be more inclusive after research found only 45.4% of disabled people are employed, with this falling to 7% for people with learning disabilities.
Jamie Rutherford, director of employment at Enable Scotland said: “We are delighted to team up with Purple Tuesday to raise awareness of the need for greater inclusivity in the customer experience and workplace. As a member-led charity, it is increasingly important to us that both our services and those opportunities in the wider community have a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
“Businesses must adapt now to ensure that they are aware of the needs of disabled consumers and that their policies and practices are inclusive of all.
“We truly believe that with the right adjustments any event, service or shop can be suitable for people with disabilities.”
Some of Scotland’s biggest companies such as ScotRail, Balfour Beatty and Bosch have already engaged with Enable Scotland in an effort to welcome more disabled customers through their doors.
Businesses interested in receiving support from Enable Scotland on improving their accessibility should contact the charity at [email protected]
