Business Losing Money Due To Lack Of Attention To Disability?

22nd February 2006

A high percentage of the population is disabled in one way or another. It may be wheelchair access or just people with difficulty in walking such as the elderly or someone recovering from accident or illness. Whatever the disability whether permanent or temporary decisions on purchases may be affected and include not just the person with the problem but their whole family or group of friends.

All businesses might be affected but in the Highlands tourism and visitor businesses are especially in the front line. If access cannot be assured then whole families may go elsewhere. With more and more web sites beginning to offer disability access information about businesses it is more essential than ever that businesses who have good access make sure it is widely known. It should be included on leaflets and marketing information about the business. Your business may not lose just one customer but all of the people travelling with a disabled person. Can your business afford to lose this valuable custom. There are a number of ways to get your information out there -

Make sure it is included on all of your own leaflets and promotional material including your web site.

If you are listed in guides whether tourism or other business listings with descriptions make sure you mention your disabled access to your premises and if you have disabled accessable toilets

In Caithness and Sutherland get your FREE Business page description updated by completing the submit your business form and add a piece to your description or email bill@caithness.org with details. The page will be updated at no cost to you.

RADAR
Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation – This is a national UK organisation run by and for disabled people offers a range of services to disabled people. One such service is the National Key Scheme that allows disabled people a key that opens over 7000 toilets nationwide. A printed guide is available by contacting them via their web site www.radar.org.uk

National Database
Also a recently set up business Direct Enquiries offers a national guide and businesses can register their details of access for £35 per annum. The new service is a called Direct Enquiries www.directenquiries.com They also have an online copy of the National Key Scheme working in partnership with RADAR. Anyone can consult the guide free of charge to make notes before planning trips.