Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Paragraph: 16
Businesses neglect inclusive design for disabled consumers, limiting market access
Conclusion
Not all businesses are considering the needs of disabled consumers when bringing products and services to the market. Where accessibility is considered, it is often done so retrospectively, as something to be bolted on to an existing design. Products and services should be inclusive by default. By not embracing inclusive design, businesses risk missing out on the spending power of disabled consumers and restricting the options available to them.
Government Response Summary
The government responds by detailing the existing Disability Access Ambassadors (DAA) programme, outlining how senior business leaders identify and encourage improvements in accessibility and quality of products and services in their sectors. It provides numerous examples of DAA initiatives, reports, and guides already in progress.
Paragraph Reference:
16
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Disability Access Ambassadors are also called DAAs. DAAs are 20 senior business leaders from different business areas. ● They look at examples of where products and services are not accessible to disabled people in their area. ● Then they encourage improvements in the accessibility and quality of products and services. Month Month ● DAAs meet the Minister for Disabled Month People, Health and Work every 3 months. ● DAAs also talk with junior ministers of other government departments called Ministerial Disability Champions. ● Disability Access Ambassadors use their skills to understand barriers to people with disabilities and look for practical ways to include disabled people. Examples of how DAAs work ● The DAA for Aviation helped the Department for Transport set up 25% Discount ways for neurodivergent people to avoid the airport’s Duty Free section. Report ● The DAA for Banking wrote a report about including d/Deaf people in banking and credit. ● The DAA for Recruitment looked at practical ways to include people with disability in the workforce. ● The Heritage DAA made a guide for helping tourists with dementia. Report ● The University DAA wrote a report about ways to support disabled university students. ● The Aviation DAA made a film to show baggage handlers how to care for powered wheelchairs in air travel. ● The DAA for the Built Environment looked at ways to design buildings for people who are neurodiverse. ● The Tourism DAA made a toolkit about making accessible buildings, employing disabled people and making information accessible.