DO YOU pop into your favourite coffee shop on your way to work?

Dine at your preferred restaurant with ease?

Go shopping for a new outfit stress-free?

Most of us don’t give these pleasures a second thought, but I’d like to ask your readers, what if having a disability meant you could no longer go about your day with such ease?

Having personal experience of disability myself, I know this is a reality for many disabled people, and I’d like to tell your readers why change is vital.

As a non-disabled person, you would never expect to be denied access to your favourite coffee shop, or be unable to use public toilet facilities because there isn’t one available, so why are we ignoring the needs of disabled people?

I work for Revitalise – an incredible charity that provides respite holidays for disabled people and carers.

As an organisation we often highlight issues of importance to disabled people and our latest study revealed some disappointing results.

Six out of 10 non-disabled people admitted to using disabled toilets, and more than one in 10 of us use disabled parking spaces either sometimes or habitually.

We believe that if non-disabled people were to simply make small changes to their attitudes and habits, they will be helping to create a more inclusive society for disabled people.

To find out more about Revitalise, visit revitalise.org.uk, email info@revitalise.org.uk, or call 0303 303 0147.

Stephanie Stone

Revitalise