A man in a black wheelchair, in front of an audience. He has a microphone in his right hand and his holding up to his mouth. He is speaking to the audience in front of him. He is wearing a white shirt and black trousers, which held up by black braces. He is in full focus and the audience are blurred in the foreground.

Shopping, Services and Retail

Tuesday 27 October 2020, Noon - 1pm

Next Spring, the government will publish its National Disability Strategy. The Conservative Party pledged to create a strategy in its 2019 Election Manifesto.

We want to make sure that the government hears the voices of disabled people, including those they don’t normally hear from. Our autumn programme of roundtable events are your opportunity to have your say on a range of issues. We will be collating what you tell us into a submission to government, as well as to influence our work as the UK’s leading national disabled persons’ user-led organisation.

This roundtable discussion will be about buying stuff, about access to shopping, services and retail. Many disabled people report that accessible products for every day activities are hard to find and expensive, and that accessible features are treated as an afterthought by designers and manufacturers. The COVID-19 pandemic and the surging demand for grocery delivery left many disabled people suddenly unable to buy groceries, as their once-reliable delivery slot vanished. What can we do to make it easier for disabled people to buy the things they need and want, from basic essentials to luxury items?