CareCo raises awareness about barriers to functional accessibility for disabled people
The UK still has work to do when it comes to accessibility across business and hospitality, according to national mobility retailer CareCo.
Despite efforts from businesses and individuals, new insights from leading mobility retailer CareCo show that ‘functional accessibility’, where all barriers are removed to ensure that people who have mobility needs can have the same experience as a person without, remains a significant issue in the UK.
While many venues and workplaces claim to be accessible, the reality for disabled people often tells a different story. To highlight these challenges, CareCo has recreated real-life accessibility failures using Lego, visually demonstrating how businesses can appear accessible on the surface while still creating major barriers for people with mobility needs.
CareCo’s latest research uncovers experiences of ‘performative accessibility’ – where businesses tick the legal boxes but fail to provide an environment where disabled people can fully participate.
Stories, outlined below, include a job interview where a disabled candidate was told they’d be “carried up the stairs” despite prior assurances the office was accessible; a gig venue with wheelchair access but no actual view of the stage; and a restaurant that could accommodate a wheelchair at the entrance but not inside.
An accessible office in which workers said they could carry them up the stairs each day
“I disclosed my disability, told them that I’d love to attend an interview and when I got to the door, they told me that they were going to get a couple of colleagues to carry me up the stairs. Not only did this feel undignified, but it also felt disingenuous as they’d told me prior to attending that the office was fully accessible. Even if I hadn’t left and voiced a polite no thank you, there was no way I was going to be sat everyday outside my place of work waiting for somebody to carry me up.” – Female graduate, 22
No view, spilt drinks and constant knocking
“Bought tickets to a gig that was advertised as accessible, and whilst I got through the queue system with no issues, and managed to make it to the lift, there was a raised floor and nowhere for wheelchair users like myself to have any view of the stage. I was surrounded by other people who were standing and whilst access to the room was easy enough, being in the venue itself meant I couldn’t see the band, and I was surrounded by people who were constantly knocking me and spilling drinks. Luckily, I had a friend who did help, but I believe that all venues should offer a space for people who have mobility issues that isn’t just placed at the back as an afterthought.” – Small business owner, 34
We could get through the door of the restaurant but no further
“Went for a meal with my family to a relatively busy restaurant for my 40th birthday and phoned on two separate occasions (following a mistake on our first call) to ensure that they could accommodate my husband, a wheelchair user, which we were assured would not be a problem at all. When we arrived, the restaurant looked busy, as expected, and having never attended before because it was out of town, we assumed everything would be ok.
“When we arrived, there was a ramp, and everything looked promising but when we got into the restaurant (which wasn’t small either) tables were placed so closely together that there was no way that we could get to our table. The staff tried to be nice enough about it, but it was obvious that there had been nothing done to accommodate us, tables had been booked near the door and there was nowhere for us to sit.
“Naturally it was a few of us given it was my 40th and we ended up having to leave because they couldn’t seat us anywhere meaning they lost out on money, and we ended up eating elsewhere which put a dampener on things, but ultimately it felt like they had a ramp so they’d done everything they could to help someone with a disability but in reality it felt to me like they’d done it just so they could say that it was accessible when in reality it was anything but. It’s 2025, things like this shouldn’t really be an issue now” – Nurse, 41
Will Harrison, founder at CareCo says, “Accessibility shouldn’t be a tick-box exercise, there’s no doubt that there is progress, especially in the UK and as a nation we should be applauded for that but there is obviously a very real issue at play when it comes to performative accessibility.
“There are countless examples of people being able to access venues, buildings, restaurants easily but not being able to manoeuvre around meaning that whilst they can get through the door, they don’t get to share the same experiences as others. We’re calling on all sectors to genuinely consider the disabled experience in their businesses to ensure that they’re not only doing what is legal, but what is right to do.”
CareCo is a national mobility retailer, with shops across England, Scotland, and Wales.
