How To Improve Accessibility In Your Store

It’s essential to make your store accessible to those with disabilities. About 7.52 people in the UK are believed to have mobility issues, and 1.2 million of those people use wheelchairs. Accommodating these customers could help increase business and improve customer satisfaction (it could even allow you to hire staff with disabilities). Below are just some of the different ways in which you can make your store more accessible.

Add handrails to steps

Adding handrails to steps makes it easier for those with mobility issues to use them. Even with short flights of 2 or 3 steps, it is recommended that you add a handrail so that customers can steady themselves while using them. When it comes to outdoor steps, handrails may even be important as a general safety feature for preventing slipping in wet or icy weather.

Install ramps and lifts

Ramps and lifts could be worth including as an alternative to stairs as they help accommodate wheelchair users and customers with prams. Ramps are worth installing alongside smaller flights of steps, and could even be used to replace single or double steps. For larger flights of steps, a lift is a better option. Lifts can be expensive to install and do require regular lift servicing, however without them there may be no way for wheelchair-bound customers to access upper floors.

Include accessible toilets

An accessible toilet is worth including on your premises. This should be large enough to accommodate wheelchair users and should contain various features to aid those with disabilities such as grab bars, an accessible washbasin, a suitable height door handle and an emergency cord. Accessible toilets can also double up as baby changing facilities – but make sure there is enough room for a baby changing table and waste bin. You can find more disabled toilet information here.

Consider the width of walkways

Narrow walkways may allow you to add more shelves, however they can make your aisles inaccessible to wheelchair users. Try to keep walkways wider than 1.2 metres, and avoid leaving obstacles in them such as step ladders and boxes. Make sure that doorways are also wide enough to accommodate wheelchair users.

Make changing rooms accessible

If you sell clothing and have on-site changing rooms, consider whether these changing rooms are inclusive to those with disabilities. Many changing rooms are very small and not suitable for wheelchair users. Consider opting for larger changing rooms and add features such as grab bars and non-slip flooring to aid disabled customers.

Opt for a low counter/portable card reader

A less discussed issue that many disabled customers have is not being able to pay by card themselves due to high counters and fixed card readers. A lower counter – or a counter with a lower section – could help improve accessibility. Alternatively, you could simply opt for a mobile card reader that you can pass to customers in wheelchairs. This is typically preferable for many disabled customers than having to give a member of staff their card to use, as it helps maintain a sense of independence.