What is pan disability and why does it matter?
All your business needs to know
When it comes to the disability space, things can feel a bit daunting at the best of times. There’s a whole other language, legal obligations, as well as a multiplicity of experiences to contend with - and it can feel a bit confusing, something we fear getting wrong with potential negative repercussions.
Herein lies a potential solution - to take a pan disability approach in all things accessibility, when it comes to the disability space. But just what does this mean, why does it matter, and how can an organisation actualise this approach?
Here at AccessAble, we have you covered - with an explainer, as well as some practical steps to take.
What is pan disability?
In a nutshell, a pan disability approach to all things access by a business essentially means ‘relating to all forms of human disability’. Unlike the universal signage of the wheelchair - sometimes found on an accessible bathroom door - disability is a multi-faceted experience, present in a multiplicity of different forms.
Our very own David Livermore explains what this multi-faceted approach means, and how it can impact a business.
Why does this matter?
Disability is not a monolith - meaning that an approach to accessibility, for example, may look different dependent on the individual. So, rather than ensuring all measures, say, in a shop or hospitality venue stop at a step free entrance, this means thinking about a range of conditions under the title of ‘disability’, and how access can look. It means to be more inclusive, and therefore more accommodating.
Thanks to the Equality Act, an autistic person is considered to be disabled in the letter of the law. They may not necessarily use a wheelchair - as this is usually associated with other conditions. But accessibility to this demographic may look like lowering the lights, turning off music, offering up quiet spaces, etc.
To be more inclusive is the ultimate aim.
Measures like this also take into account the Purple Pound, a metric that measures the total economic spending power of disabled households in the UK. 24% of the population are counted as disabled - but this spending power is largely untapped, due to accessibility issues. However, £2 billion is estimated to be lost each month on the high street, thanks to the lack of access and the set up.
And, let’s be honest, it gets beyond exhausting, to just have to navigate arbitrary barriers - and to be expected to advocate for yourself, or to always have someone with you in to do that for you. Disabled people can be independent human beings, too!
Businesses, and other organisations: there is a pie to be had, by being inclusive. And it is worth a significant amount of money.
How to apply it
Disability is a fluid, fluctuating concept - and a business needs to think outside the ‘box’ of the universal signing of a wheelchair, in order to think about how to take a pan disability approach to disability. Some easy steps to take can be:
Read up about disability, the history, and what it means. Being Heumann by Judy Heumann, the mother of the disability rights movement in the US, is a good place to start - and it will show you what is meant by taking this approach, such as when it comes to moving through different settings. We have a list of recommendations for you, too!
Engage with disability media to start to understand what this is like a bit more. May we suggest Then Barbara Met Alan, something still available on BBC iPlayer? This is a love story, and how equal rights were created in law - with the idea of creating a world where there is not a need for ‘charitable cases’, which is a patronising stance.
Have a look at the term inspiration porn, coined by activist Stella Young in her TED talk - and think about how this applies in any interaction.
Follow disabled content creators to educate yourself; Nina Tame does a lot around navigation as a wheelchair user on Instagram.
Take advantage of resources and sign up for implementation! AccessAble offers a range of services - such as our Detailed Access Guides, as well as consultancy for businesses and other organisations. Just click reply to this email to take advantage of what we have to offer as the UK’s largest provider of accessibility information.
Listen, take feedback on board, forget being defensive, and instead be willing to learn.
And resources?
The internet is a gold mine of resources - and where else is a better place to get started? May we humbly suggest starting with our Detailed Access Guides? They offer detailed and accurate information - which enables autonomy and agency if you have a disability. You can visit them here to find out more. We also have a consultancy service - and this very Substack newsletter will also have incoming recommendations, too!