Accessibility in shopping centres and malls
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The changing face of shopping centres
Shopping is something that most people take for granted, they grab their wallet or purse and hop in the car, jump on a train or take the bus, it’s that easy. However, for anyone with a disability it is far from an “easy ride” and often takes days of careful research and planning.
Especially if it’s a first visit to a shopping centre. It can be quite overwhelming for anyone with a disability to try to ensure that they can navigate it safely. Even if it’s not a first visit, careful planning is still required to cater for any unexpected difficulty that might occur, such as arriving to find broken facilities or a lift that isn’t working.
Prior to visiting a shopping centre, time is spent figuring out if it has the right kind of facilities to accommodate an individual’s needs, finding answers to questions like does it have a ramp or lift for easy access, does it provide support if you are visually or hearing impaired etc.
These are all valid questions and in an ideal world you shouldn’t have to try to find out, however, as we all know, not everywhere is equal when it comes to providing the right support and access for people with disabilities especially when it comes to shopping experiences.
Thankfully, the UK has a reasonable record though it can range from area to area and from just about acceptable to fantastic. We are hoping that this will improve with the Government’s introduction of a compulsory change (to statutory legislation) to include Changing Places toilets.
These are to be installed in publicly accessible buildings and the Government have injected approx. £30 million into this programme ensuring that Changing Places toilets are available in hospitals, motorway service stations and newly built or majorly refurbished facilities which include shopping centres.
This has enabled big players in the UK shopping centre market such as the Trafford Centre to become a leader in disabled provisions. It offers those with sensory issues the opportunity to shop in a designated quieter hour and has plenty of disabled parking spaces. With a ceiling track hoist, Closomat toilet, moveable sink and emergency alarm among the improvements from the Changing Places grant, it’s certainly ensuring that it provides the right kind of support and is moving in the right direction, to ensure accessibility for all remains a key focus.
With the spending power of Britain’s disabled community estimated to be £249 billion (according to Purple), it’s certainly in their interests and that of the UK Government to keep the momentum going with this programme and to ensure that inclusion for all remains a top priority.
Looking further afield our European neighbours are competing to take pride of place as winners of the Access City Award organised by the European Commissioner and the European Disability Forum. This is given to cities that promote equal access to city life and have demonstrably improved disabled access including in public areas such as museums, parks and shopping centres.
In recent years it’s been won by Jönköping in Sweden (2021) and the most recent winner Luxembourg City (2022) all of which is encouraging. By providing accessibility via its transport systems means that it’s easier for disabled people to visit, shop and stay at some of the world’s most beautiful places that might have previously been inaccessible to them.
It would be remiss not to mention that there is also somewhere a little closer to home that has been ranked No.1 as the most accessible city in the world, and it’s so close! Dublin is not only a very beautiful city steeped in history, it is also incredibly well set up for disabled travellers, whether you are a wheelchair user, visually impaired or have a hidden disability. They have thought of it all.
Shopping here, has never been easier. Their famous Grafton Street houses St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre which has been fully approved by disabled visitors, offering plenty of disabled parking spaces, lifts and wheelchair accessible stores and restaurants.
Looking across the pond to see how our American friends fair, with approximately 20% of their population disabled, they appear to be in a similar situation with the UK in that their facilities are varied, and they face some economic challenges in bringing their malls up to acceptable standards.
However, they are looking at places such as the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City Mall, Arlington, Virginia to lead the way. Easily accessible from the subway, it has several entrances to accommodate varying disabilities and even provides complimentary wheelchairs.
Audio beacons provide visually impaired visitors with information about where points of interest are located such as entrances, exits etc., which makes it one of the forefront leaders in providing the right type of access for anyone with a disability.
It isn’t just Europe that the UK looks to in terms of shaping it’s future. With the changes in shopping habits, caused by a combination of the Covid pandemic, the economic downturn and the increase in online shopping, shopping centres are having to re-invent themselves to stay afloat.
Empty shops and boarded up buildings are likely to be regenerated in a different way. Taking inspiration from Asia, and in particular Japan, shopping centres will change to reflect consumer demands, trends and future needs.
It is possible we will see the usual clothes and shoe shops sitting side by side with shops, offices and homes. Doctors, dentists and pharmacies will be all onsite and supermarkets will no longer be out of town venues, but a fully integrated part of the shopping centre.
There could even be a surge in virtual shopping, which could make life for anyone with a disability so much easier. You can create your own avatar and “walk around” shopping in this 3D experience, without even having to leave your own home.
No matter what happens the future looks brighter than it ever has before, for everyone to get it right, to ensure access and accessibility for all, disabled or not, and we can’t wait to see what it looks like.
Resources:
https://riseadapt.co.uk/changing-places-for-shopping-centres/
https://www.changing-places.org/installtoilet/view/trafford-centre-manchester
https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1141&intPageId=5378&langId=en
https://www.thebimblers.com/dublin-wheelchair-friendly-city-europe/
With Christmas fast approaching you may be wondering where you can go that has good accessibility and where to add to your destination list for the future. We explore what makes a good shopping centre and how it compares with our European neighbours and even further afield.
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