Christmas shopping and disability

Sam_Alumni · November 2016

For many people, the thought of heading out on Black Friday to fight the masses and the sights of crowds of people willing to push over another human being in order to obtain a cut price 90” smart TV is not an attractive one.

For others, it is a chance to save money and get Christmas shopping done on a budget. In these times of austerity when purses are being squeezed tighter than ever, the ability to purchase necessary and luxury items on the cheap is a huge advantage.

It is all personal choice, but what about when that choice is taken away from you because of disability?

Black Friday, along with much of the Christmas shopping rush can be so inaccessible for anyone but non-disabled people. A person with medical conditions, either physical or mental may not be able to queue for hours waiting for shops to open, they may not be able to compete with the pushing and shoving of fellow festive consumers, they may not even be able to gain access to the shop at all, let alone navigate the tight, cramped aisles between crowded shelves.

A government disability audit in 2014 found:

Less than a third of department stores have accessible changing rooms.
Two thirds of retail staff have no training in how to help disabled customers
A third of department stores do not have an accessible toilet.
20% of high street shops have no ramps for wheelchairs
Only 15% of retailers have hearing loops for shoppers with hearing impairments.

Shopping for Christmas can be a huge reminder of how many barriers are in place for disabled people. If you have an illness or disability, it can be hard to have the strength to simply cover the miles of shopping centre walkways.

So what can we do about it?

Shop online

From groceries to gifts, search for deals online and find the best free or cheap delivery deals.

Be prepared

Plan ahead and shop in advance, look for the deals that come up throughout the year and take advantage of them. This also helps with budgeting and means you can shop at quieter times.

Know your rights

The Equality Act 2010 calls that shops must take positive steps to remove the barriers you face because of your disability. This is to ensure you receive the same services, as far as this is possible, as someone who's not disabled.

What do you think? Do you have any tips for dealing with Christmas shopping? Get involved in the discussion now.

VioletFenn · November 2016

As an autistic adult, I have to say that the idea of fighting the crowds to do my Christmas shopping is really unnerving. I manage by doing the bulk of it online and any shopping I absolutely have to do in person is done on weekdays in the early morning so it's not too busy. I write a list of exactly what I need from where, and work out a route. Planning is the key! I've long ago given up on things like Black Friday deals, because the speed at which they have to be 'caught' tends to wrong-foot me, but I try to keep an eye out for 'normal' deals from about September onwards with an eye to Christmas presents. I have to say that mail order is an absolute lifesaver.

[Deleted User] · November 2016

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Sam_Alumni · November 2016

Absolutely! Disabilities just don't seem to be taken into consideration.

Also welcome to the community @VioletFenn - thanks for joining the conversation!

[Deleted User] · November 2016

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Sam_Alumni · November 2016

@mumof3boys I noticed that our local cinema is offering Autism Friendly Screenings and thought it was a brilliant idea! I am a film lover and if it can be made accessible for all, then it has to be a great thing. Have you been to any showings? How was it?

[Deleted User] · November 2016

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Sam_Alumni · November 2016

Ahh ok, still a great idea though and like you say, if cinemas can do it, it would be good for shops to follow suit.

I know Asda and Toys r us have held austism friendly sessions but I dont think they are a regular thing.

VioletFenn · November 2016

Sam_Scope said:

Absolutely! Disabilities just don't seem to be taken into consideration.

Also welcome to the community @VioletFenn - thanks for joining the conversation!

Thank you! I've just jumped in without thinking (typical) - I shall go do an introductory post as soon as I figure out where it's supposed to be...

Sam_Alumni · November 2016

There is a welcome category here @VioletFenn but feel free to jump in wherever you like!

[Deleted User] · November 2016

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Sam_Alumni · November 2016

Absolutely! I hope everyone feels they can comment and share on here

[Deleted User] · November 2016

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bam · November 2016

You know I do the same thing and when I tell somebody I do that they look at me oddly. They just don't seem to understand. I tried to go over early in the morning and I try to plan everything out.

3_SAMagnify1 · December 2016

Black Friday is rather irrelevant to me as I'm not out on Fridays because generally my schedule is planned to avoid that day. Also I don't have credit cards and as I'm a single female I don't like having tradesmen in my flat when I a carer with me. my way around this is to get what I need before Christmas and or order online via one of my carers which the manager who used to come out to me. The cost is then added to my bill. I hasten to add that I do not work and I don't send
I do send cards but as cards fit into the bag on my walking frame they can be purchased after church on Sunday which is generally speaking the other day I am out. My grocery shop is generally done on separate with another day when I go to town it's just about leisure and or/ appointments usually Wednesday for the for former and Thursday for the latter.

Chris_Alumni · December 2016

Hi all, we're putting together some Christmas tips over here at the moment - if you've got any tips to share about anything, from shopping with mobility issues to ensuring that Christmas day is special for children with autism, please do post a comment on our tips thread.

letay57 · December 2016

The lighting in shopping centre's severly affects me. I have Blepharospasm/Dystonia and going from one type of light to another makes my eye spasms worse to the point where they are closed, clamped shut which means I am then functionally blind. I use a white cane but shopping isn't easy even though I can see a bit. I avoid shops as much as possible these days. Anyone else have this problem? I usually end up knocking things off shelves or bumping into clothes rails etc.Escalators are a nightmare when your eyes are closed so rarely go upstairs in shops.No assistants around to help especially this time of year.

[Deleted User] · December 2016

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letay57 · December 2016

Yes. The darkness suits me better these days. The tv screen irritates my eyes as well so can't watch tv and I have tinted lenses in my reading glasses. Are you sensitive to light too?

[Deleted User] · December 2016

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3_SAMagnify1 · December 2016

I have sight impairment but my difficulty is with from changing light conditions, so sun light to shadow etc depth Kerbs/Steps and in some situations changing ground surface. When I'm not with a carer (generally Sundays after Church I don't go to shops that don't have lifts or are one one level.

MSmum99 · December 2016

Support your local shops. Mine have gone out of the way to improve access when asked or will bring things out to me. I also shop online and use 'gives you live' to raise money for my yoga mobility group when shopping - can choose your fave charity to support - how about Scope? Very simple to use. I avoid the shops in town that are overcrowded with extra displays.

JadeB · December 2016

There is nothing I hate more than a crowded shopping centre, at any time of year. I don't appear to have a disability at first glance so people are not at all considerate or carful. The amount of times I have thought of wearing a t shirt saying 'I have cerebral palsy please be mindful.' Just so people don't step on my feet, knock me over and push me about x

Fundamentalist · December 2016

Hi from Fm. If shops like asda are going to have so-called "autism friendly hours" then it's not anywhere near enough just turning off machines and escalators etc., Like I wrote and told them recently they need to keep their staff from lurching into raucous cackling fits as well as I suffer with misophonia which has some similarities with autism in that it makes me far too sensitive to people's appalling behaviour, especially maniac cackling fits which are all too common in supermarkets, especially at the checkout where you're stuck until you finish your transaction, that's when they pounce and take full advantage which absolutely enrages me and all too frequently this leads me into an angry confrontation with the staff and because of that I've ended up permanently forced out of several shops and supermarkets far and wide. Fm.

mossycow · January 2017

I do mystery shopping and feedback from a wheelchair user point of view. Often its staff training and attitude that makes a difference to me. Like people understanding I don't want individual bits brought to me...I want to be able to see everything.

Also, (hi @Fundamentalist - sorry, i just said this to you on another thread) I am hypersensitivity to touch and hate the idea of people all round my wheelchair. I'd never heard the word misophonia ... but I do find lots of sounds too hard now. They make me anxious, imagine horrible things and really angry. Black friday sound like hell.,

But whizzing around town is fun! And I enjoy meeting people

I'd love tips on how to carry shopping on a wheelchair!!!

Christmas shopping and disability

A government disability audit in 2014 found:

So what can we do about it?

Replies

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