Thirty years after the Disability Discrimination Act, Disabled People Are Still Fighting for Equal Access

The 2024 Euan’s Guide Access Survey has uncovered an entire generation that has been failed by disabled access, despite 2025 being the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and fifteen years since its replacement, the Equality Act 2010.

70% of respondents said the lack of disabled access has directly affected their goals, plans or aspirations. 

The Euan's Guide Access Survey is the UK’s largest and longest-running survey on disabled access, Operations with over 6,500 participants, 68% of whom identify as a disabled person.

Of the thousands of respondents 70% said the lack of disabled access has directly affected their goals, plans or aspirations - and there is little hope for the future with only 7% feeling positive about the new government, showing a need for help from the public and businesses.

The 2024 Access Survey data also reports that 78% of respondents are not confident about visiting new places when thinking about accessibility and 73% of respondents have come across an accessible toilet that they’ve been unable to use.

Three-decade milestone

This year’s Access Survey results mark 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act and its successor, the Equality Act, and yet the results reveal that disabled people still face significant daily accessible barriers, compromising their quality of life and potential.

Widespread failures

The survey results reveal widespread failures in public venues, transport, and social inclusion, with many respondents expressing frustration, exhaustion, and isolation due to ongoing inaccessibility. 

Real stories, real struggles

Some comments received include: 

“It sucks, people look at you and think you're a waste of space.”

“I feel like a second-class citizen. People don’t see why I might need to use an accessible toilet urgently, then maybe clean it first.”

“It’s easier to just not go out.”

“I had tickets to an event but was told the venue was only accessible for certain events – not the one I had tickets for.”

“I avoid public transport as I’ve been left behind too many times because the assistance I booked never turned up.”

Kiki MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide, said: “The results of the 2024 Access Survey paint a frustrating but familiar picture, even 30 years after the first legislation was put in place, disabled people are still having to fight for disabled access information and access to everyday places. Whether it’s arriving at a ‘wheelchair-accessible’ restaurant only to find a step and no ramp or being stranded at a train station with no assistance, these experiences are unacceptable. Accessibility should be a right, not a privilege.”

Disabled access information - how to help

Euan’s Guide is calling on the public, businesses, policymakers, and local authorities to take immediate steps to improve disabled access information. 

• Submit a disabled access review on EuansGuide.com - you don’t have to be an expert, just share what you find at your local coffee shop, supermarket, or play park.
• List venues and businesses for free on EuansGuide.com to reach tens of thousands of disabled people looking for disabled access information and great places to go.

The 2024 Euan's Guide Access Survey results can be found at https://www.euansguide.com/access-survey/

Tags: Access Survey, 2024 access survey, motability operations, motability scheme, disabled acccess, disabled access information, Equality Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Press