PHIL FRIEND

Ever tried using a parcel return point from a wheelchair? I did recently — or rather, I tried to. What followed was a lesson in how clever ideas can become barriers when inclusion isn’t part of the plan. At my local Morrisons, there’s a shiny new self-service parcel drop-off point tucked away at the back of the garage forecourt. There’s no dedicated parking for it, so the only option is to stop in the forecourt itself. The service road leading to the supermarket is on a bend,

Every so often, another report lands reminding us that disabled people still travel far less than everyone else. The latest research from the National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT) and the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) shows that disabled people make 38% fewer journeys than non-disabled people — and that figure hasn’t changed in over ten years. You’d think that after decades of work on accessibility, that gap would be closing. But NCAT’s new report

On 10 September, The Times ran a piece questioning the Motability scheme. It warned that “one in five new cars sold in Britain are now bought by Motability … given £2.8 billion in taxpayer cash each year.” Read the article here It’s a dramatic claim. The picture painted is one of disabled people cruising around in luxury cars at public expense. It makes good copy. But it doesn’t match the reality. Here’s the first thing to understand. Motability doesn’t decide who qualifies.