A West Lothian charity is launching a secret shopper campaign to help highlight the issues disabled people face in day-to-day life.
Encouraging improvements
Disability West Lothian invites volunteers to document their journeys to shops and restaurants using dictaphones and cameras. The findings from these journeys will then be presented to West Lothian Council in the hope of encouraging improvements to the local area.
“We find that when disabled people are trying to go about their day-to-day business they are encountering problems.”
The campaign has been launched after Fiona McKeon, the charity’s Community Equality Officer, claimed that many disabled people are reluctant to leave their homes.
She said: “We find that when disabled people are trying to go about their day-to-day business they are encountering problems.
“We’ve got a woman in her late thirties who rarely leaves the house because she just thinks it’s too hard. There’s young people who can’t leave the house because there are no dropped kerbs for example.”
Empower people
The campaign aims to empower people to think: ‘Why can’t I do what everybody else does?’ It is hoped it will have an impact on the accessibility of local retailers and organisations.
Volunteers from all areas of West Lothian are still being sought for the project which begins in late August. If you are interested in taking part you can call 01506 774030 or email enquiries@dwl.demon.co.uk.
For more information visit the Disability West Lothian website.
