61% of people with a disability in Yorkshire admit they avoid going to their local high street
A study of 2,000 adults with some form of mental or physical disability shows more than four in 10 are unable to visit their local shops because there are facing barriers preventing a comfortable shopping experience.
Narrow aisles, small doorways and end-of-aisle special offer display stands are a nightmare for some.
But while physically disabled people are sometimes recognised for their inability to navigate a store or understand what services are available, for those with hidden impairments the story can be very different.
Of those people who have some form of mental disability, nine in 10 don't want to draw attention to their internal struggle, and 47 per cent find it difficult to communicate to others what their needs are.
In response to the research, Skipton Building Society have become the first financial services provider to partner with AccessAble, an organisation which enables people to view Detailed Accessibility Guides for a variety of their partners from hotels to shops and restaurants.
The partnership with AccessAble will allow members of the public to view thorough information on all of Skipton's branches, including everything from where the nearest disabled parking is to details to help customers to move around each of its branches.
Jacqui Bateson, Senior Proposition Manager, at Skipton Building Society said:
Other difficulties for those less physically able included a lack; of ramps (15 per cent), changing rooms which aren't big enough (18 per cent) and revolving doors (20 per cent).
While a further quarter don't like the idea of being looked at, 36 per cent can't cope with the noise levels and queuing is stressful for three in 10.
As such, six in 10 disabled adults with avoid going to the high street whenever they can.
Paralympian, Hannah Cockroft, MBE has partnered with Skipton Building Society to create a short film which looks at some of the accessibility issues on the high street, bringing to life the research and daily challenges that people often face with inaccessibility.
Commenting on her experience during filming, Hannah Crockroft said:
Yorkshire regions statistics:
61% of people with a physical or mental disability in Yorkshire admit they avoid going to their local high street.
When asked if they have ever turned back home before completing their shopping, because they found the experience too stressful - 45% said yes. And 27% said it has caused them to have a panic attack.
30% admit they sometimes are unable to carry out basic daily tasks such as posting a letter or buying milk due to the accessibility issues they face on the high street.
When it comes to the main causes of difficulties for accessibility in Yorkshire, people said the following:
32% Narrow shopping aisles
39% too many stairs
49% crowds of people
22% Narrow doorways
21% changing rooms been too small
11% more than one in 10 find music in stores is played too loud
Everyone will experience inaccessibility, at least once in their life.