Stats

  • There are over 11 million people with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability.
  • The most commonly-reported impairments are those that affect mobility, lifting or carrying.[1]
  • There are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK. 8 per cent of children are disabled, 19 per cent of working age adults are disabled, 45 per cent of pension age adults are disabled.[2]
  • After housing costs, the proportion of working age disabled people living in poverty (28 per cent) is higher than the proportion of working age non-disabled people (18 per cent).[3]
  • Life costs you £570 more on average a month if you’re disabled.[4]
  • Over a quarter of disabled people say that they do not frequently have choice and control over their daily lives.[5]
  • Around a third of disabled people experience difficulties related to their impairment in accessing public, commercial and leisure goods and services.[6]
  • The spending power of families with at least one disabled person is estimated by the Government to be over £200 billion a year.[7]
  • Disabled audiences are over-represented amongst video buyers.[8]

[1] ONS Opinions Survey 2011
[2] Family Resources Survey 2016/17
[3] Households Below Average Income, 2015-16
[4] Scope: The disability price tag
[5] ONS Opinions Survey 2011
[6] ONS Opinions Survey 2010
[7] Department for Work and Pensions
[8] BFI Audiences Research and Statistics 2015

Organisations

Scope exists to make this country a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Disability Rights UK want a society where everyone can participate equally.

Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE) provides consultancy, training, research and publications on building design and management to meet all user needs, including disabled and older people.

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the UK’s leading charity supporting blind and partially sighted people.

Action on Hearing Loss supports and helps people experiencing hearing loss, so they can take back control and live the live they choose.

Contact supports families with the best possible guidance and information. They bring families together to support each other, and help families to campaign, volunteer and fundraise to improve life for themselves and others.

Disability Arts has an extensive database of cinema and arts organisations

Sensory Trust also has a useful list

Access to live music for disabled audiences: Glastonbury Festival & Band on the Wall