Lockdown was considerably harder for disabled people in the UK due to inaccessible housing. That is the key finding of a new YouGov report commissioned by housing association Habinteg.
Disabled people were seventeen times more likely to be unable to undertake routine activities without assistance during lockdown. We were three times more likely to have suffered impaired wellbeing as a result of our housing situation than non-disabled people. And two-fifths of disabled people were unable to fully use their bathrooms or kitchens without assistance.
DR UK’s Head of Policy Fazilet Hadi said: “A quarter of the UK’s 14 million disabled people do not have a home which meets their needs. The government has started its consultation now on improving accessibility standards for new-build homes. It is critical it keeps the bar high on the new standards that will result from this. Disabled people need adaptable homes which work for all accessibility requirements, and for life.”
Read the key findings here: https://www.habinteg.org.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n2734
Read the government’s consultation information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/raising-accessibility-standards-for-new-homes