Today I enquired about my insurance. I was sent a pdf format which was not alterable. On asking for an alternative version I could type into, I was told they didn't have one.

The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.

All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.

Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):

1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.

I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.

Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.

Tags:business | alternative formats

I had the potential for a rather large contract in Inner London. I was after some business advice and eventually got through to Maidstone Chamber of Commerce. I spoke to a very helpful person (who seemed to think I did building access audits when I said 'Disability Equality' ). He quickly made an appointment for me to see firstly himself (to talk about the Chamber) and secondly to speak to a business advisor. I asked about wheelchair access and I was told I could get in fine.

It was a miserable, rainy day and I managed to get parking in a public car park across the road.

It would have been a bit more pleasant if the helpful chap had told me there was parking right outside the door. Still, my PA opened the door and we took a seat.

The chap I was seeing was on the phone and the second chap looked thoughtful as he gazed up at us from across the room.

Eventually he came over. By that, I mean he got up, walked straight past me and over to my PA.

"You must be Louise", he said.
"No, Louise is over there", came the reply from my PA.
"Oh", said the man looking confused as he spun round to look at me.

Great, I thought, I was very offended. Given the option of two people - one of whom was going to be the customer looking for business advice - the man chose to rule me out.

Eventually I had my first appointment - amidst a conversation opener that went along the lines of:

"How often do you have to charge it? Does it go far?"
"Oh my wheelchair, no it depends how far I have been."
"You could charge it up with the socket over there if you need to."

I wanted to go down the lines of 'that's not really appropriate' as a way to greet a wheelchair user. The reality was he probably did not know any better and just served to prove how much Equality Training is needed.

Would you go up to a customer and open the conversation with ' how far can you walk in a day without getting tired... have you walked far today.... you can take a rest over there...'?

So many people start off a conversation like that, where there is simply no need.

Wheels are an equivalent of legs. They get you from A to B. My wheelchair is a part of me - part of my body. If you wouldn't comment on someone's legs - then please don't comment on my wheels.

Tags:business