Inclusive Public Space Project

Who this Guide is for

This guide is for you if you have had accessibility-related problems while walking or wheeling around city streets. It aims to help you think about possible ways of taking action to tackle the problem or get compensation. View full version of the guide.

It includes contact details and links to further information and sources of guidance. If you are thinking about taking legal action, you should always seek legal advice – neither this summary guide nor the full version of it are substitutes for legal advice.

A helpful starting point for taking action to change city streets is the ‘social model of disability’, which helps us (as disabled people) to think of accessibility-related problems as being caused by the actions or inactions of others (both organisations and individuals) instead of thinking of them as being caused by our inability to see, to walk, to hear etc. For anybody wanting to try to remove an accessibility-related problem, the following actions and options are worth considering:

1 Thinking About the Problem and its Impact

1.1 Evidencing the Problem

Note the address of the problem and/or use the What Three Words app.
Take a photo or video of the problem.
Take the contact details of witnesses who saw you struggling with the problem.

1.2 Evidencing how the problem affected you

Doctors note containing any physical/emotional/psychological injury you experienced.
personal note, together with any accompanying evidence, of how the problem affected your plans and activities on the day and/or longer term.
Personal note of the date/ dates of the harms andd ongoing harm/inconvenience/limitation caused.

1.3 Identifying people/organisations responsible for the problem

Think about:
Who could have done something that would have stopped the problem happening or made it less serious?
Who could do something differently which would remove the problem or make it less serious?

2. Thinking About Possible Types of Action

Consider what you want any action you take to achieve, and how much time, energy and money you want to put in? Possible types of action include:

2.1 Reporting the Problem

Depending on what the problem is, consider reporting it to:

The person in your neighbourhood causing the problem. Consider asking a friend or other supporter to accompany you, or even do this on your behalf if you are concerned about possible bad reactions.
Your local authority.
Fix My Street, which sends a report to your local council.

2.2 Taking Collective Action

If you want to work with others to create change, consider contacting and joining national and/or local organisations, as it’s likely that they are working on similar issues.

2.3 Raising Public Awareness

mainstream media such as local newspapers, radio or television;
social media such as Blue Sky or Facebook Groups.

2.4 Seeking help from your Local Elected Officials in Parliament or devolved government

2.5 If you think the problem amounts to a crime, you can report it to the police.

2.6 Bringing a Case for Disability Discrimination

If you think you might have a case for disability discrimination, consider seeking additional information or advice from the:

2.7 Bringing a Case for Negligence/Delict and Related Wrongs

For injuries and other harm (eg economic loss) because of someone’s lack of care, seek legal advice about ‘negligence’ (England and Wales) or ‘delict’ (Scotland) from the