Smarter businesses and savvy shopping could reduce the extra living costs faced by disabled people, the head of a new commission has said.
A year-long study into the premium paid by disabled people has been unveiled.
The commission’s chairman Robin Hindle Fisher has said he wants to expose unscrupulous firms overcharging disabled people.
He said there is scope for reputable firms to attract the “purple pound” – the spending power of disabled people.
Mr Hindle Fisher is chairman of the Extra Costs Commission, launched by the charity Scope.
Costs to contribute
The commission will look at the costs faced by disabled people ranging from a higher transport bill to the price of specialist equipment.
Scope claims that this living costs premium facing disabled people amounts to £550 a month. This, it claims, is not covered by the typical total of £360 a month available to people through the main benefits to which they are entitled.
That is a position familiar to Jean Eveleigh. She has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which leaves her prone to dislocation of her joints and also affects her digestive system.
She said she has had to buy specialist equipment including wrist splints and a foldable walking frame. Even an umbrella that clipped to her wheelchair was much more expensive then a regular brolly, she said.
Read more: bbc.co.uk
We at My Way Access would love to hear your views on the findings of this commission. Do you agree with Robin Hindle Fisher?