According to an awareness campaign, UK shops and businesses are losing millions of pounds each month due to their inaccessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Purple Tuesday advocates for a necessary “shift in mindset” and encourages retailers to explore innovative methods for enhancing inclusivity, such as modifying sensory experiences to accommodate neurodivergent individuals.
Approximately 16 million people in the UK are living with disabilities, with a staggering 90% reporting that their shopping experiences are negatively impacted by insufficient accessibility, as indicated by the Business Disability Forum.
Mike Adams, the founder of Purple Tuesday, emphasizes that retailers and service providers need to adjust their operational practices to better engage disabled consumers.
The initiative trains businesses and organizations to enhance accessibility and inclusion standards in retail spaces, eateries, and public areas.
In a demonstration at Piccadilly Circus in central London, activists gathered to witness the iconic screens turning purple in tribute to Purple Tuesday, which is also celebrated in various countries around the globe.
Mr. Adams remarked to BBC London, “Among the disabled population, wheelchair users only account for 8%.
“It’s crucial for businesses to consider how they can assist the remaining 92%—individuals dealing with mental health issues, neurodiversity, and chronic health conditions—where many of the necessary accessibility adjustments are not physical installations like ramps and lifts but rather changes in mindset that typically incur minimal or no costs.”
Jamie Kerroosh, the chief healthcare officer at Boots’ Piccadilly location, mentioned that the health and beauty chain has collaborated with Purple Tuesday over the past year to enhance accessibility.
He shared with BBC London, “We have provided British Sign Language training to all our staff—52,000 colleagues now possess greater skills to communicate with all our customers, using simple phrases to create a more welcoming environment.
“We have also partnered with Purple to develop inclusive packaging.
“This initiative aims to help customers with physical challenges or those who are neurodivergent, as we gain insights through our research with Purple on how to facilitate easier product opening and usage.”
In its eighth year, Purple Tuesday highlighted research conducted by the University of Bristol and the Money Advice Trust, which showed that the collective purchasing power of disabled households in the UK amounts to £446 billion annually.
Government research released in July addressed the accessibility of private-sector goods and services for disabled individuals, revealing that 88% of disabled persons resorted to workaround solutions or compromises while trying to access retail businesses.
In response to the findings, the Business Disability Forum stated that businesses “are erecting barriers that hinder disabled individuals from spending more money with them.”
The advocacy organization added, “Making necessary adjustments and improving accessibility are fundamentally about eliminating obstacles that prevent individuals from purchasing from a business.
“If the moral and legal obligations acknowledging the equal value of all human beings don’t resonate with businesses, they should definitely recognize the financial incentive.”
