Three out of four disabled people in the UK have experienced negative attitudes and behaviour in the last five years, according to a major survey by disability charity Scope. The research, involving over 4,000 disabled people, reveals a range of abuse from patronising comments to physical threats and unwanted photographs.
Naomi Baker, 24, from Eastbourne, was surrounded by a group of teenagers who threatened to tip her out of her wheelchair. 'There was a level of panic. I thought: Are they actually about to tip me out? Because if they try to do that, there is nothing I can do to stop them,' she said. A passer-by intervened, but the experience left her shaken.
Scope's survey found that one in 25 disabled people reported physical abuse, while 25% had been accused of faking their disability. Younger disabled people faced the worst treatment, with 22% of those aged 18-34 experiencing verbal abuse in the past five years, compared to 10% of those over 55.
Disability activist Shani Dhanda, 35, who has brittle bones and uses a wheelchair, said the abuse began when she was 16 and has continued. She faces frequent unwanted photographs and videos taken for social media. 'A lot of people take pictures and videos of me for Snapchat – not in a nice way,' she said.
The survey also found that almost a third of young disabled people avoid socialising after a negative experience, and 41% said such incidents reduced their confidence. Naomi Baker described a 'constant drip, drip of microaggressions' that makes her 'much more anxious about going out.'
