25/11/2025
Attention all business owners!
I went to Yum Cha recently, while in Melbourne. The food was Sublime, the service efficient and friendly, and the company outstanding. But, when I went to use the bathroom, Accessible toilets are being used for storage. There was so much crap in there, you could barely open the door. Yep, my passage was completely blocked. Well, that presented a wee problem, and I’ll admit, I did get a little sh*tty. Eventually, and with a bit of pushing and squeezing the mission was accomplished. Although, I was totally pi**ed off with the whole situation.
And, it’s not only hospitality venues I’ve experienced this in. Recently an allied health provider in Perth told me that, while they do have an accessible bathroom, they also use it as a storage cupboard. Because, “ it’s only there to meet a requirement.”
This is not only discrimination, Disrespectful, and ablest towards disabled people. It’s also in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act and a human rights violation, which totally stinks!
Businesses need to do better. Not just to avoid complaints and possible negative repercussions. But because disabled customers are valuable to your business, and we can choose where we spend our money. Further, these accommodations are not a luxury. For some they are the only option.
Please do better. It’s not that much of a strain.
If you’d like any further information, here is a resource I found that might be helpful:
Access for all: Improving accessibility for consumers with disability | Australian Human Rights Commission
