More of a haze than lifting our gaze to achieve equality

The DDA came into existence eight years before I sustained my spinal injury (2003), which brought full-time wheelchair use to my life. 

I’d (honestly) describe myself as wilfully ignorant of the Act at that time. Retrospectively, I am one of my own case studies, which guided my initial work with AccessiblePRS. In 2001, I bought and fitted out a shell apartment overlooking the Thames. The architect gave me three sets of layouts, each of which I thought was poorly conceived, lacking any sense of celebrating the sense of space and indulgence in such a well located home. I asked the architect to draw up my layout. With the hindsight of lived experience as a wheelchair user, and professional experience within the property sector, I see that by seeking the optimum layout for non-disabled occupants, I had unwittingly created a near ideal layout for wheelchair users - including flow, light, spatial perception and even the size and position of the doors and layout of the bathrooms. This contrasted with my (then) resistance to changing the position of the sockets and switches in line with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Thirty years on, the good intention of the DDA has delivered few of the advantages we (individuals, families, communities, local authorities and the Treasury) could - would - have had, had the reach been thought through, and if there was an enacted vision on enforcement, so that this critical element wasn’t left to individuals. It’s like many divisive political issues: those selling it weren’t brave enough to tell the story of why it’s for everyone, not just one marginalised group. Many people don’t even know that it’s long since been replaced by the Equalities Act 2010, because its relevance wasn’t made relevant.

Thirty years on, we're still so focused on the problem that we refuse to lift our gaze and shift it to the resolution.

We campaign in the same way. We use the same rhetoric and narrative. They change nothing, in any meaningful way. We ask the wrong questions and tell the wrong stories in a depressingly unengaging with an unhelpful focus, reinforcing negative stereotypes and furthering resistance. 

Perhaps in the next three decades, individuals, organisations and politicians will value those fresh minds and ideas that are resolution-based - enough to give them (fully paid) office, and influence in multidisciplinary teams, enabling projects to have considerably more value for their spend.

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Guy founded AccessiblePRS (opens new window). AccessiblePRS is catalysing accessibility and inclusion in the housing sector.

For more on designing accessible and adaptable homes, visit the Housing LIN’s Design Hub.

This is the forth in a series of Housing LIN guest blogs leading up to the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act. The series will end in an extended HAPPI Hour webinar on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, where contributors will share expert insights and assess progress on disability, accessible housing, and the built environment.