HAS anyone noticed any changes in disability access since the new regulations came into force on October 1?

These were well overdue and have hopefully made shops and supermarkets more aware of disability issues and needs.

Perhaps staff training should incorporate and reflect this. As a disabled person, I have had many nightmarish experiences, especially in some superstores.

Although the supermarkets generally are helpful sometimes they are not. Having an artificial hand, I dread the checkout because struggling to open those wretched plastic bags I can often end up wrestling them like a madman.

If I have a queue behind me the cashier has on numerous occasions then served the next customer who promptly has elbowed me out of the way.

Defence tactic one is not to pay the cashier until my bags are filled; defence tactic two is to politely ask the vacant looking cashier to help me and the ultimate defence: refuse to pay and leave the goods and the store firmly behind!

Although empathy or kindness cannot be taught, professional conduct by their staff should be a matter of training within these stores.

Phil Shepherdson

Chantry Close,

Woodthorpe,

York.

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, October 27, 2004