ATTITUDES towards disability in Yorkshire are “shocking”, according to a charity chief.

The survey, carried out by development charity ADD International, also found that six out of ten people surveyed did not have a friend, family member or colleague who was disabled, despite about 15 per cent of the population – 8.7 million – being registered disabled.

It also claimed almost half the population in Yorkshire did not consider the needs of disabled people.

Tim Wainwright, ADD’s chief executive, said: “These new statistics are quite shocking.

“It shows just how much has to be done both in the UK and in the rest of the world to ensure that disabled people are recognised and can claim the rights to which they are entitled – the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

“Their lives are a daily struggle and this is not acceptable.”

When asked, nearly half of people in Yorkshire and the Humber (47 per cent) admitted they did not often consider the needs of disabled people, while four in ten (40 per cent) said they had felt awkward around a disabled person.

Lynn Jeffries, a disability campaigner with the York Independent Living Network, said: “To me, the figures show that it’s possible the people surveyed might not be aware of a friend’s impairment. There’s such a wide spectrum of impairments, not just physical, but mental or sensory too.

“It’s not always as obvious as seeing someone with a chair or sticks.

“And it’s entirely possible that a friend with an impairment may choose not to share it with people for fear of the reaction or causing their friend to feel awkward – this is something we have to combat.”

The survey was supported by disability organisations the National Centre for Independent Living and RADA. It also found one in three said they felt pity or shame towards disabled people, but the majority (58 per cent) respected them.

In October, The Press showed that many shops and services across York were still failing to provide access to customers requiring disabled access, six years on from landmark legislation and despite promising to address the issue.