Flick Williams, a visually impaired wheelchair user, described the case as a “David and Goliath fight” which showed “disabled people don’t have to just sit back and accept discrimination”.
An M&S spokesperson told The Press it is “committed to making our stores accessible to all our customers” and is “grateful for Ms Williams’ engagement on how we can continue to improve accessibility in store”.
Ms Williams’ legal action against the supermarket giant followed a visit to the M&S food hall at the Vangarde Centre last June.
She said she had arrived at the store to shop for herself and her 91-year-old mother but found a refurbishment had resulted in the chiller cabinets becoming enclosed and behind closed doors.
The change, she said, meant it was “impossible” for her to pull the door open and reach into the cabinets while in her wheelchair.
“I could not even find the items I wanted because the doors were misted up,” she said.
“And then trying to open the doors proved impossible as I couldn’t manoeuvre my wheelchair, pull the door and reach in all at the same time. I ran out of arms!”
Ms Williams said she tried to locate a member of staff to assist, then found that the store’s customer service desk had been removed during the refurbishment.
“I was frustrated that there was nobody available to help me, so I left the store without being able to make a purchase,” she said.
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