Population statistics
Prevalence data | Demand & exclusion
No demand
- The user is not required to walk or use steps, or to balance on own for any period, or to perform any bending tasks
Low demand
The user is required to have sufficient ability to do things like
- Walk 50 metres (≈ 50 yds) without stopping
- Ascend/descend a flight of 12 steps on own, using a handrail and resting; balance for short periods without holding on to something
- Bend down far enough to touch knees, and then straighten up again
Moderate demand
The user is required to have sufficient ability to do things like
- Walk 175 metres (≈ 200 yds) without stopping
- Ascend / descend a flight of 12 stairs on own, without rests (but using a handrail); or balance for long periods without holding on to something
- Bend down to pick something up from the floor, and then straighten up again
High demand
The user is required to have sufficient ability to do things like
- Walk 350 metres (≈ 400 yds) without stopping
- Ascend / descend a flight of 12 steps on own, without handrails and without resting
- Bend down to use a dustpan and brush, and then straighten up again
Graph showing the number of people who would be excluded due to various levels of locomotion demand
Important Note
These statements refer to the level of locomotion ability that a product or service demands, in order to use it. For a particular demand level, the 1996/97 Disability Follow-up Survey is used to calculate the total number of people who do not have this level of ability, and will therefore be excluded. The GB adult population was 45.6 million people at the time of the survey. Please see the Framework section for more detail.
Walking demands assume that any desired walking aids will be used, but no-one else is assisting. Bending demands assume that something is available to hold on to.