A wheelchair-user had to pull himself up three flights of stairs to take his driving theory test, an experience which the BBC reports left him feeling “very disappointed and angry” and "completely left out".
Sam Law, who had a spinal stroke as a teenager, had booked a theory test and had specified he used a wheelchair at the point of booking. Staff at the centre advised him to go home and rebook another test. "It shouldn't be a case of 'you need to go to another centre'," he said.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said it was "extremely sorry for the unacceptable distress".
A spokesman said it was investigating as a matter of urgency, adding: "We want everyone who is able, to take any driving test and will always make reasonable adjustments for people who are disabled and want to pass their theory or practical exam."
DR UK’s Head of Policy Fazilet Hadi said: “Clearly the DVSA does not make reasonable adjustments for disabled people who need to take their tests. The Equality Act is clear that reasonable adjustments must be made for disabled people. There is no excuse, 25 years on from the Disability Discrimination Act, for staff acting on behalf of government agencies to be failing disabled people like this and acting unlawfully. It is high time, with the government’s National Strategy for Disabled People set for release soon, that the government commits to an end date for the lack of accessibility for all buildings used in its name.”