Disability Code meeting at Fairhill

The Commission’s visit to Ballymena is part of its current campaign “Access for all”. As part of that campaign, the Equality Commission has heard from disabled users of transport services over the last year about some of the problems they encounter. These include simple things which can have a big impact – such as a bus moving off before a disabled person has found a seat or a taxi driver leaving a blind person to find her own way to a car she can’t see.

Launching a renewed initiative to remind service providers of their responsibilities, Chief Commissioner Bob Collins said: “It is clear that it isn’t always physical access to transport that’s the problem for disabled people – all too often it is the attitudes and behaviour they are confronted with.”

“We all find life easier if some simple courtesies are observed, like being patient or helpful, but for some people with disabilities, these simple courtesies can make the difference of being able to access a service or not. If you are a user of buses or taxis, then the attitude of drivers, dispatchers, and other passengers is key.”

To assist service providers the Commission provides free training and advice to service providers to help them improve the experiences of customers with disabilities, which includes a comprehensive Code of Practice.

To coincide with the publication of the new Code, the Commission is also reminding people with disabilities of their rights and of the range of free legal services that it can provide in its current campaign ‘Access for All’.

The Access for All campaign includes a series of Disability Transport road-shows in shopping centres around Northern Ireland from now until September.

Mr Collins added: “Part of our work under the United Nations convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities is to undertake work on accessibility of services and on attitudes. We plan to complete and publicise this later this year.”

“The law has gradually expanded protection of the rights of disabled people so as to ensure they can participate in society on equal terms. That means their ability to get to work, visit their friends or just go shopping.”

“If they have a problem we can help - from simple advice to help resolve an issue to assisting a person take a case to court.”

If you have a problem accessing public transport because of a disability then contact the Commission on 028 90 890 890 or email discriminationadvice@equalityni.org All queries are dealt with confidentially.

In addition to the new Code of Practice, the Equality Commission has produced six leaflets covering the different transport groups for service users and transport operators. It is also available for download from our website, www.equalityni.org and in accessible formats. There are versions in easyread, audio, Braille and large print. There is also a BSL signed version of the ‘your rights’ guide on the website. Commission staff are also happy to offer training sessions for transport providers on request, subject to numbers and feasibility.