Disabled access and help with boarding trains

[whole diary]

[old original]

In todays news....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17522232

[vacmanfan]

Some of the rules and regulations around assisted travel are crazy, which can lead to a situation where by the member of staff involved looks like they are not willing to help when that is not the case at all.

If there wasn't so much red tape and political correctness around people with disabilities I think they would get a much, much better service. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wandering slightly off topic, but still relevant, and just as an example: many's the time I've found myself helping lone mothers with a babe in arms and a cumbersome pushchair up the steep flight of steps to platform 1 at Nailsea & Backwell. (I tend to offer to carry the pushchair, rather than the baby, simply out of personal preference.) 

Indeed, bignosemac grinned at my latest efforts, when he met me off the arriving train, just a week ago.

[vacmanfan]

I always help too, but I always wonder what would happen to me if something were to happen?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Well, I also wonder (afterwards) about what would happen if for example I'd tripped and broken my jaw on the steps during such an offer of assistance.

And I don't have an answer: would I sue?  I did offer to help, after all.

[Chris from Nailsea]

And another incident - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Disabled sailor Geoff Holt MBE barred from train

The first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the Atlantic has described his rage at being prevented from boarding an Isle of Wight train.

Geoff Holt said he was told by a guard his electric wheelchair was not allowed on board as it would damage the floor.

Mr Holt, who was later allowed to board, claims the guard implied he was a liar, and cut his leg with a ramp.

The Stagecoach Group said an employee had been suspended and a senior manager had apologised to Mr Holt.

British Transport Police have begun an investigation.

On his blog, Mr Holt, from Shedfield, Hampshire, wrote: "I can't recall the last time that I was so angry and upset I was physically shaking, emotion choking my voice, a sense of genuine rage. That was until I took the train from Ryde Pier to Ryde Esplanade on Saturday 31st March."

Mr Holt, who completed his 2,700-mile (4,345km) journey in 2010, told how a guard, who identified himself only as "Guard 1003" initially refused to let him board the 4:45pm train back to Ryde Esplanade.

In his blog, Mr Holt wrote: "Why? To quote Guard 1003, pointing at my wheelchair: 'Those things aren't allowed on these trains, they will damage the floors'."

Mr Holt, who has been in a wheelchair since a swimming accident 27 years ago, continued: "Reminding myself this was 2012, not 1912, this was public transport and and this was the year the Paralympics were coming to Britain, the red mist was descending."

Mr Holt claims the guard not only insinuated he was a liar when he told him he had made the same journey nine hours earlier but also dropped the disabled metal ramp on his leg and foot when he eventually relented and allowed him to board.

"And with that simple, easy manoeuvre which took him only 10 seconds, I was on the train. All the other passengers looked on in disbelief but, in typical British fashion, did nothing."

When the train arrived at Ryde Esplanade three minutes later, Mr Holt admits he swore at the guard because he felt "violated and dehumanised".

In his blog he continued: "He had publicly humiliated me, he had publicly degraded me and he had made me feel like a worthless piece of dirt... it was quite simply the most disgusting way to treat another human being, let alone a disabled one."

A Stagecoach Group spokesperson said: "We are absolutely horrified at the events Mr Holt has described. We welcome electric wheelchairs on our services and it is very important to us that all of our passengers feel welcome on our network. We are taking this matter very seriously and have already launched an investigation."

[EBrown]

Geoff has responded on his blog to SWTs^▸ (South West Trains) actions.

South West Trains
Thank you for the hundreds of messages of support I have received from around the world.
I have decided to take down my blog post.  On Saturday 31st March, I experienced what, in my mind was a completely unacceptable act of discrimination and an act of common assault. That feeling of outrage has not gone away. Through the internet and the media, my story has caused an outcry from able-bodied and disabled people alike, and rightly so.
Since then, SWT have suspended the guard concerned and started their own internal investigation. I have spoken with senior management at SWT and I have a meeting arranged with them tomorrow morning (Wednesday 4th). They have apologised sincerely.
British Transport Police have logged my report of assault and await my decision as to whether to proceed on a charge of common assault.  By all accounts, from the CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) evidence, the injury to my leg and from statements already taken, there is considerable weight to my allegations.
However, I am mindful of how I felt on Saturday when I was treated so unfairly and would not wish those feelings on another person. I am not intent on revenge, all I want is for lessons to be learned so others do not experience what I went through. I believe the guard was making an assumption that I was using a Mobility Scooter (banned on SWT) ^ unfortunately his customer service skills failed him at this point and the rest was a catalogue of errors on his part. Does that make him a bad individual as I claimed? It is how I felt at the time and I am still deeply hurt by the discrimination shown towards me. But does that justify the full weight of the law on this individual when it is SWT who need to demonstrate their commitment to genuinely inclusive train travel for all.
There will be those who think the only way to stop future examples of this kind of horror sorry is to take the individual to Court.  As yet I^m undecided, but I am conscious of my responsibility. I will decide what to do after meeting with SWT tomorrow.

Particular thanks to the media for running this story and highlighting the challenges we disabled people face every day.  Thank you again to everyone for your support.  It has really helped me these past 24 hours.

I will update tomorrow.

[vacman]

Wandering slightly off topic, but still relevant, and just as an example: many's the time I've found myself helping lone mothers with a babe in arms and a cumbersome pushchair up the steep flight of steps to platform 1 at Nailsea & Backwell. (I tend to offer to carry the pushchair, rather than the baby, simply out of personal preference.) 

Last instruction i saw was that we only assist a pushchair as long as there is no child in it, otherwise we could be personally liable if an accident happens!

[EBrown]

Today's blog post:

Thank you everyone for your continued messages of support, I genuinely thank you.  Thanks too for those with an opposing point of view, all welcome.
I had a meeting this morning (Wednesday 4th April) with a senior representative from South Western Trains.  It was a full and frank meeting and I am in no doubt whatsoever, that SWT^▸ (South West Trains) are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. I should remind everyone that my reason of raising this was never for personal gain, nor was it to be vengeful, it was to raise awareness of an appalling incident so that lessons could be learned so it would never happen again.
I have been asked to give some of my free time to assist in a series of measures which form a recently announced review by SWT as to how they best support customers with disabilities. I am pleased to be asked, and I have accepted. Amongst other things, the review will include aspects of training and obviously, better clarification on the difference between wheelchairs and mobility scooters!  I feel I can achieve far more by working with SWT than pursuing a legal agenda.
As for the guard concerned, I am prepared to accept that there was a genuine misunderstanding on his behalf between what constitutes a mobility scooter and a wheelchair which highlights a SWT training issue. His behaviour subsequently was his own doing and SWT have assured me that they have their own robust investigation and disciplinary systems.  As such, I think there is no benefit served by pursuing a charge of common assault.  Accordingly, despite having CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) evidence and written letters from witnesses supporting my case, I have asked the British Transport Police to drop the charge.
I know this reads like a legally written statement prepared by SWT^s lawyers as damage limitation, but it is not.  Nor do I have anything to gain from my actions other than the belief that it is the right thing to do.  My leg will heal. SWT have apologised. The meeting with them today was a genuine attempt by myself and SWT to identify a constructive way of resolving what has been a damaging incident for the company^s reputation.  I am grateful that they have suggested a solution which I think will not only demonstrate their better commitment to disabled passengers, but so too their delivery of that commitment.  Trust me, if it doesn^t, you^ll hear it here first.

[Chris from Nailsea]

My respect for Geoff Holt MBE and his commendably positive attitude is growing rapidly. 

[JayMac]

Indeed. A measured response from Geoff Holt and in stark contrast to how Qamar Khaliq responded online following his meeting with Northern's management.

[JayMac]

....and here's NewsBiscuit's take on the Geoff Holt MBE story....

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2012/04/03/isle-of-wight-residents-run-in-fear-at-sight-of-man-in-electric-wheelchair/