Single scheme needed? So people know to show xtra consideration

[whole diary]

[grahame]

"Please Offer me a seat"
"Baby on board"
Sunflower
"I need extra help"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1menlmx80go

Londoners living with disabilities and chronic health conditions say they have struggled to use a Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)) scheme while travelling, with one even threatened by another passenger.

The "Please Offer Me A Seat" badge and card scheme, which marks its eighth anniversary this month, is designed to help those with disabilities and health conditions by signalling, external to other passengers they should give up their seat if needed.

But Eliza Rain, 28, who has a chronic pain condition, said when using the badge they were often challenged and one passenger "threatened to push me off the train because I'd asked for their seat".

A TfL spokesperson encouraged passengers to give up their seat to someone who asks where possible, even if the person asking isn't wearing a badge.

Oh dear ...

I can't help wondering if a single emblem - such as the sunflower - would help the general public be aware of who needs that little bit extra, and very clearly marked priority seats (if not there already) would make it clear "you may be asked to give up this seat" in a uniform manner.

There IS an issue with hidden disabilities / people who need a little extra in some way, but don't have that externally obvious.  There could also be an issue with asking someone to give up a (priority) seat if the person sitting in it already has a (perhaps hidden) disability.  And there's a need to be aware of those who may have multiple disabilities, including those that reduce their ability to communicate in a way that's the social norm.

[ChrisB]

The seat fabric needs the wheelchair symbol woven into it, along with window/glass separator stickers to make it stupidly obvious that those seats are for those that actually *need* to sit.

Fellow passenger guilt-trips are the way to make these available....

[Mark A]

Something that's a surprise to many who are not disabled in some way, is that out and about, with a disability or vulnerability, someone will likely be familiar with encountering considered hostility from others.

Mark

[ChrisB]

In my lived experience, I have been somewhat pleasantly surprised by people's general reaction to me in my wheelchair - I have rarely experienced as you describe - almost not at all in two years. That actually impressed me as my lived able-bodied life experience made me think the way you have above.

[grahame]

I think there is a difference in attitude of people to those with an obvious issue (and, ChrisB, your wheelchair is obvious) and those with a less or invisible issue. People tend to do the right thing (and delighted you confirm it, Chris) if the issue is to be seen.

[IndustryInsider]

I think there is a difference in attitude of people to those with an obvious issue (and, ChrisB, your wheelchair is obvious) and those with a less or invisible issue. People tend to do the right thing (and delighted you confirm it, Chris) if the issue is to be seen.

Indeed.  There's been a big focus on staff training for dealing with hidden disabilities in recent years.  The general public hasn't been trained though.