The All 4 Inclusion Pod
All 4 Inclusion is a British based not for profit supporting disabled people with loneliness
We organise support groups helping people with a range of disabilities feel part of a community
We have a lot of laughs as well as the odd tear too
Check out our events on www.all4inclusion.org and come and join us
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The All 4 Inclusion Pod
# 38 Public transport to blame for disability no shows?
In this episode, Scott Whitney reflects on the recent Empowerment Awards, highlighting the importance of celebrating the disability community. He shares personal experiences of the challenges faced by disabled individuals in accessing public transport to get to venues, emphasising the need for better accessibility and awareness.
The conversation underscores the ongoing issues of social isolation and the responsibility of public transport providers to ensure accessibility.
The Empowerment Awards are a disability focused Awards arranged by Terri - Louise Brown, founder of Talks with MS
Have you had any transport nightmares getting to events?
If so, let us know.
Why not visit our website on www.all4inclusion.org
Scott James Whitney (00:00.706)
Hello and welcome to the All 4 Inclusion pod. My name's Scott Whitney. We've just come back from a great weekend and a great night at the Empowerment Awards. There some awards that put on to celebrate the disability community, celebrate some people that may not get the recognition that they fully deserve.
Scott James Whitney (00:29.238)
And these awards are arranged by Talks with MS and in particular Terri Louise Brown. Fantastic night, very accessible, very inclusive. And we got to meet loads of people. Got to meet Rhea, we got to meet Katie, people that we haven't met before.
Scott James Whitney (00:58.594)
face to face Matt, Attara, Joy, Grace, Kris Foster. You know, the list goes on and on and on. But.
Scott James Whitney (01:09.166)
And this is the big but. When it comes to disabled people and social isolation and loneliness, something reared its ugly head. And it was nothing to do with the empowerment awards. So Sarah, on her trip from Swindon to London, had to stations where she wasn't able.
Scott James Whitney (01:38.914)
to access a lift which caused real issues and meant she had to divert lots and almost never made it to the awards at all. And Andrea, she had difficulties with cancellations of trains. Now that would impact someone who's disabled or non-disabled, but.
Scott James Whitney (02:07.519)
Sarah's where any impact someone who's disabled and when I got into Euston
Scott James Whitney (02:17.077)
I was left on the train so a member of the public went to get a card and bring a ramp down. I was worried that if my friend who was with me and supporting me went to get it, the doors might shut and I might be on there and you know, I don't know how quick turnarounds are on trains. I think I'd have been okay, but hey, we don't know these things and
Scott James Whitney (02:47.863)
We then got a taxi from Euston Station and we got that to Goldsborough Bookshop, a lovely bookshop in Cecil Court and the taxi driver and the black cab, all the black cabs have ramps that pull out for wheelchair users to get on. They're good ramps. They then flick down.
Scott James Whitney (03:17.128)
like runners like on the side of like bowling alley that keeps the balls from going in the gutter and that allows a bit to sort of fold in and down and the taxi driver didn't know how to use it never used it before never used it before and then he didn't want to put the both the gutters down but that wouldn't allow because that wouldn't then allow the last bit
Scott James Whitney (03:46.387)
of the ramp to secure him. He had to get help and support from another taxi driver, but it always comes and brings something to me. Some people say you don't know what you don't know, and that's fine, that is true. But when you're providing a service, you've got responsibility to go and check first of all that things are working.
Scott James Whitney (04:14.656)
check things are maintained and also how to use them and this is something that the taxi driver hadn't done you don't know how old his taxi was but if it's the first time that that ramp's used is it maintained well
Scott James Whitney (04:35.786)
I guess it should be if it's not been used, but sometimes if you don't use things, that's worse than it being used regularly, because the regular usage can be what maintains it. So that was tricky. We then had issues at the hotel where the hotel we paid for a wheelchair accessible room and it came with a complimentary room for the carer as well.
Scott James Whitney (05:05.152)
They tried charging us for that. They've now, the hotel have asked me to get in contact with them to...
Scott James Whitney (05:15.702)
to discuss the concern, but that was an extra cost to us. It also meant us arriving about 40 minutes after we wanted to arrive. It meant one of our guests was there on her own for a while. And all of these things here, the extra pain that disabled people have.
Scott James Whitney (05:43.594)
and getting to venues, to events they want to go to. That in itself can be what causes people to stay in. If they know the event is accessible, the journey getting there still may not be accessible. So this is where public transport has got to be stepping up. It's got to be doing more to...
Scott James Whitney (06:13.129)
to help disabled people to get to venues, to get to events. That's only part of the battle, obviously, but you know, Terri put on a very inclusive and very accessible event. So there was never an issue there, but I didn't necessarily anticipate quite as many difficulties for me and my guests to get to the event.
Scott James Whitney (06:44.011)
If you had any problems with public transport, let me know. There should be a link to text the show. There should be comments sections depending where you're listening to the podcast. Also, if you can give it a rating review, you know, all of these things will help other people find the podcast in the future and that will help us grow. And yeah, it'd be great.
Scott James Whitney (07:35.723)
I've got another short short podcast with Tanni Grey Thompson, which will be coming out in the next couple of days. So you've got to quite rapid quick fire ones and there will also be another interview by Kevin coming out shortly as well. So we've got a few things that we're going to be throwing out soon. So take it easy and we'll catch you very shortly.
