Key Messages about Disability
There are 14 million people in the UK who can be defined as ‘disabled’, and who are likely to encounter transport barriers unless their rights and needs are respected. Their reasons for being considered ‘disabled’ in the terms of the Equality Act 2010 are varied.
Many disabilities are invisible, and the impact (for example of pain, fatigue, anxiety, confusion) can vary from day to day depending on the environment, the way services are provided and the attitudes of staff and other passengers.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a way for some people to communicate that they may need more help or time due to a hidden disability. Look out for anyone wearing a green lanyard with a sunflower design when you meet your passengers.
We might expect to ‘see’ that someone is disabled. But that isn’t always the case. We might not spot that someone has limited sight or hearing. We might not know that someone experiences anxiety as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder.
People legally defined as ‘disabled’ have a right to reasonable adjustments to how services are provided where they would otherwise face a substantial barrier to accessing the service.
Any of us can become disabled. We all need to be able to travel – to work, to see friends and family or for leisure. We need services that work for everyone. ‘Many of us experience pain, anxiety, confusion some or all of the time. It may not always be obvious, but these life experiences can be made worse by access barriers or if staff don’t know how to respond to and support people.’
There are two main perspectives on disability: the medical and social models. The medical model views disability as an individual issue that requires medical treatment and focuses on diagnosis and rehabilitation. In contrast, the social model sees disability as a result of societal barriers and attitudes, emphasising the need to change society to be more inclusive and accessible.