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ENABLE Scotland bus pass campaign
we are running a campaign to have the lower rate of the mobility component included in the criteria to entitle claimants to a bus pass in Scotland.
Entitlement to a bus pass is a huge issue for our members and we would appreciate any support for the campaign.
further information can be found here: http://www.enable.org.uk/stopthebus/Pages/default.aspx
Excellent campaign. Needs spreading nationwide. PIP perpetuates this injustice too both in terms of Blue Badges and the National Concessionary Travel Scheme. It’s a huge issue given that the “lower” rate of DLA mobility is based upon a falsehood in so much as there’s no connection/progression between lower and higher rate in the way there might be with Care. There’s an increasing recognition that access to transport is a bigger barrier to employment than many of the other things routinely trotted out.
The focus on LD is interesting from my perspective as LR MC is also relevant to people with brain injury and sensory impairment to name but a few. There’s a much bigger audience to be grabbed if it’s made clearer how widespread the impact of this restriction is.
It does frustrate me slightly that there’s an emphasis on the quotes about shopping and hospital appointments. I know where it’s coming from but it’s a mixed message. On the one hand it inadvertently suggests all disabled people need to do is go from one appointment to another. On the other it emphasises something like shopping which a lot of people will have little sympathy for because they look at it and think “why can’t someone do it for you?” or “why can’t it be done online?”.
Might be better to think about more emphasis on the work/college stuff. More social model than medical model if you like.
Anyway, link distributed to colleagues; petition about to be signed and I shall ensure GMWRAG does some publicity around this too via our web site and social media.
On the same theme, I am exploring the feasibility of a campaign to address the out of date nature of the laws in the UK around driving and disability and the various tests and processes around that. You’ll be aware of recent caselaw around the inadequacy of Snellen tests. All advice on this welcome. I’m strong on VI but would welcome views on disproportionate impacts of being unable to drive on other disabilities/long-term impairments/conditions.
Just as an example - Snellen tells you precisely nothing about my vision. Nor does a routine peripheral vision test. In the UK my ability to obtain employment is limited to where public transport can get me. I get a concessionary travel pass funded by local and central government.
In Belgium, a medical professional could certify me as able to drive during the day only; not on motorways and also limited to a top speed of 30 to 45mph. No cost to the public purse. Cost shifted very much to me.
Excellent campaign. Needs spreading nationwide. PIP perpetuates this injustice too both in terms of Blue Badges and the National Concessionary Travel Scheme. It’s a huge issue given that the “lower” rate of DLA mobility is based upon a falsehood in so much as there’s no connection/progression between lower and higher rate in the way there might be with Care. There’s an increasing recognition that access to transport is a bigger barrier to employment than many of the other things routinely trotted out.
The focus on LD is interesting from my perspective as LR MC is also relevant to people with brain injury and sensory impairment to name but a few. There’s a much bigger audience to be grabbed if it’s made clearer how widespread the impact of this restriction is.
It does frustrate me slightly that there’s an emphasis on the quotes about shopping and hospital appointments. I know where it’s coming from but it’s a mixed message. On the one hand it inadvertently suggests all disabled people need to do is go from one appointment to another. On the other it emphasises something like shopping which a lot of people will have little sympathy for because they look at it and think “why can’t someone do it for you?” or “why can’t it be done online?”.
Might be better to think about more emphasis on the work/college stuff. More social model than medical model if you like.
Anyway, link distributed to colleagues; petition about to be signed and I shall ensure GMWRAG does some publicity around this too via our web site and social media.
On the same theme, I am exploring the feasibility of a campaign to address the out of date nature of the laws in the UK around driving and disability and the various tests and processes around that. You’ll be aware of recent caselaw around the inadequacy of Snellen tests. All advice on this welcome. I’m strong on VI but would welcome views on disproportionate impacts of being unable to drive on other disabilities/long-term impairments/conditions.
Just as an example - Snellen tells you precisely nothing about my vision. Nor does a routine peripheral vision test. In the UK my ability to obtain employment is limited to where public transport can get me. I get a concessionary travel pass funded by local and central government.
In Belgium, a medical professional could certify me as able to drive during the day only; not on motorways and also limited to a top speed of 30 to 45mph. No cost to the public purse. Cost shifted very much to me.
thanks for the detailed feedback mike.
interesting points re driving licences as well. very few of our guys drive due to their disability but i do know of two members of our organisation with driving licences so it does seem possible for some of our members with a learning disability to get a licence.
We are members of an organisation up here called disability agenda Scotland which includes RNIB. I’m sure that type of campaign is something that DAS would be interested in. Have you ran your idea past RNIB?
Not as yet. I have some contacts but wanted to get some clarity around what the issues are for something other than VI. A campaign for one group may well be justified but a campaign that cuts across disabilities can be much more powerful and to my mind sends a much clearer message that it’s a bit more than one group lobbying out of inevitable self interest.
Not as yet. I have some contacts but wanted to get some clarity around what the issues are for something other than VI. A campaign for one group may well be justified but a campaign that cuts across disabilities can be much more powerful and to my mind sends a much clearer message that it’s a bit more than one group lobbying out of inevitable self interest.
might be worth tweeting some of the bigger charities across disabilities or other social media and get a feel for their supporters responses?
this particular campaign started because i was going around Scotland to our branches and updating them on welfare reform and finding that bus pass entitlement was coming up constantly. I passed this info back to my team and it led to this campaign.
You might find its a huge issue across loads of disabilities but no one has really asked the question yet.
Until I came here i was purely a casework WRO so its been interesting for me to see what goes on behind a campaign.
Fear not, I’m very active on Twitter and that’s exactly how I was looking at moving forward.
I think transport is one of those forgotten issues that is actually pivotal to a lot of things. It certainly fits the skills and work agenda and yet rural and urban services are being slashed across the UK; concessionary fares are rising and there’s little emphasis on accessibility.
Our service monitors the number of sanctions queries. It’s far more than you think it is once you dig underneath the alleged reasons for someone calling or being referred. However, the same applies to transport and, once you start to look at it, it features far more in peoples lives on a daily basis than something like sanctions. Controversial maybe but not difficult to evidence in many ways.
It’s all about realising it’s an issue in the first place and then going looking for it. I’ve had a number of clients over the past 12 months for whom getting them a concessionary travel pass was of far more significance than getting them PIP or even ESA. PIP could provide money for taxi journeys that has gone in a couple of days. A pass can literally set someone free to travel each day.
Had a case where we got someone DLA and then PIP; got them into the Support Group etc. The most significant thing I appear to have done for them was get them a NCTP as in Greater Manchester it gives access to buses, trams and local trains.
By the way, it’s all up on GMWRAG as of now.
https://gmwrag.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/stopthebus-campaign-we-want-to-get-on
By the way, it’s all up on GMWRAG as of now.
https://gmwrag.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/stopthebus-campaign-we-want-to-get-on
thanks very much for that!
i’ll stick on our Bus campaign facebook too! If you haven’t already, would be worth contacting (google), campaign for better transport too. Good luck with the campaign.
Mike’s comments including rural transport hit some raw nerves, so for what it is worth, i’ve attached our local West Dorset manifesto and demands to Dorset County Council.
sorry andy thats me just seeing this.
thanks for your response and support.