Scottish Disability Equality Forum is working with Transport Scotland to undertake research into Accessible Travel.  In September 2016, Transport Scotland published Scotland’s first Accessible Travel Framework.  This is a new plan, co-produced with disabled people to help improve their access to travel. Transport Scotland has a vision that all disabled people can travel with the same freedom, choice, dignity and opportunity as others. Our research involves gathering the views of disabled people on how you find travelling on public transport just now, and how Transport Scotland’s work to apply the framework can best
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            Motability, the charity which runs the support scheme for vehicles, recently revealed more than 50,000 people have had their cars reclaimed since Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was launched in 2013, replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Alex Thorburn, a Director of the Scottish Disability Equality Forum, believes the move away from the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is leaving vulnerable people stranded. Please note that the views expressed by Alex do not necessarily reflect the views of the Scottish Disability Equality Forum. “The new PIP system can see adapted vehicles removed within 10 days of people
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The Scottish Government want your views on improving the management of parking across Scotland and making regulation more consistent. The consultation asks how the Scottish Government can improve the clarity of the laws of parking, what restrictions should be applied and the exceptions that should be granted. The Scottish Government also aimed this consultation to local authorities to ask them how they can deliver an integrated approach to managing parking, how we should tackle displacement of vehicles and support the town centre regeneration, as well as improving accessibility to all. How To Tell Us What You Think To respond to this consultation,
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      The Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) is delighted to announce that the Accessible Travel Hub has been shortlisted in three categories for the Scottish Transport Awards 2017. Shortlisted categories: Excellence in Travel Information and Marketing Excellence in Technology and Innovation Accessibility Project of the Year Now in its 15th year, the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards 2017 brings together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland. Supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, this year’s ceremony will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on 15th June 2017. Roy Brannen, Chief Executive,
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The disabled person’s parking badge pilot, which was launched in April 2016, has been extended to Autumn this year. People who think they might be eligible are being invited to contact their local authoritiy. The eligibility criteria have been revised and extended under the pilot to allow people who pose a risk to themselves or others in traffic to apply for a disabled person’s parking badge, provided they meet the criteria. Transport Scotland has been working closely with local authorities and disability organisations to extend the scheme to those who may be eligible under the new criteria. Extending the pilot
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A recent article by Hattie Gladwell featured in The Metro newspaper highlights the difficulties of travelling on public transport with a hidden disability.  In the article, Hattie said: “I first realised I was too scared to ask anyone to give up their seat for me on public transport when I was experiencing crippling pain in my abdomen while commuting home from work…” Commuters were unaware that Hattie was recovering from reversal surgery after having had her large intestine removed due to it almost perforating after suffering with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. To read Hattie’s full article, please visit: http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/17/why-are-people-with-invisible-illnesses-so-scared-to-ask-people-on-public-transport-to-give-up-their-seat-6455196/ Please
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Disabled Access Day is returning for its third year in March 2017, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever! The event is powered by Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website and app; so, when you search for what’s on below, you’ll be taken to event listings on the Euan’s Guide website. This is also where you will be able to read listings and disabled access reviews of the attractions and businesses taking part on 10th-12th March. More events are being added every day, all in different locations around the UK and beyond! For full details, please
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ScotRail would like to take this opportunity to advise you that the next Rail Awareness Open Day (the first of 2017) is confirmed for Glasgow Central on 29 March from 1230 – 1430. Rail Awareness Open Day is an information event to promote what ScotRail do for existing and potential rail users with reduced mobility or simply those who need assistance with their journeys. It provides a learning opportunity to those with reduced mobility on the level of service available and the support they can receive form ScotRail when planning and undertaking their journey by train. ScotRail feel it is
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Closing date: Wednesday 15 March 2017 About this call for evidence. The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee has launched a call for written evidence as part of its post legislative scrutiny of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009. The Committee want to hear your thoughts on how it is working and whether the Act has achieved its objective to prevent disabled persons’ parking places being occupied by those that are not entitled to use them by making all permanent disabled street parking places enforceable. If you would like more information on the call for evidence, please
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ScotRail is continuously looking to improve train services in Scotland and in order for this to happen, Stakeholder engagement at different levels is important to them and as such have launched an online panel giving everyone an opportunity to have their say. ScotRail want to hear your opinions and views how they can improve train services. If you are already a member of the online panel, there is no need for you to register again but you could ask others to register too. In order to take part, all you need is to sign up to The Platform, ScotRail online
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