How Disability Friendly Are We Really?

Campbell AndersonOn 6th September, Kaitlin wrote a very sympathetic article “Disability Access Disgrace” . It was prompted by the experience of para Olympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson having to crawl off a train because arranged help did not arrive. I wrote to Kaitlin, congratulating her on her article and telling her about some of my experiences. She then invited me to write this article.Between my very good pal Alex and myself, I am the lucky one. He has had progressive MS for decades now and I have experienced a once off rare derivative 20 years ago. My balance and walking are poor (amongst many other issues) but Alex can’t walk a step. I use a stick (hiking poll) for short distances and a mobility scooter for longer distances. Alex is confined to his wheelchair (while writing this article Alex reminded me that he quite likes Grey-Thompson's line "confined though not wheelchair-bound, but wheelchair-free"). There are people with fewer problems than myself and others worse than Alex. All is relative in the great hierarchy of disabilities. None of us want others to feel sorry for us but we all need help and understanding to be able to do some of the things you take for granted. I find 90% at least of our society wonderful but there is more that can be done institutionally to help.I too have experienced pre-arranged assistance to disembark from trains not to turn up on 3 occasions. Fortunately for me, other passengers were very willing to help me and my scooter off the train. Airplanes are very helpful (even budget ones) but in Madrid once the ambilift team did not turn up. Rather than delay the next flight I was wheeled from the plane on a wheelchair via the air bridge. This was great but there was no functioning lift so I had to slide down the stairs on my backside. Buses and Trams in Edinburgh are great for wheelchairs so Alex generally uses public transport. Trams are also great for my scooter but they are not accommodated on the buses. Mostly therefore I use my car and blue badge to park where you can’t. Not the green option.When on my scooter, my head is roughly about the height of a 10 year old. Adults don’t see me and can treat me like a kid. They frequently bump into me, freeze in front of me forcing me to navigate (with difficulty) around them and generally ignore me. This can be an advantage in not being handed lots of festival flyers but it displays an attitude of he doesn’t count.There are two recent events which illustrate the problems we encounter. The first when my wife and I attended the Conter’s conference recently. Going without my scooter was very risky, taking buses was out and the train was a hassle too far to organise. We therefore took our car and parked in the multi-storey beside Buchanan St bus station. We parked in the disabled spaces and noticed the pedestrian exit to the street was via steps. After asking the attendant for the exit for my scooter, I was directed to dodge cars and squeeze past the barrier to exit up the car ramp to the street. We found our way to the venue in Glasgow Caledonian and were met by Jonathon Shafi, who directed us to the lecture theatre and the toilets. It was good access to the hall and we used the side nearest to the disabled toilet. Only it was locked and I had forgotten my “Radar” key. My fault. I transferred easily to a seat and left my jacket on top of my scooter. I was amused to see others’ coats piled on top of mine. I am always pleased to help. Lunch came and we made our way to the bus station for lunch. The rest of the audience went directly down the stairs but we had to take the circuitous route around the block. Experiencing non-dropped pavements and roadworks with closed pavements, we made it to the station last. We bought and ate our lunch. It was time to make our way back but we had both had enough for 1 day so skived off home missing the afternoon session.The 4 of us (including Alex and Sandra) enjoyed 3 nights away this month. The trip was organised at last minute with difficulty. Sandra phoned (you can’t trust on-line) many hotels to find the wet room Alex needs. We settled on the Gretna Hall Hotel (no marriage jokes please) who assured her they could meet Alex requirements. We arranged to meet for coffee in Biggar so it was my turn to find a suitable café. This took 3 calls to establish a suitable place and turned out to be very good. We arrived at Gretna to find a set of steps leading to reception and the public (bar and restaurant) area. The Stena lift eventually lifted Alex in his wheelchair up after about 20 minutes. We checked in and then found out there were no toilets on this level! Punctuating your dinner with potentially , a 40 minute toilet trip is not disabled friendly. Fortunately their very close sister hotel “ Smiths” could accommodate us, Alex and Sandra in the Hotel and my wife and I in their luxury cottages across the road. You win some, you lose some.I hope this snapshot illustrates some of the difficulties being disabled brings, especially the requirement for forward planning. Robin correctly says that there is a world full of experts out there to involve to solve Scotland's problems. Provision for disability is one of them. Alex was on such a group looking to improve provision in western Edinburgh. Local councillors were involved but Alex realised that his suggestions were not being taken seriously when a meeting was organised where he could not access. To apply for a disability benefit you must complete a 40 page form with corroborating medical reports followed by a lengthy telephone interview and later an in person interview. It’s a bit like facing cross examination during a trial as they try to limit awards. Was the same rigour applied to those companies supplying PPE for millions during Covid?What standards should an Independent Scotland be aspiring to?