Tag Archives: Yorkshire

Bus Travel

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Hello all,

Lets talk accessible travel 

In the past I have written about floating bus stops and how they are not accessible to Disable people. If you want to read why then please follow this link. 

I wanted to write about the changes to bus travel in Bradford and how that is impacting me as a Visually Impaired Person. 

The bus station closed in January due to a collapse in an underground car park. The bus stops have since been relocated…well I don’t know where exactly as they are all dotted around the city centre. Some stops are outside the Broadway shopping centre, some are outside the town hall. I have no idea where my bus goes from or stops at. 

In this past week BBC has posted about this issue and the impact it is having on Disabled people.

The issue from my perspective as a Visually Impaired Neurodivergent person is that I cannot see where the bus stops are. If someone shows me this does not always eliminate the issue because what if the bus does not stop in the same place every time if it is busy? 

The other issue I will have is with it being busy when I set off work at rush hour what will happen if I can’t see where to join the queue to the bus? 

The other issue which I am concerned about is all the road works in Bradford at the moment. I am unsure of where I can cross the road safely. The main road in and out of town is due to close. Creating a pedestrianised area. With this road being closed I am unsure where I will get my taxi from outside the train station? I have asked the taxi drivers but they have not been informed of when the work will start on the new taxi terminus. 

There are a few issues which I have brought up here; 

The bus station is closed and has been relocated to multiple points across the city centre. 

I have no idea where my bus now runs from. 

There are road works across the city centre meaning I am not always sure where it is safe to cross. 

I have no idea when the taxi rank will move or what that relocation will look like. 

The council have not considered this impact on Disabled people. Whether we are just going into town or if we are using public transport to get to work. Our daily lives have been made even more inaccessible. This is before you even start on other issues which make travel inaccessible to us, like the floating bus stops. 

People need to consider the impact these unexpected changes have. If non Disabled people are finding it difficult to travel at the moment how are Disabled people meant to be coping? 

I will keep you updated with this ongoing issue. 

Autism Acceptance

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Hello all, 

It’s April, I hope you are still aware of Autistic People… we could be anywhere….even in your house! 

Right, now you’re aware, lets talk about acceptance. Acceptance is what Autistic people want. We want Acceptance because otherwise how are we to feel included? 

One of the ways in which you can accept Autistic people is by understanding we all have different sensory needs. Autistic people can struggle with sensory overload. Sensory Overload for me can come at anytime. It is not pleasant. It can be all consuming. 

It is too bright in here, can someone just turn the big light off and we only have a lamp on? Why is the music so loud…it is unnecessary. I can’t hear what you’re saying…Did someone just brush past me? Why is my sock hurting? I’m overwhelmed by all this…no push through you’re doing great…. You’re doing what the Neurotypicals want! Go you! 

Keep going… why are there so many people here… Now my jumper feels fuzzy… Who’s playing their music too loud on their headphones? What did you say you wanted? I’m tired…slam! 

Sensory Overload feels like you are constantly having every single one of your senses engaged all at the same time and everything you are feeling is at its most maximum level. Then you feel like you have hit a brick wall. That is what it can feel like.  

When you are helping someone who is dealing with sensory overload accept what they are telling you. Help them to find a calm and relaxing space. If they need to stim to regulate themselves, let them (I’ll write something about this for next time). 

Accepting what an Autistic person is telling you is very important. It is part of you recognising their lived experiences. Autistic people’s experiences are valid, even if they are different to a Neurotypical persons experience.

Thank you for reading, 

Philippa. 

U.K. Government still silent

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Hello all.

About a week on from the UK being questioned by the UN on its approach to Human Rights for Disabled People and I have not seen or heard anything from this government.

As a Disabled person it does not shock me at all how I am feeling about this. I feel let down, angry and very sad.

I listened to about 20 minutes of the conversation as I was busy with something else before hand.

All I have heard this week is the continuous barrage of hatred towards Disabled People from this government. A new policy they wish to implement is having data from the NHS shared with DWP so that Disabled people can be ‘helped’ back into work.

From my point of view this will be exactly the same situation the government has had with Personal Independence Payments. By this I mean NHS resources will be wasted on getting Disabled people into work who absolutely cannot work. Doctors do not just sign people off sick for fun.

You’re probably wondering ‘why can’t they work?’ There might be a few reasons;

They might be chronically ill

Places of work might not have access to resources such as accessible technology to allow them to work (screen readers), wheelchair access, they might not be able to go into the office as frequently as the employer might like.

They might not be able to work a full time job or have the ability to do at home working if their accommodation is not suitable due to things such as not having an office space.

There are many reasons. The way I am looking at this issue is this- make society more accessible and then everyone can thrive.

Why is it that Disabled people are being made to feel as though we are the problem? When all we want is equal access to society like everyone else.

This government and the party it represents, has continuously blamed Disabled people.

Look at how councils are now blaming the rise in SEN spending and social care for their lack of money. However when these same councils have gone to the government and said we need more funding the government have told these councils no. No. Sorry, you’ll have to find some way of making ends meet.

Which is why you have Disabled people wanting to access care in their own homes to live independently, but who are loosing access to their care agencies because the agency wasn’t awarded any funding.

It is exhausting being disabled. I look forward to seeing the report from the UN. However I very much doubt the government will truly act on it.

Thank you for reading,

Philippa B.

Lunch out

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Hello all,

Last week I went out with a friend for a nice catch up over some brunch.

I had a full English breakfast with hash browns which was delicious.

Afterwards we went to Lush. I did not buy anything because I have a lot of bath stuff already.

It is always nice to have something to look forward to and something to remember during your week which could cheer you up.

I’m trying to focus on positive thoughts and the positive things happening around me.

It can feel like there is a lot of negativity in the world and we need to focus on the good things around us. In the hope that more positive things will come.

Going out with friend’s is one of the positives I can focus on. Especially if we are going somewhere which will be nice and quiet. I struggle with sensory overload and always try planning with this in mind.

When I go out I make sure to carry my AirPods as they are noise cancelling and they help to reduce the volume of everything going on around me on the train.

If– the place we went to for brunch was nice and quiet. So sensory overload was not an issue. Except when someone was making a smoothie, but that’s it.

I enjoyed the food, I gave my freind the mushroom because I do not like them. The hash browns were amazing.

If you have not tried If then give them a go. The menu is pretty big and we are going to go back to try the pancakes.

What kind of things do you have to look forward to to cheer you up?

Thanks for reading,

Philippa.

Street Clutter

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Hello all,  

I know it has been a while. I have been thinking about what to write. I have decided to write about street clutter. 

As a visually impaired person street clutter is a major hazard. My white cain does allow me to feel for obstacles in my path which I do not see. However this doesn’t mean I can instantly find my way safely.  This image above is showing an example of barricades which have been set up to stop people using a crossing. One of the barriers was a grey colour, this did not contrast well with the grey paving behind it. This meant that I couldn’t really tell it was there and had to stand and look at it for a few minutes before moving forwards.

Barriers and cones blocking a crossing. One of the barriers is stuck out into the pathway.


The next day I went back as it is on a usual route and the barricade was in a much more suitable position. 

Another example of street clutter which is not safe is when road signs are left on tactile paving. Such as the one below. Tactile paving needs to be left clear because it allows those using a cain to navigate crossings safely by telling us what kind of crossing we are at. 

Street clutter for anyone is tricky and when there are road works I understand it is a lot more difficult to try accommodate everyone. However just street clutter in general should be to a minimum to make sure everyone has the chance to feel safe. 

When there is a lot going on it creates a lot more visual stress. Also as visually impaired people if we come across items in our path it is difficult to navigate safely when we are on our own. This would be if we needed to step out onto the road and a car is coming. 

Street clutter can affect anyone, but it is more dangerous for those of us who are disabled. Imagine if you are a wheelchair user and you have to go out into the road because there is something on the pavement blocking your path. There might not be a dropped curb for you to use. This makes it impossible to get around. 

If street clutter is managed more affectively, such as A boards for advertising, and are tucked in so we can get have enough space then that makes it easier. If there are road works happening then it is important to update a website, such as the council so that people can check before they travel. But this then leads us onto other problems such as websites are not always accessible. But this is a blog for another time. 

All we ask is that business, councils just be more considerate around how they ensure the safety of all path and road users. We want to be able to travel as independently as possible and we can’t if there barriers in our way. 

Thank you for reading, 

Philippa. 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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Hello all,

First of all I would like to say I am a Disabled person. That is how I describe myself. My disability is a part of me and I chose how to describe myself. 

If you, as a Disabled person chose to say person with a disability that is your choice. 

I tend to have issues with non disabled people telling me I can’t say Disabled. ‘But you are not your Disability’ I know I am not. I never said I was. What I mean is that my disabilities make up who I am and I therefore chose to use Disabled person. 

It is not for a non disabled person to tell me what terminology to use. If you have a problem with the word Disabled I suggest you really think about what it is you have a problem with. 

Anyway, it’s been Disability History Month and International Day of persons with Disabilities. 

We are often left out and marginalised by society, which leaves us excluded. We can be seen to be a burden or something that can be treated as an after thought. This should never be the case. 

We are here. We have rights and we deserve to live life. However, we cannot live life if places do not make themselves inclusive to us. 

Looking down at my feet as I'm stood in the crisp auburn autumn leaves. I have my guide cane at the side of me. I took out all the colour from my shoes and jeans. So they are black and grey. Shot on iPhone.


We need accessibility to be at the start of a conversation not just an add on. We need to feel like we are at the table having the conversation. We need to have all areas of Disability included. You cannot say you are inclusive because you have a ramp and then have doors which are not accessible. You can’t use alt text in your advertising to do a funny little joke. 

Access needs are important and we need to have them in place so that we can fully participate in society and not feel excluded. 

If you are wondering how you can make things more accessible then look up Disability charities like RNIB or Scope. They have a ton of resources which are available. 

I hope you have a great day and thank you for reading my thoughts on Disability. 

Thank you,
Phili

Disabled People have feelings too

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Hello all,

As you may have seen this week in the news there has been a lot of negativity around Disabled People, more so than normal.

From articles about the government wanting to get people off of sickness payments and back into work, to articles about the government cutting funding for Disabled Children in schools.

As a disabled person all this negativity in the news is very difficult to see. It makes me feel like people think of Disabled people as a drain on society, that we don’t have value and that the government is pushing even more so to make life more difficult than it already is.

We have value, we deserve support and we do not deserve all this vile hatred being directed at us. This government, for far too long, has demonised Disabled People and acted as though we are sponges, that we leach off of society.

We do no such thing. We want to live a life like everyone else. Just because we are Disabled does not make us any less than those around us.

We have feelings, we have dreams, we have wants and needs. To see the news attacking Disabled People is appalling.

We are being attacked because we are seen as an easy target, people think we get all this money thrown at us because we’re Disabled. This is far form the truth.

Have you ever looked to see how much a wheelchair costs? Do you know the cost of having to pay for a taxi everyday because you are exhausted and in pain from being at work all day? Yes, you read that correctly- work. Get another job I here you cry? I like my job and I am good at it. How much do you think it cost to invest in making adaptations to your own home to make it accessible, because surprise surprise our homes are not built with accessibility in mind?

The world is not built for us, as I write this I am on my day off and my whole right side hurts. This is because I have Scoliois. So no matter what job I have I will always be in pain. I have a great physio who helps me to manage my pain. This Physio is not an NHS one. The NHS does not offer sport massages as a way to manage pain. I pay to see my physio through my benefits. He helps reduce the pain I am in on a daily basis. This is on top of me doing my physio exercises.

Some Disabled People can’t work and that’s none of your business. We shouldn’t have to justify ourselves to you. For those of us who do work, that does not mean we are frauds. We all have our challenges, but that does not make us any less than a non Disabled Person. We are people too.

Thank you,
Philippa B. 

Ticket Office Closures

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Hello all,

I thought for my blog post I would share with you a letter I wrote to my MP regarding ticket office closures.

I am one of your constituents who is writing to let you know I am deeply unhappy about the proposal to close train station ticket offices.

As a Disabled person who relies on the railways to get to work and various other things I find these recent proposals to be very disconcerting. I am already having to use the ticket machines to get my monthly pass because I cannot top up my M card with a person on the the desk. The ticket machines are not always reliable or even accessible. My needs as a visually impaired person are not being met.

The proposals to have more staff around the station, rather than being ‘stuck behind glass’ is not one I find to be helpful as a visually impaired person. Knowing there is a ticket office I can go to and know there is someone there is far more accessible than standing in the middle of a train station trying to find someone to help me. How is a Visually Impaired Person meant to find a member of staff if they cannot see very well?

These proposals which are being done in the ‘best interest of the public’ are another money saving scheme by the train operators who are looking to cut jobs and make more money.

The staff at my local stations have always been very helpful to me. They do so much more than sell tickets. They support station users to get to their destinations, are a point of contact if they feel unsafe, they clean the stations and keep the spaces looking tidy. They work hard in all sorts of weather doing a variety of jobs to keep our station running.

Disabled people are the largest minority group and by taking away a valid service and disguising it as something in the publics best interest is a disgrace. We need assistance to travel, we need support. If these roles keep being taken away ‘in the publics best interest’ then Disabled people’s worlds are gong to get even smaller. We won’t be able to travel independently.

A few months ago I was on a train and a man was screaming at a woman. The conductor contacted the transport police and we stayed at the station until they had been removed from the train. 

Our stations and trains need staff. Yesterday my M card wouldn’t let me through the barriers even though I had just topped it up that morning. A member of staff was able to let me through. What happens when the staff are no longer there? Northern Rail don’t make the card, Metro do. Am I supposed to stand around and wait on a support line when I have a valid ticket?

One of the stations where we will lose staff after 2pm is a little out of the way. I don’t feel safe there on an evening. So when there are no staff this is one more option for me getting home that has been taken away from me.

Please ensure all ticket offices remain open, I am sure the share holders and managers higher up can do without a few extra pounds. As I don’t fully believe the money will be re invested into our railways, but rather into the back pockets of the shareholders.

I look forward to your response,
Philippa B.

Disabled people need assistance at ticket offices, to be honest it is not just disabled people. There is always a queue at my local train stations.

People want to talk to people. You cannot replace human interaction.

Please write to your MP, you have 5 days left to tell them what you think of ticket office closures.

Thank you,
Philippa B.


Local Radio

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Hello all,

Over recent weeks you may have seen a few bits online about cuts being made to BBC Local Radio.

The government wants to significantly cut local programming and create a ‘local radio’ whereby stations such as Leeds, Sheffield, York etc all share content. This is quite a simplistic view of it. But if you look here you’ll find content from BBC covering strike action.

Local radio serves a purpose and has done for over fifty years. We’ve all the radio on in the house while getting ready for work to hear any traffic disruptions, to get weather updates if it is snowing. Remember sitting and hearing if your school was closed?

This weekend was the Leeds 10K, we’ve had some amazing coverage by BBC radio Leeds about the hard work put in by the runners and other people raising money for great causes. It was also vital coverage because they talked about road closures.

During the pandemic they brought people together to share stories from local areas about the struggles we were all facing, so we knew we were not alone.

As a visually impaired person local radio is so important to me because its the main way I get my local news. I have no idea what signs are up in the station, I can’t see them. On my way to work I can’t see the giant banners telling me the main route to work is closed. I didn’t know the outside to the station in Leeds was going to be updated until I heard about it on the radio. This is then what prompts me to look for more information online.

Local news starts, for me anyway, on the radio.

When I am not feeling well, or my eyes are more strained than normal, I will put the radio on the background and listen to local radio, Andrew Edwards, Rita Ahmed, Liz Green… there are so many great presenters. But its not just them, it is the producers, the journalists who go out and find the stories in our local area. They represent the area we are in, no offence to Sheffield, but I don’t live there. I don’t know the local area, so if the new ‘local radio’ is going to talk to me about what is happening there I will feel less connected to the content.

If you have not written to your local MP yet, please write to them and tell them you want them to make some noise for saving local radio. Local radio helps our community to feel connected, we can share in the highs and lows of our sports teams, hear new and upcoming musicians as they break onto our local scene, discover incredible people raising money for charitable causes… there are so many reasons to save local radio and we must act now.

Search #KeepBBCLocalRadioLocal on Twitter to find out more.

Philippa B. 

Loop Earplugs

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Hello all,

I am back for another blog post. Sorry I have been away, again, I have been thinking about stuff to write and then I got a few ideas. So here is one of them.

A while ago I was looking around for something which could help me to reduce the amount of noise I have to contend with when on public transport or just out and about. Scrolling through twitter and intstagram I came across a brand called Loop. I remember a few friends mentioning it to me and I decided I would give them a go.

They have quite a few different options on their website and I was struggling to choose an option. They have ones for blocking out noise at concerts, for sleeping, or just everyday background noise. Eventually I settled on the Experience ones. These are designed to block out background noise and still allow you to hear conversations which are happening around you.

They have a few options for colours, I decided on the purple ones. I don’t normally go for purple so I thought I would be a bit different. It is a nice deep purple which is lovely.

Once I got them and had opened them up I was struggling to put the tips on the ends of the loops. This is because having Dysrpaxia I struggle to do tasks which are quite fiddly. I eventually got them on by just forcing it, but it was difficult to get the two pieces to align. But anyway, we got there.

Getting the train to work is an exhausting experience because of all the noise. So I pulled out the little plastic case they come in and I put them in my ears. I noticed that I could still hear the sounds of people talking and the keyboard clicks from phones around me. I was irritated and I was not happy. I took them out and then noticed the whooshing sound of the train came back into my ears. I put the Loops back in and couldn’t hear it anymore.

Another day I had to get the bus. Which again I wasn’t happy about because it is longer than the train journey. I also have to deal with floating bus stops- click here if you want to know more about how they impact Visually Impaired and Blind People. The bus journey was long and I knew I would get irritated, then frustrated quite quickly so I put the Loops in. Once again I could still hear the noise of people chattering away on their phones, but I couldn’t hear the noise of the bus speeding along. I decided to take one out. Yes, the noise of the traffic and the speeding bus returned. Putting it back in, it disappeared. 

They are pretty good at blocking out background noise but still enabling you to hear conversations happening around you.

They cost about £30 which at first I thought would be expensive, but if they work then great. They are not entirely what I set out for, but I can have a use for them when in busy environments without a lot of background noise. I have decided to try another pair of the loop earplugs to see if a different version blocks out all the noise- or as much as possible for when I am on the train.

I would recommend giving them ago as they re quite comfy and can be worn for long periods of time. The tips have different sizes and they are washable. I am just going to use alcohol wipes or soap and water to clean them.

Anyway, that’s that and I hope you have a good day. 

And no this is not an endorsement.