Influencing Disabled Access

 Influencing Access. 

I feel it's important to highlight how using your voice can have positive change. Many may ignore, but some will listen and they deserve praise. When I was an Access Champion for the disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, I'd assess access into buildings and write to the company with my feedback. I really enjoyed it as I feel I made a real difference.   

Some I remember are: 

The Oxfam shop on Bold Street, Liverpool. 

I noticed the entrance in was up a diagonal angled step, making it awkward for a wheelchair user to get in. I suggested that they put in a bell so that those with mobility issues can use to call for assistance... and they did! However, after vandals kept knocking the bells off, it seems this accessibility feature is not viable and I have been asked to look into other ideas. It's great that Oxfam want to become more accessible in their shops!

I founded a very small charity, and when we had a meeting at Cadbury World (great access here), whilst the hospitality woman showed us round before hand, watching me go up and down a high ramp, she observed the height and made a note to change it. When we returned a few years later, the ramp had been flattened and was much easier to access. 

A few years ago, my local doctors' surgery was demolished and rebuilt. I noticed in the new surgery, when my name was called, it flashed up on a screen. Being visually impaired I couldn't see this, and so asked them to put in a voice over system. The manager gave this the thumbs up and now I know when my appointment is being called. 

Before I began to lose my sight, I loved going to the cinema. When I learnt about audio description, I plucked up the courage to try it. 

However, we discovered it wasn't as easy as, pick a film, find a suitable time, and enjoy it.  Of course, nothing is easy with a disability to consider.  The Odeon and Vue cinemas listed only a handful of specific films on at certain times, usually awkward times. Instead of listing all of them and including all audience members. 

Outraged at this blatant discrimination, I contacted the MPs whose constituency they were in. Only 1 out of 3 replied, Frank Field, the then MP of Birkenhead. He took on my case and now Odeon Bromborough is fully audio description enabled. A fantastic result! 

Speaking of politics, recently, I've been trying to tackle some injustices and trying to rally support for the following: 

Whilst shopping in Birkenhead, I was swinging my white cane driving the powered wheelchair, when my cane smacked into a silver bin. I didn't see the hazard, it being silver on similar coloured pavement. I have tweeted and emailed Birkenhead MP, Mick Whitley, who has put it to the council who are going to look into it. 


Faye pictured crashing into a bin in Liverpool city centre














The London transport system is brilliant, with talking buses that have voice audio and visual comments that announces the next stop and nearby tourist attractions. I've never used the London Underground as I've heard how crowded the tube gets and about the lack of lifts and reliable ramp service.  When I went to Newcastle, they had similar talking buses, with an automatic ramp. Talking buses are a fantastic leap forward for the blind and deaf communities and those with dementia, as well as tourism. A talking bus offers a disabled person independence, confidence and safety from knowing they are in the right destination. In the past, I have asked other passengers where I am on my journey, only to be told, 'they should have a special bus for people like her.' I have recently been in touch with Arriva, who say that although talking buses are in some parts of Liverpool, as of January 2022, they are not distributing them to the Wirral, but hope to one day. 

I will continue to fight for this.

Those of you that have read my blog on Fantastically Great Women will know I have encouraged the producers to arrange a narrator enabling blind and visually impaired people to enjoy a show.

Since starting my blog, I've made changes, perhaps even altered opinions, I still have a long way to go, like with theatres and transport, but gradually things are moving forward and we will keep trying!! 

Follow me on twitter for regular updates: @LadyFaye31

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