Access Champion

London Take Two of 2022 I was recently invited to attend a charity event in London, so, of course, we turned it into a mini break. The journey there all seemed a bit back to front, but somehow all worked out in the end. On both Merseyrail and Avanti Trains, we weren’t put on at the usual end for the accessible carriage. The Avanti one might’ve been because the help desk at Liverpool Lime Street train station was closed, so we had to ask the Avanti staff to get us on. We got the later afternoon train, which was quieter. We wore our masks throughout. The walk to London Euston train station exit was much shorter than usual due to the carriage change. As our old favourite, the Imperial Hotel, was fully booked, and their charges have increased, so you no longer get a free meal and breakfast, we booked the Premier Inn Holborn. This was quite a walk from Euston, but we may have taken the long route. As you come to the front entrance, there are steps and a lift. The buttons ar...

As my confidence to get out has grown, so has both my loneliness and restlessness. Many of my friends are vulnerable and shielding, so not keen to mix. This is fine, we’re all on our own path and re-emerging into a new world at our own pace. I love art and find such joy in painting, so when I heard about the 5 week all abilities painting course, costing £90, I worked out how to save up for it, planned travel arrangements and got quite excited. Then my p.a phoned the tutor at the West Kirby Arts Centre. He said, 'we’d love to have you join us, but there’s no wheelchair access.' Apparently, the Victorians who built the church didn’t think disabled people worthy of God’s love... And those who converted the church, don't think us worthy either as there are 8 steps leading up to the entrance, internal steps and no disabled toilet! How a place like this is open in the 21st century, I do not know! Disappointed, angry and upset that they were effectively excluding me because I am d...

Whey-aye-pet! Disabled traveller in Newcastle.       My rare condition means that I have to travel to one of the three Mitochondrial centres in England. My nearest is three hours away by train in Newcastle.    We usually stay two nights, but because TransPennine Express were on strike every Sunday for months, possibly even years, we had to stay for one night.  The only good thing was we were able to book the assistance the night before.  In the past, TransPennine Express stuck its disabled passengers  by the toilet, but now, we are allowed in with the other passengers and even get a desk!    We were bumped up to First Class, which was nice.  Each stop was announced through a voiceover, but my mum didn't see it visually. As it's a long journey, a food cart came along.    Newcastle train station doesn't have a lift that I know of, but does have ramped bridges and stairs. The stair gaps are marked by lined...