WESTERN Australians with disabilities will meet this weekend as part of the Taking Back Transport forum in the hopes of raising awareness of issues with the public transport system.
But while people from across the State will travel to Northbridge for the event, Coodanup resident Jeanette Mellor, who is blind, said WA was lucky compared to other states.
“I take buses, trains and taxis and although it depends on what it is, when it is and who I am with, I have never had a lot of problems,” she said.
“I find as far as employees go, they’re usually fabulous and bend over backwards to accommodate me.
“Basically no matter what policy is put in place or changes made, it comes down to the personal staff who are pretty good here.
“The main problem is the bus stops.
“A lot of them don’t have slabs so you have to step onto grass or something and I can slip and hurt myself.
“But that really is an easy fix.”
Ms Mellor is part of the City of Mandurah’s Access Inclusion Advisory group, formally the Disability Access Advisory Group, which is focused on creating safe access on the streets not just for people with disabilities but everyone in the community.
“I find some people are less inclined to do something about their problems and be proactive and just want to complain,” Ms Mellor said.
“Tell the Council if you have a problem.
“It’s their job and they’re great about it.”
She said one of the best things the community could do was encourage education of children about disabilities.
“If you teach the younger generation it will not only help future generations but you will find children will tell their parents off if they do something wrong,” Ms Mellor said.
“People need to know that a disability is not another culture; we’re not aliens.”
