This report presents the findings of a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with a sample of 45 disabled people. Evidence presented by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) indicates that disabled people experience considerable disadvantage in terms of transport and travel. Findingsfrom the National Travel Survey show that disabled people make fewer journeys and are more reliant on public transport for these journeys than the general population. Requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) mean transport providers must take reasonable steps to make services, vehicles and infrastructure user-friendly to disabled people. Issues coveredinclude the travel experiences of disabled people with varying types of disabilities or restrictions, such as physical impairments and chronic health conditions; sensory impairments; mental health support needs; and learning disabilities. Key policy initiatives also address barriers to accessing transport for disabled people as a means of tackling social exclusion. This research explores how barriers to travel and transport use operate in practice and it identifies what disabled people think can make a difference, providing valuable evidence to legislators and policy makers. (Author/publisher)
Abstract