community for people with voice problems started by The Lary Project

Public transport and voice issues

I had an experience today which really upset me, and I am still not too sure how to deal with it, so I thought I would express it on here and see if anyone had any suggestions or had suffered similar problems.

At the moment I have a lot of medical appointments, I am unable to drive because of my tablets and my Mum works shifts so sometimes I have to rely on public transport to get me to them. This causes a problem in itself as bus drivers for example cannot hear me when I ask them for the ticket so I go prepared with a note pre-written for what ticket I want and where I want to go. As well as this, I have a lot of problems with anxiety at the moment and being in that situation on my own makes me really nervous so it is quite difficult to do and I have to sort of hype myself up before I go.

Today I had a doctors appointment and Mum was working so I went to get the bus. I had my note ready but wasn't too sure how much it would be so I had plenty of change in my pocket. Usually the bus drivers read the note, and treat me as they would any other person, talk to me etc. The driver today seemed to think seen as I was unable to speak to him, I must also have been deaf. He started to tell me how much the ticket would cost, but then stopped and looked at me, I tried to ask but he could not hear me, and looked away, I then got the money out my pocket and gestured to him how much did he want but he still would not tell me. In the end he pointed to a small screen next to him to show me how much it said. The problem with this was that it was at such an angle I ended up hitting my head on the plastic screen in front of the driver.

Now, for a start why did he assume I was deaf? Even if I was, I may have been able to lip read. Why should he treat someone who cannot talk, and that he assumed was deaf, any different to any 'normal' person?

The whole incident has really upset me and just added to my anxiety of such situations.

Sorry for the rant!!

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Permalink Reply by Becky Doggett on August 18, 2011 at 19:43

Thanks Terry, I look forward to your advice!

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Permalink Reply by Terence McDermott on August 22, 2011 at 22:38

Hi Becky, Apologies for my delay in responding. I have sent you a message (on here) with the proposed letter as I did not want to post it publicly without your permission.

Let me know what you think.

Best wishes, Terry

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Permalink Reply by Becky Doggett on August 24, 2011 at 1:10

Hi Terry, thank you ever so much for your help. I have now sent the letter to them via the website. I have no problems with the contents of it being shared on here if anyone would wish to see it, and I shall of course keep you all informed of any correspondence I hear back from them, especially if they inform me of any changes they are going to make. It is of everyone here' interest to hear what they have to say about the incident!!

Thanks again Terry for taking the time and effort to help me out, I really appreciate it.

And also, thank you to everyone else who has commented on this subject, it is so nice to have the support of others and to hear your own experiences or advice.

Wishing you all good vocal health!!

Becky

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Permalink Reply by Becky Doggett on August 25, 2011 at 0:10

Just to let you know, I had an answer phone message from someone from First today. My Mum is going to call back when she is free with me (hopefully tomorrow depending on her work) to talk to someone on my behalf, and they are going to go through a few things that may help me with bus travel in the future. I shall let you all know what they say once the conversation has taken place.

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Permalink Reply by Becky Doggett on August 26, 2011 at 0:44

Mum spoke to the bus company today. He was very sorry for the incident that happened, and basically said:

- Every driver has a 1 day training course every year, which goes over being polite and courteous to everybody, including those with a disability, and different ways they can help out those who may have a more difficult time travelling than others

- He said they encourage anyone one who has not been treated in a polite and courteous manner to report the incident, whatever it may be, as soon as they can so that the incident can be investigated

- He spoke about the safe journey card scheme, which was what Hazel posted the link to a few weeks ago, and encouraged this to be used as it is something the drivers will recognise and have been tought to work with, although they did say the fact I wasn't using one of these at the time doesn't make up for being treated any differently. They are sending me one of these through the post

- They asked me if I wanted any action taken against the driver, which I said I did not, I simply wanted to raise the incident to their attention, to stop others having to go through what I had to

- They are also sending me through a free day travel bus ticket to be used throughout Norfolk, which is very kind of them, but as I move up to Leeds next Friday I'm not too sure I will have time to use it!!

All in all, the man was very kind and tried to be helpful. It was a little awkward as I couldn't talk to him myself as he was in a call center and would not have been able to hear me on the phone. He did invite me down to speak to him in person via email yesterday, but seen as the conversation was quite brief, I am quite glad I didn't. The man himself used to be a bus driver until he sustained an injury a year ago which meant he could no longer do so, and was very sympathetic to having something which changes your every day life so suddenly, which was nice.

The biggest thing that has come out of it, in my opinion, is the fact they have stated they encourage anyone who is treated in a way they believe they shouldn't be, no matter how it is, they want it to be reported. They are trying to ensure everyone of their drivers treats everyone equal and treats them well, which I see as very positive.

Thanks again for all of your help and support.