My girl's disabled but I'm still not allowed on a bus

Published on Thursday 14 August 2008 10:36

LOTHIAN Buses has said its controversial ban on prams is to ensure space is kept free for people with disabilities. So Caroline Docherty was shocked when she was told she was no longer welcome on board with her disabled baby daughter. The mother-of-two said she had been refused access to seven buses when travelling with five-month-old Sophie, who has had brain damage since birth.

Sophie is carried in a pram equipped with equipment to feed her and monitor her breathing.

Disability groups and councillors have reacted with disbelief at the news and are calling on Lothian Buses to back down and allow drivers to use common sense.

Miss Docherty, from Royston Mains Avenue, said she now finds it very difficult to get around, and to take Sophie to hospital appointments. She has written to Lothian Buses asking it to make an exception for her pram.

She said: "Sophie can't go in a fold-away buggy or pram as she cannot hold her head up. She gets fed through the tube and has a monitor on her 24/7 for her breathing. She has fluid on the brain and has serious brain damage. We don't know if she's going to be able to walk when she's older.

"I've tried to get on seven different buses in the last couple of weeks and they all refused me. I explained that my daughter has a disability, but they still wouldn't let me on. I have no other way of getting to hospital with her. There must be lots of other mothers in a similar situation."

She would like to see a special card or bus pass introduced to ensure parents with disabled children could still use the buses.

David Griffiths, chief executive of ECAS, the city's top support group for people with disabilities, said he was shocked by Miss Docherty's treatment. ECAS has already said there is no legal necessity for the pram ban, and called on Lothian Buses to show more "common sense".

He said: "In some cases, a buggy or a pram is in effect a wheelchair for a disabled child. Some mothers do not want to broadcast the fact their child is disabled, but they should not have to fold the buggy to make space for a wheelchair. It should be enough to just have a quiet word with the driver.

"I am frustrated that this is being presented as 'wheelchair users against mothers'. I believe if it was left to themselves and the driver, they would be able to solve this quite happily."

Councillor Steve Cardownie, who represents the Forth ward, said he would be keen to take up Miss Docherty's case with the bus company.

He said: "It seems perfectly clear that this pram is a necessity, not a matter of choice. Refusing to let her on is against the Disability Discrimination Act.

"I'm hopeful we'll be able to get this resolved. It may be that Lothian Buses should be issuing a special bus pass for her."

A spokesman for Lothian Buses was unable to explain the policy regarding access for disabled children in prams or buggies. According to the company website, and guidance issued to drivers, prams which cannot be folded are banned from buses.