Question: Have you or anyone you know ever experienced a disability hate crime? Yes/No Your Feedback: 74% (31 respondents) answered yes, as they or someone they knew had experienced a disability hate crime. 26% (11 respondents) had not. Your Comments: “I’ve never experienced this but if so I would report it and expect it to be followed up. Younger kids need to learn from an early age what is and isn’t acceptable I terms of language used as well as behaviour.” “I did not report it because at the time their was very little knowledge of third party reporting it
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Question: Do you think employers have a role supporting staff with their mental health? Yes/No Your Feedback: 100% of respondents answered yes and agreed that employers must support staff with their mental health. Your Comments: “Employers, particularly those running small businesses, need access to advice and guidance on mental health issues – on how to promote good mental health in the workplace….and how to respond to and support staff.” “Of course, although the stigma surrounding mental health sometimes makes it difficult for staff and management to discuss these sort of issues.” “Yes. Although it can only be in relation to
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Question: Do you think Universal Credit should be stopped in Scotland? Yes/No Yes/No Your Feedback: 90% (37 respondents) answered yes, as they thought Universal Credit should be stopped in Scotland. 10% (4 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “Yes, stop Universal Credit, this has caused and is causing sheer misery for a lot of families” “Not only is unwanted it will have serious effects on councils incomes putting other services at risk.” “It is not fit for purpose. Delays in processing claims are contributing to rent arrears, evictions and the need for a rise in foodbanks. It’s a disaster” “The changeover
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Question: Do you think the Scottish Government will deliver an improved social security benefits system? Yes/No Your Feedback: 62% (31 respondents) answered yes, as they thought the Scottish Government could deliver an improved social security system. 38% (19 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “We should have full control and rules would never be set by Westminster. I have huge respect for Jean Freeman, she is leading a real change vs business as usual and I wish her well.” “One of the problems at the moment with the benefit system is method of contact. Usually telephone, if a person has difficulty
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Question: Have you or someone you know encountered any problems accessing court services? Yes/No Your Feedback: 55% of respondents answered yes, as they or someone they knew had encountered problems accessing court services. 45% of respondents answered no. Your Comments: “Civil/Criminal Court Deaf people with communication support needs find it difficult to get an initial appointment for legal advice as it is unclear who pays for the communication support and it may even require communication support to organise an appointment.” “Physical barriers, at counters and in courts themselves e.g. sheriff court” “I am in a wheelchair on the first day
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Question: Do you think the organ donation system should be opt-out? Yes/No Your Feedback: 91% (50 respondents) answered yes, as they thought the organ donation system should be opt-out. 9% (5 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “There is a shortage of organs for donation. Many will die before they are offered one. We must change the law.” “Doesn’t take into account people like Jehovahs Witnesses who wouldn’t want their organs donated or it may be that people simply lack capacity to be able to opt out and wouldn’t want their organs donated” “Consideration must be given to people who do
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Question: Have you encountered any problems when purchasing rail tickets and or using concession/companion cards when travelling? Yes/No Your Feedback: 46% (19 respondents) answered yes, as they had experienced problems when purchasing rail tickets. 54% (22 respondents) had encountered no problems. Your Comments: “I have problems with ticket machines so prefer to buy tickets in advance and have them delivered by post.” “1. Deaf people find it hard if they are buying tickets in unmanned stations and there are problems because they cannot phone the helpline service. 2. Deafblind people often have trouble reading the small print. Sometimes the print
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Question: Have road works ever affected your ability to get around? Yes/No Your Feedback: 96% of respondents answered yes as road works had affected their ability to get around, 4% of respondents answered no. Your Comments: “Roadworks have frequently caused me problems – especially in towns and cities. I find that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manoeuvre a wheelchair or power chair around roadworks. The main problem is that although they tend to provide a “walkway” around the work being done, the quality of the substitute route is poor with obstacles and rough surfaces.” “Speed bumps or humps cause
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Question: Have you encountered any problems with passenger assistance at airports in Scotland? Yes/No Your Feedback: 81% (42 respondents) answered yes as they had experienced difficulties purchasing accessible tickets. 19% (10 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “At Prestwick a mobile lift delay caused the plane to be delayed significantly and for me to be lifted into planes seat (I am tetraplegic) while an entire plane watched. I felt humiliated and was held entirely to blame for their delay.” “While travelling to Spain on my own as a registered blind person the airport staff at Prestwick were excellent and couldn’t do
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Question: Do you think ScotRail provide enough Blue Badge parking spaces? Yes/No Your Feedback: 44 respondents answered no as they thought ScotRail do not provide enough blue badge parking spaces. 9 respondents answered yes. Your Comments: “There could be enough if they were policed properly to stop non badge holders parking” “Some stations have adequate accessible parking but not all. Scot rail also need to ensure a consistent approach to enforcing accessible parking and ensuring these faces are not abused. They should also have plans to ensure that where needed accessible parking links to passenger assist services.” “I am near
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Question: Do you think the Scottish Budget will be worse off as a result of Brexit? Yes/No Your Feedback: 88% (28 respondents) answered yes as they think the Scottish Budget will be worse off as a result of Brexit. 12% (4 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “As there does not seem to be any plan for exit and disability still low on government priority I think things will be worse off” “It may be something of a cynical view but I feel that the degree of speculative uncertainty that already prevails will only lead to opportunists both in the commercial
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about accessible tickets. Question: Have you or someone you know found it difficult to buy accessible tickets for an event? (live music, theatre, comedy, sport and conferences etc.) Yes/No Your Feedback: 81% (42 respondents) answered yes as they had  experienced difficulties purchasing accessible tickets. 19% (10 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “In Glasgow at the main large venues (Hydro etc) it is virtually impossible to get Accessible Tickets. If you don’t get through on the Phone within the first 5 minutes of lines opening then you have no chance.” “Never tried
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about accessible postal services. Question: Have you experienced any difficulties accessing postal services, for example travelling to depots to collect mail delivered when you were out, or arranging redelivery of items? Yes/No Your Feedback: 59% (23 respondents) answered yes as they had  experienced difficulties accessing postal services. 41% (16 respondents) answered no. Your Comments: “Four Post Offices nearest to where I live are all inaccessible to me – this means travelling great distances or having to pay a carer to go to my local Post Office to complete my transactions there.
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Clinical Governance Question: Are patient and service user views taken into account in the planning and delivery of services? YES/NO Your Feedback: 75% (21 respondents) answered no as they felt patient and service user views are not taken into account in the planning and delivery of services. 25% (7 respondents) answered yes. Your Comments: “Having been a senior clinician and manager in the NHS for many years I can safely say NO! A manager is a manager, a clinician is a clinician – the two are in direct conflict.” “I think
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Accessible Buildings. Question: Do you think more should be done to improve the accessibility of public buildings in Scotland? YES/NO Your Feedback: 98% (59 respondents) answered YES that more should be done to improve the accessibility of public buildings in Scotland?. 2% (1 respondent) answered No. Your Comments: “It’s about time the government brought in new legislation for access to many buildings that restricts people in wheelchairs enjoying the same services as the able bodied.” “More consideration of those with physical disabilities that can walk but who struggle to do
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Personal Care . Question: Do you think personal and nursing care should be free for disabled people under the age of 65? YES/NO Your Feedback: 95% (36 respondents) answered YES that personal care should be free. 5% (2 respondents) answered No. Your Comments: “It is everyones right to live a life with dignity, respect with choice and independence (Equality Act 2010) therefore it is only right and proper that all disabled people receive free personal and nursing care free at the point of delivery and that the care given meets
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Accessible Parking. Question: Do you think parking, including parking on pavements, at dropped kerbs and double parking is a problem in your area? YES/NO Your Feedback: 93% (28 respondents) answered YES as parking, including parking on pavements, at dropped kerbs and double parking is a problem in their area. 7% (2 respondents) answered No. Your Comments: “Aberdeenshire no longer has traffic wardens and the police do not have the time to ticket every parking transgression. Therefore it is now a “free for all” with people parking wherever they want with no fear
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About This Consultation Transport Scotland wanted your views on improving the management of parking across Scotland and making regulation more consistent. The consultation asked how Transport Scotland can improve the clarity of the laws of parking, what restrictions should be applied and the exceptions that should be granted. Transport Scotland also aimed this consultation to local authorities to ask them how they can deliver an integrated approach to managing parking, how we should tackle displacement of vehicles and support the town centre regeneration, as well as improving accessibility to all.    Your Responses We reported our members feedback to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Carer’s Allowance. Question: Have You Applied for Carer’s Allowance YES/NO Your Feedback: 73% (16 respondents) answered No as they had not applied for Carer’s Allowance. 27% (6 respondents) answered Yes as they had applied for Carer’s Allowance. Your Comments: “Been in receipt of CA for several years now and being in receipt of qualifying benefits then and now found it a very straight forward process” “My main carer also works and because of their earning they are not eligible for any payment even though the provide care in the evening and
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Accessible Voting. Question: Do you think voting is accessible in Scotland? YES/NO Your Feedback: 67% (18 respondents) answered NO as they considered access to the polling station, travel to the polling station and also the accessibility of the ballot paper. 33% (9 respondents) answered YES that voting was accessible. Your Comments: “The “accessible” voting booths are not fit for purpose. The Shelf is too high, does not project far enough and the booth is not deep enough for most wheelchair users.” “Fairly good accessibility, but some venues not on bus routes.
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Accessible Taxis. Question: Since April 6 2017 have you, or someone you know, been charged extra when using an accessible taxi in Scotland? YES/NO Your Feedback: 81% (21 respondents) answered NO as they or someone they knew had not been charged extra for using an accessible taxi in Scotland since April 6 2017. 19% (5 respondents) answered YES and had been charged extra. Your Comments: “Cost is really not the issue here. Availability outside big towns and cities is the hurdle that wheelchair users must face on a daily basis.” “On
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about British Sign Language (BSL). Question: Do you think British Sign Language (BSL) should be taught in schools as a second language? YES/NO Your Feedback: 88% (38 respondents) answered YES and thought British Sign Language (BSL) should be taught in schools as a second language. 12% (5 respondents) answered NO. Your Comments: “Children should learn sign language from a very early age as it would help them to learn that all children are not the same.” “I feel the option should be there, partly to improve the ‘inclusion’ of the Deaf
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Brexit. Question: Do you think disabled people in Scotland will be better or worse off as a result of Brexit? BETTER/WORSE/STAY THE SAME Your Feedback: 66% (25 respondents) said that disabled people in Scotland would be worse off because of Brexit. This compared with 5% (2 respondents) who said disabled people in Scotland would be better off because of Brexit. The remaining 11 respondents (29%) stated that things would stay the same. Your Comments: “The economy is likely to shrink resulting in even less money for public services and thus less
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Question: Have you, or someone you know, lost a motability vehicle as a result of transferring from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) YES/NO Your Feedback: 38% (14 respondents) said YES, that they or someone they knew had lost a mobility vehicle as a result of transferring from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 62% (23 respondents) said NO, that they or someone they knew had not lost a mobility vehicle. Your Comments: “By transferring to PIP from low DLA
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about mental health. Question: Do you think the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy will improve mental health services in Scotland over the next ten years? YES/NO Your Feedback: 57% (20 respondents) said YES they do think the Scottish Government’s Mental Health Strategy will improve mental health services in Scotland over the next ten years. 43% (15 respondents) said NO, they do not think mental health services will improve. Your Comments: “I hope that the money is spent on ensuring that services are accessibly locally rather than people having to travel a
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about accessible tourism. Question: Do you find it easy to find accessible holiday accommodation? YES/NO Your Feedback: 27% (11 respondents) said YES, that they do find it easy to find accessible holiday accommodation.  73% (30 respondents) said NO, they do not find it easy. Your Comments: “It is easy to find accommodation and over many years we have booked B&B, rented accommodation and hotels and only twice had refusals because of a guide dog” “I have only found 2 places in Scotland with any type of standing aid (which I need to
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about planning applications. We had a tremendous response and received lots of interesting comments. Question: Since 2014, have you needed to make any changes to your home because of your disability? YES/NO Your Feedback: 65% (17 respondents) said YES, that changes had been made to their homes since 2014 because of their disability. 35% said NO, changes had not been made to their homes. Your Comments: ”Plan and then try and have it done under your own steam as it may be cheaper and you’ll get what you want rather than
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about planning applications. We had a tremendous response and received lots of interesting comments. Question: Do you think local authorities should consult with Access Panels on all local planning applications? Your Feedback: 96% (46 respondents) said YES that local authorities should consult with Access Panels on all local planning applications, 4% (2 respondents) said NO, they should not. Your Comments: ”I think LA’s should consult with local Access Panels. Our Panel sees plans all the time and makes comment. This is crucial for public buildings” “I am a fervent advocate in
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about  Accessible Travel. We had a tremendous response and received lots of interesting comments. Question: Are there barriers which prevent you from travelling on public transport. YES/NO Your Feedback: 90% (28 respondents) said YES they had experienced barriers which prevented them travelling on public transport because of their disability. 10% (3 respondents) said NO, they had not. Some comments: ” A severe lack of wheelchair accessible taxis away from town and city centres.” “Trains can be good and staff are helpful. Disability awareness training is important as it makes a real difference
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Thank you to everyone who completed last week’s poll about Shared Spaces. We had a fantastic response and received lots of interesting comments. Question: As a disabled person, do you agree with the idea of Shared Spaces? YES/NO Your Feedback: 12% of the 36 respondents answered YES that they did agree with the idea of Shared Spaces. 88% said NO, they did not agree with Shared Spaces. Some comments: “Pedestrians and vehicles are not a good mix and imagine the chaos with no traffic lights or road signs.” “Shared Spaces do not work well for people with a visual impairment
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