TRAVELLING on a bus or train is a daily activity for lots of people and they probably don’t even give it a second thought. But for people with learning difficulties, a seemingly simple thing like planning a journey on public transport can be incredibly daunting.
Elaine May is 19 and has special educational needs. She’s supporting a campaign called GOJO which aims to help young people with learning difficulties overcome their fears.
Here, she tells her story: “I’m a student at Tyne Metropolitan College and I’m supporting a campaign called GOJO.It’s to get young people who have fears or difficulties using buses and trains to give it a go.
“Lots of people take using public transport for granted. But the Disability Rights Commission, which is behind GOJO, says twice as many young disabled people don’t feel confident using buses and trains as non-disabled people.
“I can understand why. It’s intimidating sometimes; especially when buses are crowded. I have a learning difficulty so I know that the little things most people would barely notice can be a big deal. I never knew which was the right bus to catch or what stop to get off at.”
Determined to become more independent, Elaine enrolled on two travelling courses; the first at her school and then the Travelwise course run by North Tyneside Council’s Post 19 Transport Partnership. She said: “I went out with a teaching assistant on the buses and trains once a week for two years. I would definitely say practice makes perfect. The course really helped me get more confident and now I use public transport all the time.
“I get the bus to college when before I just used to rely on taxis. The best thing is that I can be independent and meet up with my friends when I want.
“I’m supporting GOJO because it’s trying to help people make the most of public transport and giving tips on how to cope if things go wrong. The website – www.mygojo.co.uk - can help you plan your journey, as well as giving you information on your rights.
“Using public transport has really helped change my life. If GOJO can inspire other people to try it out, I think it will have done a great job.”
Northumberland
