17th
August 2006
~ Educating children
with disabilities to access buses ~
 Aptly
named the ‘Whizz
Kidz’, a group of young wheelchair users received
a special bus service courtesy of ComfortDelGro owned
Metroline.
The aim was to practice
getting on and off of buses using the wheelchair ramps
and kneeling facilities the bus has installed for mobility
impaired or wheelchair users. Whizz-Kidz is a national
charity that provides training and advice to young
wheelchair- users; to give them
more independence in the long-term. The scheme also
provides them with customised mobility equipment that
is not available from the NHS.
The aim of this training session
was to allow them to gain the confidence and independence
to be able to access public transport on their own
in the future. Driver Beverly Stuart of Metroline's
Perivale garage demonstrated how the ramp works and
with
some guidance
from a Whizz Kidz trainer, the children boarded the
bus using the ramp.
Dr David Sollis, Whizz Kidz Project Manager said: “Once
again, I would like to thank Metroline for providing
us with a bus and a driver, which contributed to changing
these children’s lives in just few hours!”
He added: “Having the bus there caused a huge excitement among the children
as they are normally taxied everywhere and have not had the chance to learn these
life skills. This event has provided these young wheelchair-users with the skills
they need to live a more independent and mobile lifestyle.” Nicola Vincent, Head
of Communications at Metroline said: "As a London
Bus operator, we want to encourage people with
disabilities
to have
the confidence to use our buses and hopefully we have
achieved this today with the Whizz Kidz children. Providing
the opportunity to practice boarding
a bus with a wheelchair is a
great idea and will give them more confidence when
they travel alone."
-
Ends -
Notes
to Editors:
- Metroline is one of the top five London-based bus
companies, currently running 13.5% of the capital’s bus
services under contract to Transport for
London.
- Metroline carries 250 million passengers every year,
operates 93 routes, covers over 37.5 million
journey miles each year, employs almost 3700 people and runs
a fleet of over 1,200 buses in North, West
and Central London and South Hertfordshire.
- Metroline is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore
based ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited,
which is the world's second largest listed land transport company.
- Whizz kids is
a community led project involving John Chilton School, Northolt, and local
partnerships. It
provides a great social opportunity for children
and families to meet and discuss disability issues.
Enquiries:
For
further enquiries please contact:
Nicola Vincent, Head of Communications,
Metroline 020 8218 8831 |
