This meeting took place on 9 March 2016. Read the transcript here.
Every day in London 1.3 million journeys are made by disabled people, and 700,000 trips are taken by people aged over 75. Significant numbers of Londoners have a sensory impairment:
- Over a million Londoners have a hearing loss,[1] over 80,000 of whom have a severe or profound hearing loss;.[2]
- Approximately 175,000 Londoners living with sight loss.[3]
- Over 30,000 Londoners have a significant dual sensory impairment or deafblindness.[4]
The London Assembly Transport Committee is investigating the challenges facing Londoners using the transport network with a sensory impairment. How can confidence be improved to travel across the capital with or without assistance? How difficult is it to navigate different stations and bus models, as well as ‘shared space’ and road works? How do they access information when something goes wrong? Is technology helping to solve problems and what are the future opportunities?
The guests are:
- David McNeill, Director of Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations, Transport for London
- Sarah Teichler, Customer Strategy Manager London Underground, Transport for London
- Helen Drew, Customer Services Safety & Standards Manager, Chiltern Railways
- Robert Harris, Engagement Manager, Guide Dogs
- Dr Tom Pey, Chief Executive, Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB)
- Faryal Velmi, Director, Transport for All
- Patrick Roberts, Trustee, Transport for All
- Dr Roger Wicks, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Action on Hearing Loss
The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 9 March from 10:00am in The Chamber at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
A Palantypist and BSL signer will be translating in The Chamber for those attending.
The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.
Notes to editors
- Action on Hearing Loss submission
- https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/london_assembly_health_committee_-_access_to_health_services_for_deaf_people_-_june_2015_-_updated.pdf
- http://www.rnib.org.uk/knowledge-and-research-hub-key-information-and-statistics/sight-loss-data-tool
- https://www.sense.org.uk/publications/regional-data-future-deafblind-population-london
- Agenda Papers
- Val Shawcross CBE AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- London Assembly Transport Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.