Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2001 14:29:58 +1000
To: discbdis@humanrights.gov.au
From: Petra Svab <tham@a1.com.au>
Subject: HREOC INQUIRY:EQUAL ACCESS TO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI SERVICE
Cc: pdcnsw@pdcnsw.org.au,radam@deafsociety.com,aad@aad.org.au

I now drive my own car, and this has been liberating. I would still like to make a few comments about my experiences with wheelchair taxis. The following are experiences that I have faced - I do not wish to be negative, but I feel that my experiences are important enough to inform other people. I believe also that other people have had similar experiences.

I stayed in accommodation in Berala where people who have had an accident adjust to life back in the community.

1.      When I called to book w/c taxi from Berala, I usually only had to wait around 15 to 20 mins for the w/c taxi to arrive as the taxis are familiar with the location. However I did a course at TAFE during that time I have experience a wait of up to 2 hours, and this did not happen the once - in fact it occurred a number of times...

2.      I am able to transfer myself into a taxi. However some taxi drivers have refused to take me because of the assumption that they would have to transfer me into the seat out of my wheelchair, even though I am able to do this myself....

3.      I have been asked to leave the taxi few times after informing the driver of where I want to go. This occurred when I was living in Berala. This has been very upsetting and very difficult for me, and has even happened to me in the city when with friends....

4.      I have visited other places and I feel that they compare better with Sydney. Taxi drivers in Melbourne and Brisbane are much better informed and trained. Drivers have asked me how I can get into the taxi, giving me the opportunity to explain how I can moved around. I have been very impressed by this and feel that Sydney is the worst place in my experience for access to taxis...

Finally, I must say that I was impressed with how taxi drivers respected people who are in wheelchairs during the Paralypmics. I was hoped that we would see a change in attitude after the Paralypmics but the pitiful attitude became obvious again after the games.

I am aware that other people who have less mobility than I have may have worse experience. I would like to say that taxi services should have more training and respect to know how to provide a service to people who are in wheelchair or have other needs.

I think also my particular situation, being both Deaf and in a wheelchair has made access difficult at times. If I am already in the back of a taxi, it is harder for me to communicate with the driver. It makes harder for me to negotiate how I would like to receive a service so in my situation, appropriate deafness awarness training would also be appropriate.

I only use the taxi when absolutely necessary because it has been my experience that they have no experience or no respect toward people who are in wheelchairs.

Petra Svab..
T12 Wheelchair...