As part of #CatchTheBusMonth, we have been sharing case studies taken from our Travel with Confidence delivery partners to showcase why Travel Training is so important and what kind of a difference it is making to people’s lives.
Jane is a 62-year-old White British woman with a mild learning disability and registered blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive eye condition that has left her with extreme tunnel vision.
Jane uses a rollerball cane to navigate her surroundings and often links arms with someone when she’s outside. She lives independently and maintains strong connections with her loved ones, including her sister who lives in Bradford and also has the same eye condition, and uses a guide dog for support. Jane’s partner lives in Yeadon, and together they enjoy holidays, watching sports, and spending quality time both at her home and his.
Jane wanted to be able to visit her loved ones whenever she wanted rather than waiting until she had paid support to travel.
I don’t have confidence to travel alone and only travel with a Support Worker or in a taxi.
Like many blind or partially sighted people, Jane faced numerous daily obstacles when it came to navigating her community:
- Finding the correct bus stops
- Knowing when to get off the bus
- Dealing with street hazards such as cars parked on pavements, overgrown hedges, bins, and street furniture
While others might take these things for granted, for Jane they were significant barriers. But despite her anxiety about trying new things, Jane was clear about what she wanted.
I’m nervous of trying new things but I do it anyway – otherwise I would just stay at home all the time.
Jane is a member of People In Action, and she signed up for the Travel with Confidence project – a program designed to support individuals with disabilities in building the skills and confidence to travel independently.
She was paired with Paula, the Travel Coordinator, and together they created a travel plan which focused on Jane’s goals, utilising her existing knowledge and developing her confidence in herself.
Jane already knew where to get local buses, so we started from there,” Paula explained. “We found the timetables, stops, and times for the buses she needed. Once Jane felt confident, I suggested she try travelling alone while I met her at the other end. She did this more than once – and with every trip, her confidence grew.
Through her travel training, Jane developed practical skills that helped her become a more independent traveller. Of her training she said:
I have learned lots of things that have helped me travel safely and independently
- I know I can phone Metro and they will send me a large print timetable out for any bus I need
- I know how to access travel apps on my phone
- I know how to scan the QR code if there is one at a bus stop – these are not available at all bus stops
- I know how to use the Info buttons on bus stops that will speak the timetable for me – but many of these do not work and they are not on all bus stops!
- I know to ask the bus driver and other passengers for help if I need it
- To ignore unkind comments from people that think they should be able to get on/off buses before me or that I should be able to move quicker
Since completing her sessions, Jane has made a number of independent journeys.
I’m not as anxious now when I travel alone. I feel more confident and I’ve learned a lot,” she shared. “Being able to get out more has really improved my well-being. I’m very proud of myself for completing the training. I’ve learned so much and will definitely carry on travelling independently.
Jane now encourages others to give travel training a try, even if they feel unsure at first.
I would recommend this training to anyone – even if they’re frightened to start with. It’s a good thing and makes you get out of your comfort zone. Then travelling becomes your comfort zone!
Through this structured travel training programme, ‘Travel buddies’ help build the confidence and motivation that older people (particularly those living with frailty or disability) need, in order to return to independent travel,
LOPF is working with the following organisations, as delivery partners on Travel with confidence: