DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (002) issued by The Government News Network
on 24 June 2008
Issued on behalf
of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC)
Lord Bassam of Brighton, the House of Lords Spokesperson on
transport, will deliver the Key Note speech to launch DPTAC's
Disability Equality and Awareness Training Framework for Transport
Staff on 25th June to delegates from the transport industry and
disability organisations.
The training framework is a free resource and has been designed
for use across all modes of transport.
Despite improvements to the accessibility of transport
infrastructure, disabled travellers continue to face daily
obstacles. A key element is poor or inadequate disability
awareness training, and transport staff are often unable to give
disabled travellers the support they would like to provide.
DPTAC commissioned the Centre for Employment & Disadvantage
Studies to carry out research with disabled people and the
transport industry in order to identify the key issues to address
in disability equality and awareness training.
Carol Thomas, Chair of DPTAC's Education and Training
Working Group says "We have developed a training framework
that will help identify the needs of disabled passengers and the
training staff require to assist them properly. In essence, it
focuses on good customer care for disabled people. Just as
improving accessibility for disabled people improves accessibility
for all; our framework should help transport providers deliver a
better service to all passengers."
From Thursday 26th June, copies of the revised specification will
be available free of charge from the DPTAC website http://www.dptac.gov.uk/
Notes to Editors
1. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was
set up under the Transport Act of 1985 to advise Government on the
transport needs of all disabled people. It has a maximum of 20
members (of whom at least half must be disabled people),
representing a wide range of transport interests. Members are
appointed by Ministers and are unpaid, apart from the
reimbursement of expenses.
2. DPTAC commissioned the Centre for Employment &
Disadvantage Studies to produce the training framework.
3. The conference is being held on the 25th June at the National
Council for Voluntary Organisations, Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints
St, N1 9RL.
4. For further information, contact
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
Zone
2/23
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Direct Line: 020 7944 3238
Fax: 020 7944 6998
Minicom:
020 7944 3277
GTN Code: 3533
e-mail: dptac@dtlr.gov.uk
Website: http://www.dptac.gov.uk