The Inclusive Transport Accreditation Scheme, coming in 2019, will take account of the delivery of disability awareness training throughout the organisation, and not just to front-line staff and drivers
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that it will launch the Inclusive Transport Accreditation Scheme (ITAS) in 2019 to recognise operators that take positive action to improve disabled passengers’ experiences.
It is something that the DfT hopes operators will be encouraged to pursue, and it forms part of the recently-published Inclusive Transport Strategy document.
The DfT says that a number of responses to 2017’s draft Accessibility Action Plan consultation highlighted the importance of the assistance and support provided by transport staff.
When managers undertake the same disability awareness training as front-line people, budgets, training and resources are directed at the areas and services that provide the greatest improvements to disabled and older passengers’ experiences.
To assist with the delivery of the training, the DfT is developing a package that will be made available to all operators. It also plans to recommend or require the involvement of disabled people or their representatives.
In order to qualify for one of the multiple accreditation statuses, operators will need to prove that they display a number of desired characteristics, such as:
- A commitment to train all staff, from back office to front line, on the equality and disability awareness package
- Making clear pledges on what steps they will take to improve the service for disabled users
- Offering assistance cards, where appropriate, to disabled passengers
- Ensuring that drivers respond appropriately when assistance cards as presented
- Having become a Disability Confident employer.
Read the full report at bit.ly/2vACGPm
