TRAVEL TO WORK, TRAINING, OR EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH A TRANSPORT HANDICAP

This research was carried out to identify customer needs and the potential market to support the introduction of a demand responsive passenger transport service to destinations including colleges, places of work and training venues. The report includes a review of local and national sources identifying the level of economic activity amongst disabled people and the extent to which access to transport may affect employment opportunities. This is complemented by a survey of transport handicapped people in Rotherham. Structured interviews with major employers, training agents and further education agencies draw on an initial community consultation exercise which involved representatives from the Health and Transport Planning sectors, the District Council and Chamber of Commerce as well as being open to individual disabled people. The findings show that disabled people are up to three times more likely to be unemployed than the non-disabled. Poor transport is one of a series of barriers to independent living to be overcome by disabled people seeking work. There could be benefits to be gained by promoting improved coordination between the varied agencies and organisations either contracting or making special transport arrangements for their disabled workers or trainees. Over half of those interviewed said they would like to use a service modelled on Dial-A-Ride designed to facilitate regular journeys for work or training if such a service were introduced. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 866413.