It is 6:15 on a cold Tuesday morning in Western Sydney, and Jim Sutherland is already at his front door. He is thirty-four, he uses a power wheelchair, and he has a job in the city that is ready for him. To most of us, the trip to work is just a small part of the day. To Jim, it has always been a puzzle with many pieces.
Here at ZedCare Ability Services, we have been beside him as he has put that puzzle together, and his story shows what accessible transport for disabled people in Sydney can be, and what it still needs to be.
How We Met Jim
We first met Jim about two years ago. He came to us with one clear sentence. “I just want to get to work,” he said. It was not a big dream, and that is why it stayed with us.
Jim has cerebral palsy, which affects his muscles and, on tired days, his speech. He has a good diploma in accounts, and he had an offer from a small firm near Central station. However, he had already said no to two jobs before that, because the trip was too hard to plan.
Quite often, it happens that a person has the skill but not the route. Unfortunately, Jim was one of them.
The Trip Before We Met
Let us be honest about how it used to be. Jim had to book a wheelchair accessible taxi a day ahead, and yes, it was late more often than not. His local bus stop had no firm, flat space for the ramp. The station near his home has a lift, although the lift was out of order twice in one month.
Obviously, a new employee cannot tell his boss that the lift is broken and that he will be there by noon.
It is very true that one small fault can break a whole journey. A single lift that is out of order is enough. Jim would be stuck on a platform with no way out, and his mother would have to come and get him. He would then be late, tired and quite upset. Besides the lost hours, it was the loss of trust in himself that hurt most.
How We Planned the Route Together
Yes, we had no timetable at the start. We started with Jim. Susan, one of our HR and support coordinators, sat with him for an hour and asked simple questions. How far will your battery last? Which days are the most tiring? What would be the best plan if it rains?
Then we built the plan one piece at a time.
- The main route:
A train from his local station to Central, with a working lift at both ends. We checked the Transport for NSW website and app. That showed us step-free access details for each station.
- The back-up:
A taxi that is booked in advance, which would be paid in part through the NSW Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme. This scheme can cover part of the fare for people who are eligible.
- The funding:
Transport support is part of some NDIS plans, and Jim’s plan was one of them. We checked it with him, so there would be no surprise bills.
- The practice run:
Two trips on a quiet Saturday, so he could meet the lifts, the gaps and the crowds, and get used to them before the first real workday.
Thus, the plan was ready before the job began. It was not perfect, though. No plan ever is.
What Accessible Transport for Disabled People in Sydney Looks Like Today
Sydney has made real progress. Many train stations now have lifts, Sydney Metro has level access from platform to train, and the light rail is step-free. Most buses now have ramps, and ferries are better than which they used to be (though they are mostly less even than trains).
However, this picture pf transportation is not same or all parts of the city. Some older stations still have steps, and lift faults are very common here. It is generally true that the newer the line, the better the access.
That is why a route check on the day of travel is so important. Lift alerts can change in the morning, just as the weather can.
To be fair, the people who run the network have a very big task. It will take time. But a person like Jim cannot wait for time. He has a job to get to today.
How is Jim Doing Today
By the end of the first month, he got a set routine which he started to follow without much hassle. The 7:02 train. The lift at Central. A twelve-minute roll to his desk.
Yes, on the rare bad day, the taxi was there ready for him as a back-up. That ensured he still would be at his desk before nine anyway.
He has now been in the same job for over a year. His manager has said he is one of the most reliable people on the team today. Actually, Jim told us the best part is not the pay. It is the small things, such as a coffee with his colleagues, or a “see you tomorrow” at the end of the day.
“To me, I am just another person on the train,” he said. “That is all I ever wanted.”
His mother told us she sleeps better now, too. She no longer has to keep her phone close on workdays.
Five Simple Lessons We Can Learn from Jim’s Story
- Check the lifts first
You need to look at the transport for NSW app before you leave, and again on the day.
- Always have a back-up
Yes, this necessary. Think about a second route or a booked taxi as your last-minute backup.
- Make a practice trip
A quiet weekend is the best time to try a new route.
- Talk to your employer early
A slightly later start time can make the whole trip calmer.
- Keep a number at hand
Transport Info on 131 500 is there for questions about services.
How ZedCare Ability Services Is There For You in Sydney
At ZedCare Ability Services, we have seen it many times. A good plan has opened a door of new opportunities for a participant which perhaps would remain closed, if we didn’t take care.
Yet the plan tells you only the half of the story. The other half tells you about a city which builds every lift, ramp and platform for all of its people.
Accessible transport for disabled people in Sydney will has become stronger and user-friendly no doubt. And surely, we would like to see every lift or electric staircase to work, on any condition for the persons with disability.
So, if you or someone you know has a goal such as Jim’s, you can speak with our team here at ZedCare Ability Services. We will always listen to you first. Only then we will work out a proper route map for you – no hurry and no complexity, just one step at a time. It would be our pleasure to hear your story too.