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The power of the individual

We often think that as an individual our actions are not enough to make a difference. That’s not always the case, and given the challenges with the new occupant of the White House, it’s more important than ever for us to act to make a difference.

If you a disabled, maintaining your independence can be a challenge. One of the main aspects of being independent is being to travel to places. For many disabled people, the only option they have to travel is by public transport. If you live in a major city that should be relatively easy, but it’s not always the case.

In 2012, Doug Paulley, a wheelchair user, was trying to get home by bus. The space on the bus that was meant to be for wheelchairs had a pushchair in it, with a child that was asleep. The mother refused to wake the child and move the pushchair. The details are here.

This certainly isn’t the first time this had happened, but Mr Paulley is a disability activist. He took his case all the way to the Supreme Court and in January won a ruling that drivers must try to get the other passenger to move. Excellent!
Not so fast. Just a few days after the ruling, this happened. Once again, the person in the wheelchair, Kirsty Shepherd, was refused entry to the bus because of a pushchair being in the wheelchair spot. The mother offered to move it, but the driver, who was clearly having a bad day, said no and ‘terminated’ the bus! And look at the reactions of passengers – rather than siding with the disabled person, there were shouts for her to get off so that they could all get home.

The power of the individual. The mother with the sleeping child. The bus driver that wouldn’t challenge her. The bus driver who was having a bad day. All individuals whose actions had a major impact on the disabled people trying to use the bus, a negative one.

Doug Paulley, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court. Kirsty Shepherd who came forward with her story. The mother that was prepared to move her child in the pushchair. All individuals whose actions had a positive impact for disabled people.

What would have happened if the people on Ms Shepherd’s bus had stuck up for her, instead of shouting at her to get off? Could you be the person who stands up to be the positive change?

Somehow, I think we are going to need a lot of people to stand up for the positive change in the next few years.