Adaptations to enable more accessible public transport
Guidance
Public transport providers and policy-makers should be more aware of barriers to access and consider adaptations to enable better accessibility for people with cognitive issues or disabilities living with dementia.
Explanation and Examples
Everyday Technologies are required to access public transport (e.g. ticket machines, GPS, travel updates on smartphones). Research from the UK and Sweden explored how access to public transport can enable or disable a person’s ability to participate in places and activities, within public space. The UK study involved 64 older people with dementia and 64 older people with no known cognitive impairment. The Swedish study included 35 older people with dementia and 34 older people with no known cognitive impairment. Transportation centres were one of the places most frequently abandoned over time by the Swedish group of people with dementia. In both the Swedish and UK samples, compared with people without dementia significantly fewer people with dementia were drivers, so may have increased need to use public transport. Research shows they face increased barriers to using the Everyday Technologies that are required to access those services. The research is supported by consultations that were performed across London with community-based groups of older people with and without dementia, and the European Working Group of People with Dementia. The consultations revealed not only physical but also cognitive barriers to using Everyday Technologies to access public transport.
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