A 15-minute walk to the nearest bus-stop, a 30-minute bus-ride (availability of seats depending on peak or off-peak hours), a flight of stairs at the overhead bridge, followed by a final 10-minute walk-in to campus. Simple feat as a normal person might claim with confidence, for Yvette however, it is a full-fledged marathon.
Has the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and bus companies done enough to provide convenience and ease for the handicapped?
“It is not a problem when I am standing on the bus with my school bag on, but carrying extra materials would cause me to lose my balance sometimes. And my course requires me to carry extra bulky materials quite often,” commented Yvette with a resigned look on her face.
“It would be good if there is extra space for me to put my stuffs!” she then added with a wide smile on her face.
The 19-year old Nanyang Polytechnic Industrial Design student is a regular commuter of the 159 bus service which takes her from Sengkang to campus and is no stranger to the situation on board the bus.
Born on 8th December 1989, Yvette was different from other newborn babies like her twin sister. She was born with Cerebral Palsy, a rare disorder which is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the young developing brain and resulting in orthopedic difficulties.
“Sometimes it is hard for me to keep my balance, I would topple quite often and a lot of strength is used on my legs when I am walking, which is very tiring,” she shared with me openly about her difficulties.
Apart from features on the bus which could contribute to providing convenience for the handicapped, bus drivers also play an important role as they represent the bus companies in making appropriate arrangements and reacting to circumstances on-board.
“The bus drivers are very helpful towards me and they always know what to do to help me like asking passengers at the front to give up their seats,” said Yvette with gratitude.
Having taken the bus for years, Yvette has plenty to share with me of her on-board experiences.
“There was once during my secondary school days when I was standing on board the bus and the bus came to a sudden halt. I fell flat on the ground immediately and caused another kid to fall down too. It was so embarrassing! Everyone was looking at me,” She shared while laughing at her own plight.
As seen from the article “Bus and Disabled”, it highlighted the differences of the public towards the importance of catering public transport to the needs of the handicapped. But so often are they engaged in this debate, that the true needs of the handicapped are gradually being neglected.
“What I want is to just blend in to the society and not be treated differently. I feel that I am just like any other people and I hope others do not judge people like us as a different kind”
By Yeong Guo Hong
