New bus driver training materials created by blind and partially sighted people, with TPT and SLC

Thursday 21 November 2024
2:00 pm to 3:00pm
Zoom

We are delighted to welcome Jen Sweeney and David Smith from Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) to this special, one off session on bus driver training created by blind and partially sighted (BPS) volunteers using first hand, lived experience of bus travel who worked with Brighton and Hove Buses. The training is narrated by Paralympic Gold Medallist, Lora Fachie OBE, a former Sight Loss Council (SLC) member.

You will learn what is available for transport providers which you can use with any stakeholders in travel your organisation may be working with. This project also showcases the importance of working with people with lived experience throughout the project.

TPT and its volunteer-led SLCs marked the end of Catch the Bus Month, September 2024, with the launch of a new approved training resource for bus and coach drivers to deliver best practice customer service to BPS passengers. The training, ‘Vision Impairment Awareness for Bus Drivers’, has the potential to impact all bus and coach drivers across the country.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has approved the materials for its members, who make up 95 per cent of local bus services and 60 per cent of coach operators across the UK. The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) also confirmed the content is suitable and has met conditions for the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) training which bus and coach drivers undertake every five years.

Join us for this insightful session on bus driver training, which will be followed by questions and conversation. We encourage attendees to come prepared with their own thoughts and experiences to share.