A Perthshire women who suffers from a disorder that kills the brain cells has called for more understanding after she was put under pressure to move from a disabled space on a public bus.
Karen Robertson (44), who suffers from Huntington’s disease and requires the use of a rollator, was pressured by members of the public to move from the disabled space of a Stagecoach bus to make way for a pram.
The Dundee City Council worker uses the bus to travel to her work from her home in Invergowrie and needs to sit in the disabled space to place her mobility aid.
However, despite the fact Karen’s condition affects her memory, mood swings, and mobility as well as cuasing personality changes and problems speaking and breathing, she was still pressured to relieve her seat.
Karen sat down with the PA to talk about her ordeal.
She said: “I boarded the bus as normal in Invergowrie and positioned my four-wheeled rollator in the disabled space.
“Around Blackness Avenue two passengers with prams and young children boarded - the first pram went in the space where the fold-up seats are.
“The second passenger wanted to put her pram in the disabled space and when I explained that I was already in the space with my rollator, the passenger asked the driver to tell me to move so the pram could go there.
“The driver told me to fold my rollator - I told him that it doesn’t fold and the signs say buggies can only use the space if not being used by a disabled person.
“This went round and round for a little bit before the second pram got off the bus complaining about me being in the space.
“I took photos of the signs and advised that I would be emailing the bus company to make them aware, however as a symptom of my illness I forgot.”
That incident happened in April, and Karen was again victim to similar treatment earlier this month.
“When a parent with a pram got on the bus - there was plenty of space for them once a passenger moved his suitcases from the fold up seats and the parent didn’t even look at the disabled space,” she explained.
“However whilst this was going on I could hear two passengers talking about me saying that I was ‘ignoring the lady with the pram again who needed the space and I should move my rollator’.
“They continued to talk about it until one of them left the bus - I didn’t challenge them at the time as I wasn’t keen on another scene after what happened in April.
“What happened made me sad - that they were judging me about something I have no control over as Huntington’s disease is genetic.
“At the moment the only symptom obvious to strangers is my walking aid that I use due to regular falls however, also have problems with my fine motor skills and swallowing.
“I definitely think more awareness of Huntington’s disease is needed.
“I think the bus companies could look at different signs in the disabled space to make it clearer about hidden disabilities.
“I don’t think the drivers should allow prams on if there is already a disabled person in the space as this puts the emphasis on the passengers to sort it out between themselves.”
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