From: chantelle_mckennariey@telstra.easymail.com.au Sent: Thursday, 14 June, 2001 17:07 To: disabdis@humanrights.gov.au Subject: ACCESSABLE TAXI'S DEAR SIR/MADAM, MY NAME IS WILLIAM (BILL) McKENNARIEY, I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF TWEED VALLEY BRANCH BLIND CITIZEN'S AUSTRALIA. COULD EMAIL CORRESPONDCES BE SENT TO ME AT billmcken@bigpond.com RE: ACCESSIBLE TAXI'S FAR NORTH COAST OF NEW SOUTH WALES. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE COMPANY'S SERVICING TWEED, KINGSCLIFFE, AND MURWILLUMBAH. EACH COMPANY HAS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF ACCESSIBLE TAXI'S IN THEIR FLEET TWEED HAVE THREE CARS OUT OF TWENTY-TWO, KINGSCLIFFE I AM NOT SURE OF THEIR PERCENTAGE BUT IT IS VERY MINIMUM, MURWILLUMBAH DON'T HAVE ANY OUT OF ELEVEN AT PRESENT HOWEVER THEY ARE CONSIDERING PURCHASING ONE MAXI CAB. MOST EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY'S EXPERIENCED IN THE THREE AREAS ARE LONG WAITING PERIODS ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 7.30-10.15AM, AGAIN BETWEEN 2.30-4.30PM, DUE TO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI'S CONTRACTED TO DO EDUCATION CONTRACT WORK. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR WHEELCHAIR USES TO GET A CAB TO GO TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS DURING THESE TIMES. OUT SIDE OF THESE TIMES IT IS NECESSARY TO PRE-BOOK TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF A CAB. BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE COMMENTS MEMBERS OF THE TWEED VALLEY BRANCH BLIND CITIZENS AUSTRALIA, FEEL THAT ALL PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY ARE TREATED UNFAIRLY BY THE TAXI COMPANY'S BECAUSE OF THEIR GREED FOR INCOME CONSISTENCY AND THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THERE EDUCATION CONTRACTS. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY BE RESTRICTED IN ACCESSING MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TAXI'S BEING VIABLE MEDICAL CLINICS ARE NORMAL CONDUCTED EARLY IN THE MORNING OR EARLY AFTER LUNCH AND THIS DOSE RESTRICT PEOPLE GETTING TO THE MORNING APPOINTMENTS BUT NO TROUBLE GETTING BACK HOME LIKE WISE IN THE AFTERNOON, YOU GET THERE TO THE APPOINTMENT BUT EXPERIENCE LONG WAITS AND DIFFICULTY GETTING BACK HOME. WE SUGGEST THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT INTRODUCE NEW GUIDELINES FOR TAXI COMPANY'S TO INCREASE THEIR PERCENTAGE OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE CABS TO CATER FOR BOTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS. THANKS WILLIAM McKENNARIEY