Wheelchair user in drive for greater awareness

MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer Alison Lewis is a familiar sight in Marlow as she makes her way around in her electric wheelchair, accompanied by Linda, her trained assistance dog.

The town centre is an obstacle course, she says, and often she finds herself doing her shopping on the pavement outside banks and shops.

'I either can't get into them or find it very difficult and so it's a case of asking a customer or member of staff to give me help,' said Alison, 49, the mother of three grown-up children.

Since 1997 she has helped to lead a campaign group, Wycombe Area Access for All, which regularly liaises with councils and challenges shops and other businesses to be more mindful of the needs of disabled people.

'It's only when you're in a wheelchair that you realise how awkward going about your normal business is,' said Alison, who has Linda her labrador retriever cross as a trained assistance dog to pick up things, fetch and carry and even empty the washing machine.

Linda wears a fluorescent jacket with 'Dogs for the Disabled' on it and if Alison gets into difficulty she will bark to attract a passer-by's attention. There are only two like her in Bucks and Alison, of Victoria Road, Marlow, has had her for five years.

'Generally shopping in Marlow isn't too bad as a lot of shops and other places are accessible but some places can still be awful and hopeless,' she said. 'I have to go into one restaurant through their back door, past their bins.

'Some businesses are aware of the new legislation and have had adaptations but others are still dragging their heels, thinking that the final part of legislation won't become effective until 2004 and that's a longish way off.'

She said that some shops don't need to make too many adaptations as it can be just a case of moving chairs, lowering displays, having wider aisles and easier, less awkward doors.

'As it happens Marlow Library is good and we all hope that the new Wycombe Library will be fine too as it's being specially built with disabled people well in mind,' said Alison.

The old 1930s library in Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, is only accessible to wheelchairs on the ground floor. The reference library upstairs is out of bounds.

Referring to the new legislation, Alison said: 'Everyone's waiting for a test case somewhere in the country and I think the publicity about that will really make shops and others really start proper alterations for disabled people.

'They think the Disability Discrimination Act will have no teeth but it could be really firmly enforced.'

She added: 'We've no plan to press a test case at the moment as we tell the owners of awkward places and often they improve access.'

She says she is grateful to Alan Switalski, access officer for Wycombe District Council, who has joined her in pressing for changes in shops and other buildings.

Wycombe District Council also has disability awareness courses for its staff.

'Things are generally a bit more enlightened in our district but there will always be room for improvement,' she said.

Mr Switalski said: 'As new buildings go up it's more cost effective to include the adaptations for disabled people now rather than in three or four years time.'

He spends his time examining planning applications and building regulations and advises applicants on the needs if they are to provide a service to the public.