The Northern Ireland Electoral Office is putting together a disability polling plan to make it easier for those with a disability to vote.

It has published a request for information from anyone who has had trouble using a polling station. Chief Electoral Officer, Douglas Bain, says:
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Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) are advertising for staff. Their aim is to form a team of people who will deliver but will also be trained to fit specialist equipment, such as bathing aids, to those who require special equipment to maintain their independence.

Originally, they had set up a service around four years ago supplying bathing aids and mobility aids, such as bath lifts and bath rails, however, this meant one person would deliver the equipment and then the customer would have to wait for another person to come and fit it.
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Earlier this week, the lady who advises the UK government on disability issues was turned away from a flight at London City Airport – because she was in a wheelchair.

36 year old Michelle Daley is the government’s disability equality advisor and was appalled at the incident. She was due to fly to Belfast on an Air France flight but the pilot refused to let her onboard, saying that she was a ‘health and safety risk’ because she couldn’t walk unassisted.

Ms Daley had checked the airport’s disability facilities prior to booking her ticket and was told there would be no issues. Ms Daley said she felt humiliated and the whole situation was a blatant matter of discrimination against wheelchair users and the disabled and found the day’s event degrading. Eventually, Ms Daley boarded a bmi flight from Heathrow and made her Belfast meeting.

Wheelchair users should not be discriminated against and Air France has said they will investigate the issue.