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Translink Spirit In Action

COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY

We’re committed to ensuring our services and facilities are accessible to everyone and continue to make significant progress in the delivery of our ‘Transforming Transport & Social Inclusion’ Project.

Making Improvements

Enhancing Your Journey
We held passenger engagement sessions with members of NOW Group to enhance the journey experience for customers with disabilities and provide practical experience and support. Delivered in partnership with our contractor Vix Technology, the sessions included a journey by Glider and practical demonstration of on-board accessibility features, digital passenger information and ticket vending machines at halts
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Online Updates

Our website has been officially accredited by Shaw Trust, confirming that we fully meet WCAG AA Accessibility standards across all user journeys.

The latest website enhancements include SignVideo to enable customers with hearing difficulties to connect with our contact centre team using either a remote British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language interpreter. We’ve also launched new dynamic and interactive digital timetables that are easier to navigate and more responsive for screen-readers.

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Sight Loss Transport Training

We hosted a group of 6 support staff from Guide Dogs NI and 8 young people who live with a range of various eye conditions and sight loss.

As part of their ‘Our Futures’ project with RNIB NI they were in Belfast for some transport training which allowed them experience of using a bus and a train independently. This type of training is invaluable for young people with a vision impairment as it allows them to build their confidence and improve their overall mobility, independence, and future capacity.

The young people practiced boarding and alighting stationary buses and trains, finding a seat and allowing them to orientate themselves and build confidence without the time pressure and stress of the vehicle moving off.  The young people travelled on both buses, Glider and trains navigating through the busy Belfast Area. 

Learning Disability Transport Training

Larne Ulsterbus Depot welcomed students from Access Employment Ltd to learn about bus safety, purchasing tickets and independent travel as part of their Independence Programme. 

Translink is delighted to have been accredited with a Bronze award from AEL at their Inclusive Employer Awards for recognition of the work carried out with young people with disabilities in the community. 

Disability Awareness

As part of our week one driver induction training, all staff who come to us for a PCV licence receive training on our company including Customer Care, Child Protection, Drugs & Alcohol Awareness, Social Media & Disability Awareness.

Trainee bus drivers also receive training on the following:

  • The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006 & Equality Act 2010
  • How Translink complies with the DDA
  • Facts about disability (numbers involved with various disabilities)
  • Barriers faced by disabled people (environmental/cultural/attitudinal)
  • Hard to spot disabilities
  • Understanding Mental health
  • Understanding Autism
  • How to deal with a customer with learning disabilities/difficulties, Asperger’s, Brain Injury
  • Assisting blind/visually impaired customers
  • Assisting deaf/hearing impaired customers
  • Assisting customers with speech impairment
  • Assisting mobility impaired customers
  • Wheelchair/mobility scooter policy
As part of Translink’s commitment to continually improve the Translink Training Academy have developed a new basic driver training programme to enhance the content in relation to the equality components listed above.