Family ‘humiliated after request for ramp refused’
A FAMILY said they were left ‘humiliated’ after a railway worker refused to provide a ramp to help their disabled daughter board a train.
Evana Parkinson, three, has a rare genetic condition and requires a wheelchair buggy when travelling as she suffers from pain in her legs.
The youngster was travelling home to Wigan on Tuesday with mum Kayley, 25, dad Scott, 31 and sister Erica, five, after a weekend in Southampton. They boarded their final train home at Piccadilly, but had to get off at Salford Crescent as the service would no longer be travelling all the way to Wigan.
Kayley asked a Northern worker if he could provide a ramp for the next train. But she said the man replied no, adding Evana was in a pram and not a buggy so he could not help. Kayley explained Evana was using a specialist buggy for disabled children. She said the family were left feeling embarrassed when the worker started to ask other passengers if they thought it was a pram or a wheelchair. Eventually they were helped onto the train by another Northern staff member.
Kayley said: “I do understand it was busy, but we went over really nicely and asked for a bit of help and he refused to give it to us. It was just really embarrassing. Evana didn’t understand what was happening, but a lot of people were staring at us. It was a terrible experience for us. I want a bit of awareness. They need more training and to learn not every disability is visible.”
The Tomato specialist buggy is heavier than a standard pram and has special fittings to help Evana sit up and a large foot plate. It was the first time the family have undertaken a long journey with Evana and said they were given help on seven out of the eight trains they travelled on across the weekend.
Evana’s condition is so rare it does not have a name. She suffers from hypermobility, pain in her legs and delayed development.
Kayley said they have submitted a complaint to the rail operator.
A Northern spokesman said they were sorry for the upset or distress and were investigating what happened. They added: “Manual and powered wheelchairs can be taken on all of our trains, and station and train staff will be happy to help customers on and off our services. We also participate in the industrywide Passenger Assist programme and encourage customers who may require assistance when travelling on our services, to contact us before they travel on 0800 138 5560 to see how we can help.”