In Touch - 02/02/2010

Peter White is joined by Mani Djazmi, who gives a round-up of the state of the national provision of bus companies who are able to provide announcements on buses. David Cowdrey from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association talks about the organisation's campaign to support a Parliamentary Early Day Motion to bring about an amendment in the public transport regulations. They want it to be made statutory for bus companies to ensure buses are fitted with equimpent to provide destination announcements, a unified system and not the postcode lottery which exists at the moment. The organisation says that if all new buses had audio-visual systems, it would be a fraction of the cost comapred to retro-fitting. GDBA want next stop and final destination announcements. As trains are covered already, GDBA are seeking parity with these for safety reasons. As the regulations stand currently, if an emergency occurs there is no requirment for there to be audio-visual informatio provided to the passengers. Lee Kumutat tries her hand at tennis and receives tution from coach Odette Battarel. Playing with a net 80cm from the ground and a spongy ball containing ball earings, players use a series of bounces - three for a blind person, two for a partially-sighted player and one for someone sighted. By calling 'play' to her opponent, Lee was able to hit the ball over the net successfully and enjoy a game of tennis for the first time. Lee also meets Alan Weatherley from British Blind Sport, whose aim is to get people involved in and enthused by sport.