The debate about wheelchair spaces on buses goes ‘round and round’: access to public transport for people with disabilities as a human right

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Abigail Pearson

Keywords

Paulley, CRPD, accessibility, reasonable adjustment, wheelchair space, disability, rights, access to transport

Abstract

This article examines the cases bought by Paulley concerning access to buses for wheelchair users when the wheelchair space is occupied by a buggy. It argues that the conclusion by the Supreme Court was unsatisfactory and a missed opportunity for a public statement about the rights of people with disabilities. It argues that reasonable adjustment is a problematic concept and fails to address the competing needs of social groups in terms of accessibility. This is compounded by traditional distinctions between disability and impairment and a failure to consider disability access in the context of human rights despite the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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