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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, there is one huge and significant barrier to transport, and I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not alone in dreading this \u2013 the Ticket Office. Railway stations are the worst. The noise levels in these places is horrendous. Sudden noises, like the blare of a station announcement, cause torment to our hearing aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buying a ticket used to be a friendly experience \u2013 mulling over the options, speculating on the price differences, and looking forward to the trip. Not now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all, I do everything I can to check the information online, purchase online, and use ticket machines on stations. But what if the journey is a bit complicated? Or you\u2019re in a foreign country? Or you\u2019re not sure about the prices? This is where the trouble starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The barrage of questions about tickets can be a communication nightmare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I love going to Cornwall, but my train journey involves a change and I like plenty of time to get from one platform to another. So a few days before, I visit my local station to get my ticket. I have my query all prepared \u2013 in fact, I write it out on a piece of paper, having looked it all up first online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it\u2019s like when you speak another language \u2013 however well you\u2019ve prepared your query, you can\u2019t anticipate the answer. In fact, if you\u2019ve got your query spoken extremely well, it\u2019s assumed you\u2019re perfectly able to communicate, and the response corresponds to this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh dear. There follows a barrage of questions, including the type of railcard, choice of station for the change, platform numbers, on- or off-peak ticket, and so it goes on. During this time, train whistles screech, announcements blare, and of course the queue behind you gets longer and longer, and you can sense its impatience. On top of this, station officials vary from the charming and patient, to the less than tolerant. It\u2019s a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I often try to disguise my disability and depend on kindly people to help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re on the train, you can\u2019t make out the announcements. They might be telling you the buffet closes in half an hour, or they could be warning you your train is terminating at the next station and you\u2019ll need to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So yes, there are quite a few problems for us deaf travellers, and I can see no solution to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transport is intrinsically noisy. I find the t-switch \/ telecoil option on my hearing aids \u2013 which is supposed to help pick up the sound of electronic announcements via magnetic signals \u2013 doesn\u2019t really work for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mainly, I\u2019m dependent on kindly people to interpret for me \u2013 and fortunately, there are plenty of these people around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not alone, in that I try to disguise my disability. It makes me feel so stupid and I will do anything to cover it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But to me, travel is still a great joy, and I don\u2019t let these problems spoil it for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n