11:23am Monday 19th May 2008
By Lucy Clapham
PARKING for the disabled was thrown into the spotlight with the opening of High Wycombe's new shopping centre in March.
Before the Eden complex threw open its doors, blue badge holders were able to park for free in its adjoining carpark.
But this is no longer the case and the disabled community were angered by the change, while charity Shopmobility, which hires out scooters and wheelchairs, feared it would deter the disabled from shopping in Wycombe altogether.
In a special feature, reporter LUCY CLAPHAM spent the day with wheelchair user Alison Lewis to see what a shopping trip from her point of view was like.
Sitting down is an automatic everyday function which has never bothered me before - be it in an office chair, on my sofa or on a bar stool.
But as soon as you add wheels to your chair and take a seat, you are instantly plunged into a different world - one that Alison Lewis takes in her stride.
The 57-year-old from Marlow has had multiple sclerosis for 23 years and is now chairman of disabled charity, Wycombe Area Access For All (WAAFA).
Upon arrival at her house I am greeted by Baggins, her four-legged helper from Dogs for the Disabled, who is busy fetching her washing for her, and her personal assistant Sonia, who Alison employees through her county council care package.
We set off for town and immediately I notice how Alison has to take the long way round on the pavements, swerving to avoid potholes and having to position herself at lowered kerb points to cross the road in her motorised wheelchair.
Our first stop is the temporary Post Office in Dean Street carpark where I discover the difficulties of reaching across the counter when I'm two foot lower than normal.
"And that's my problem," Alison says as she hands over a banking slip.
After a walk in the park with Baggins we stop at a cafe for a drink. Manoeuvring Alison's £3,000 NHS chair around the tables is a delicate operation but we are soon seated.
We then head off to High Wycombe and decide to go by bus and leave the car at home. When the accessible bus we were hoping for fails to arrive, however we are forced to drive or wait another three hours for an accessible bus.
We plump for the van and after Sonia spends five minutes strapping Alison into the back, we drive to Cressex to catch a park and ride bus into town.
"Sitting in the back of the car is not as much fun as being able to see out, although I'm lucky and have got high windows," Alison says, "But I can't see in front of me and conversation with the person in front is very difficult, so ideally I would have preferred to have gone on the bus."
Despite these teething problems, the mum-of-three, does not let them get in her way of getting out and about.
Before joining WAAFA she worked as an auxiliary nurse, a welfare assistant, an administrator and a carer. And as well as chairing WAAFA she is also the co-chair of the physical, sensory disability partnership board for Buckinghamshire County Council.
During our ride into town she admits she is getting the park and ride buses more frequently, and has not parked in Wycombe since Eden opened.
"I would like to see park and ride extended out and if it came into Marlow it would be brilliant," she adds.
After a successful stroll round High Wycombe - where numerous people stop for a chat and to stroke Baggins - it is time for me to go solo, rather than rely on Sonia to push me round in my chair.
Alison sets me the task of trying to get into the disabled loo inside the new House Of Fraser store.
My first hurdle is getting to grips with the wheelchair's steering, which is no mean feat. And despite getting myself rolling I still need help when I steer myself into a display and can't reverse out.
After finding the lift to take me upstairs, I struggle to open two doors into the loo. My foot plates are cumbersome and it takes me at least three or four attempts to pull the doors open.
Getting out, however is even more difficult as I try to use my hands to push myself out the door, I end up sliding further away from it. I feel awkward, slow and in the way.
But Alison has more tests for me as she gets me to wear goggles designed to mimic the eyesight of someone suffering from sight problems.
The first pair replicate retinal degeneration, which feels as though I have a film of dirt across my eyes, while the right sided hemianopsia pair - which blank out vision on one side - leave me constantly twisting my neck as I try to read.
When we arrive back in Marlow I ask Alison how her day has been.
"We can never enable you to feel totally what it's like, but it's just a minute fraction of what it's like to feel down at a lower level," she said, "Today's been a balance of my day. It's not been a dreadful day so, no when you have gone I can shut my door and say that was a good day, by and large."
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