We know that anxiety around access to toilets and having to plan and strategise activities and events have a significant impact on the lives of people living with Crohn’s and Colitis, with nearly nine in ten people telling us they plan their journeys around access to toilets. We are pleased that the committee has taken this into account and that the experiences of people living with Crohn’s and Colitis are recognised in their report ‘Access denied: rights versus reality in disabled people’s access to transport’,

The committee has taken on board our recommendations to:

• Improve enforcement of legislation on accessible transport and improve complaints services, ensuring data is collected and shared so that systemic issues are identified
• Publish information on accessibility assets, such as toilets, that work with journey planning tools providing crucial information that helps you to plan your journey
• Improve staff training and work with disabled people to ensure the training improves experiences.

Next steps

People living with Crohn’s or Colitis have a right to feel confident and comfortable when travelling on public transport, just like everyone else. This is a matter of personal and public health, equality and social inclusion.

We are urging the Department for Transport to accept these recommendations and will work with them to ensure that the needs of people living with Crohn’s and Colitis are met.

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