The SILC Charitable Trust is heartened to see Minister Tariana Turia speak out about public transport services in New Zealand.

Business development manager Charlene Watene believes the Minister is right and every person in New Zealand has the basic right to access public transport.

On December 3, the SILC Charitable Trust is providing accessible buses for wheelchairs, push chairs and other mobility aids.

'Parents of children with disabilities and individuals who live with disabilities have for many years expressed frustration with the lack of public transport available.

'Along with the lack of understanding and information some people who work at the coal face have in terms of providing quality customer services for people who have learning and/or physical disabilities.”

The SILC Charitable Trust supports the initiative CCS and Bay Hopper is providing on December 3 for people who require accessible buses for wheelchairs, push chairs and other mobility aids to go to Red Square between 11am and 1pm to try out Bay Hopper's accessible buses.

SILC Ltd, who is governed by The SILC Charitable Trust, has supported people with physical disabilities for over 20 years, are constantly challenged by transport and public access issues, when supporting people who use wheelchairs and mobility aids in the community.

'We absolutely agree with the Minister's comments about public transport staff need to be given more training to ensure disabled passengers and people with children and push chairs are not discriminated against,” says Charlene.

'Unfortunately there is a belief out there that 'one size fits all” in terms of customer service and that just isn't the case.”

Charlene says training services that specialise in working with people who live with disability is essential, not just in the public transport area, but also in banks, retail services, taxis, central and local government services and the list goes on.

'For too long these essential services have believed in the 'one size fits all” approach to customer service and it just does not work.”