Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson has called for the introduction of new technologies to help those with audio and visual impairments. The MP has signed two Parliamentary motions which highlight the daily difficulty for deaf and blind people who want to catch the bus or contact the emergency services.

Speaking about her support for talking buses Mrs Hodgson said: “ I know from my contact with a number of charities that small changes can make a big difference to how easy it is for those with a sight or audio impairment to access our public services.

In the case of talking buses having an announcement of upcoming stops and final destinations removes a lot of the stress and panic of travelling by public transport when you cannot always be sure of your environment.’

Praising a scheme to allow deaf people to text the emergency services Mrs Hodgson said: “To be in a position where you are faced with an emergency and cannot call for help is not something which should happen to anyone in today’s society. This scheme has been tested and proven to be a success. Of course we can’t allow everyone to text 999 but for people with disabilities such an option could prove to be a lifeline."

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Sharon Hodgson MP
House of Commons,
London SW1A 0AA

E-mail: hodgsons@parliament.uk

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