Draft Disabled People's Protection Policies (DPPPs)

prepared during autumn 2002

5. Communication of DPPP (Section 8 of the Guidance)

8.1 Licence holders are reminded that they are required to display at each station where their trains are scheduled to call the address at which a copy of the Statement of Policy in the DPPP can be obtained.

Commitment by the licence holder to give or send out without charge a copy of this Statement of Policy to any person who requests it. This must also be available in alternative formats for those that request them.

A commitment that operators will produce a concise consumer version of their DPPP, in plain language, within 3 months of obtaining their approval of their full DPPP from the Authority. This must be available in other formats on request, such as, large print - 16pt as a minimum, audiotape, Braille and on the operator's website.

5.1 Although appearing to be a simple requirement there was a wide variety of interpretations to the meaning of this guidance. We had 'Welcome' posters, 'Information' posters etc. when all that was required was a simple amendment to a system already in place that obliges them to display the address of the relevant RPC on trains and stations.

5.2 Many operators seem to have misunderstood the intention of Section 8 of the Guidance and have sought to provide one document which meets the industry requirements (including technical information and data) and a concise consumer version in plain language.

5.3 The Guidance is clear on this point - two documents are required. Only the first document, the 'Statement of Policy' completed in accordance with the Guidance need be produced at this stage.

5.4 The second document, a concise consumer version of the Policy, is required within three months of approval of the final Policy. This should set out in plain language what the Policy means and be available in alternative formats. This document is not required until after the Policies have been approved, although operators may find it helpful to prepare it in parallel.

5.5 The commitment to alternative formats was occasionally absent. We would also recommend a timescale for making alternative formats available so that they are readily available.

Published: 17 February 2003

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