The MAPLE project undertook a European wide study to discover more about the current situation, with respect to how people with cognitive impairments travel, and the extent to which public transport in Europe is accessible to them. This research involved two stages:
- Stage One involved contacting European institutions with interest in cognitive impairments
- Stage Two involved an Internet Search
The sample selected to investigate European institutions consisted of a mixture of groups with some connection or interest in learning disabilities and mental health problems. The groups were contacted via email or letter, to investigate provisions that were available in their inner/outer city or country to help people with learning disabilities use public transport effectively.
158 institutions were contacted in Europe ; there were just 12 responses from these institutions. Respondents include:
- Czech Republic – The OSA the Centre for support of Independence , sent correspondence
- Denmark – Danish Transportation Agency, end correspondence
- Finland – The Ministry of Transport in Finland has published a report “Improving Public transport Accessibility.
- Germany – Stadt Tubingen sent correspondence
- Netherlands – The City of Utrecht Council sent information
- Romania – Sent information available from Romanian Union
- Spain – Conselleria de infrastructure in Spain sent correspondence
- Ukraine – The Ukraine Sports Federation of Invalids with Defects responded positively
In all situations where it was possible contact was made with the organisation via email or by letter. The main impediment to the search was sheer quantity of links unrelated to the MAPLE project. A few example of organisations contacted included;
- Associations for People with learning Disabilities in Europe
- National Association for the Mentally Handicapped
- Commission of Transportation at the Union of the Baltic Cities
For more information on the Europe-Wide Review please view the Europe Wide Review - Can people with cognititive impairments use public transport effectively report.