I thought about the blog that I was going to write after the event; about the NHS, equality and the workplace, the intelligent and insightful comments that came from both the panel and the audience.
I told my friend I had a taxi booked in ten minutes; “did you let them know about my guide dog?” It hadn’t occurred to me to tell them, but I thought, you never know, the driver could be allergic, their child could be allergic, so I rung back and explained.
OK, the operator said, no problem. Ten minutes later a phone call from the driver: “what do you mean there is a dog? how big is the dog? you can only get in if the dog sits on your lap.”
I could hear my friend in the background: I’m not going to get let into that car, they never like it, I really struggle to find a taxi.
It’s illegal- she reminded me to tell the driver on the phone. When we got out to the taxi it was the same: “I’m scared of the dog, where does it sit, I don’t want the dog near me. Don’t get me wrong, I like drivingyou people around but I don’t want the dog in the car”
After some negotiation and reminders that it was illegal to refuse us we got in the taxi and drove to the station while the taxi driver made small talk and my blood boiled.
When we got out my friend said- that wasn’t too bad, we got in the taxi. I always have problems with things like this. Not that bad? We were not only made to feel unwelcome but also unwanted because of something that gives you independence and enables you to lead a full life- in a service which we arepaying for. Not that bad?
So this isn’t a blog about quotas on boards, or the equalities act, or the lack of representation in Birmingham City Council. This is just my account of one small moment in my friend’s everyday life; a single event in a long series of similar situations that make up her reality. How ironic that it was on the way back from an event on equality and diversity in the workplace. How can we have equality in the workplace if we don’t have equality in society?
